re: Waterpump on 88 E30

[Neil <neil@xxxxxxxxx>]

It sounds like that water pump should be replaced immediately.
If it fails at low speed, you'll loose lot of coolant. If it fails at
high speed, you could loose most of your coolant in a matter of seconds.
This would a bad thing. The alternator is driven by the same belt, so if
the pump breaks and the belt has no tension, the car would run off of
the battery. Also a bad thing.
If you are lucky, as we were, you'll be able to pull over before the
engine is damaged. We were going 70 on an interstate at midnight when
the water pump bearings on our '91 318is exploded with so much force
that one dented the fins on the radiator, and left marks under the car
when it bounced between the car and pavement. Ours was not making any
noise up until then.

I don't know what the going rate is for labor, as I do all of my own
work, but the part is cheap. I paid around $40 or so for my last one.
Steve D' @ The Ultimate Garage has yours for $48:
http://www.ultimategarage.com/HVACE30.html.
Make sure you get the good gasket, too, rather than the flimsy one that
comes with the pump.
Installation is very easy and doesn't usually take too long.

On the other hand, it could just be the fan clutch crapping out. Replace
them both. It's cheap and easy insurance against a dead motor.

Neil
'91 318is
'86 M535i
'89 325iX parts car

<snip>
Just wanted to get some tips and advice from you.  I have an '88 325 E30
with 116,000 miles.  I recently started getting this metallic rustling
noise.  I've it localized to a unit connected via fan belt to the
engine.  It' is on the right side of the engine near the front.  I
believe it is the water pump...as
it has one hose connected to the radiator, and another hose to a pipe
running along the right side of the engine compartment.

>From the sounds of it, the bearings are going on this.  A few
questions:

1).  How bad is the water pump at this stage?  Will it go sooon? or it
going to go soon?  Am I doing damage by running the car at this point?

2)  An Approxiamate cost of replacement (parts and labor)?

many thanx
- -Ram
</snip>
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