RE: Water pump - '95 525 w 40k miles - STORY

[wsiemens@xxxxxxxxxxx (Wendall Siemens)]

Water Pump Story

97k km (60k+ miles) 92 325i

So Sunday I'm driving along and I feel a small vibration while waiting for a
light. I pull over check under the hood, move the motor around thinking a
mount might be going or something and everything seems tight. I get in the
car and the vibration is gone (Water in the gas???) and pull out of the
parking lot. I drive for about a block and in a matter of 2 seconds, the car
starts vibrating violently and a fairly loud bang. What the @#$%! I
immediately coast to the side of the road and stop.

Here's what happened the bearing on the water pump failed. The fan tilted
forward into the radiator. Plastic fan blades turn into shrapnel and take
out hoses, radiator and the worst part is my hood was actually damaged by a
piece. Car gets a comfy ride back to my garage while I curse and swear
because I didn't change that $#%@#$ water pump when I said I was going to
about a month ago.

Wendall
92 325i Running with unsightly hood damage after hours of wrench spinning
and some cash!

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-bmw@domain.elided [mailto:owner-bmw@domain.elided]On Behalf Of
> DEAN KNUTSON
> Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 5:34 PM
> To: bmw@domain.elided; Mj299kkps@domain.elided
> Subject: Water pump - '95 525 w 40k miles
>
>
> Marc..please list the "for sure" symptoms of water pump failure. I'm
> watching mine closely...I'm hearing grinding noises near the fan and
> now I have a very small puddle of coolant on the garage floor each
> night.  So far no smell or leaks apparent in the engine compartment.
> But I sure don't want to happen and get stranded on the road.  When
> to know for sure and when to do the preventative repair?  ps- did the
> '95 525's have the plastic impellers?  Thx, Dean
>

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