vs
Water pump OEM BMW or Pierburg
I went with the all metal Pierberg pump for my E90, with an N54. The problem with the plastic is that it gets brittle due to thermo cycling, and that is s problem for all of the plastic parts in these engines (valve cover, radiator, expansion tank etc etc). I probably only have 10-15k km on this one so far, but no problems to report and some very long driving days.
Pros: no problems to report
Vehicle:
BMW
Mileage: 15000 km
I would STRONGLY recommend you to buy ONLY a BMW stamped WP. I learned my lesson the hard way and want to help you avoid my mistakes. The main thing that fails in electric water pumps is the electronics, and the ones not stamped with a BMW logo often have these issues.
Pros: reliable, avoids electronics issues
The all metal pierburg water pumps last longer than the plastic ones.
Pros: longer lasting
I'd recommend looking at an upgraded Pierburg water pump. None of the plastic bits & will save you from replacing it again in a few years.
Pros: no plastic parts, long-lasting
Vehicle:
BMW
Have installed many pierburg Full alum cast pumps as well with good results. The Pierburgs are made in china FYI
Pros: good results
Same shit different box. Sometimes the aftermarket takes care of issues as well like bmw and older Audi/Vw plastic water pump impellers, where most aftermarket ones are metal.
Pros: aftermarket takes care of issues
Cons: plastic water pump impellers
Vehicle:
BMW
Pierburg water pumps are known to be good for about 60-80k, which is the usual time they fail (they either leak or the electronics inside fail).
Pros: reliable for 60-80k
Cons: prone to leak/electronics fail
Vehicle:
BMW
However the pierburg shouldn't crack as it's all aluminum. That doesn't mean it'll last any longer. My original one (n54) failed at about 60k. Replaced with factory. Then replaced that one with pierburg as I was doing oil pan gasket and figured might as well since I'm in there at about 90k. The pierburg one failed at 10k miles (electronics jammed up somehow…I’m guessing some sort of freak surge or something as it’s a pretty simple design). Anyway replaced that with pierburg again and going strong albeit it’s only been 30k miles on the new one.
Pros: aluminum, shouldn't crack
Cons: electronics failed
Mileage: 60000 km
I got all aluminum Pierburg water pump to replace (working) VDO water pump. After putting everything back together, bleeding the system, I turned on the car, drove 40 miles with a couple on and off cycles and then shut it off for a couple of hours. I came back, started the car, I got the low coolant level warning, understandable, air escaped the system (I guess I didn't bleed it enough lol). Topped it off, drove 20 miles back home and then heating suddenly stopped working and coolant temp started rising. Went from 95 C to 100, then 105 and that's when I shut the car off, didn't want it to overheat. Ever since then, my pump works intermittently. I had a laptop set up next to me with INPA on today and drove close to the house to have the car ready for emissions (thank God!). After bleeding the system two more times yesterday it seemed like it was fine but while driving today, after maybe 20 minutes of driving, the pump stopped working and would not come back on again. It was like trying, the percentage rose to 30-35% and then back to zero immediately. Temperature went from 90 C to around 110 C rather quick obviously. Then out of nowhere, it started working again for a bit. Got close to the store I was going to, and it stopped working again. I was able to pull into the parking lot as it got to 120 C and got a yellow overheating warning. On my way back home from the store, the pump only started working again maybe 3 minutes from home, had to stop once and then turn off the car and keep rolling most of the way to not let it overheat. Also, there's no heating from the vents until I set it to 28 C but at the same time there's no movement from the pump in INPA.
Pros: aluminum pump, peace of mind
Cons: pump works intermittently, overheating
Vehicle:
BMW
I find it weird that the water pump went bad since i changed it about a year ago with a Pierburg water pump. Next morning my car started overheating. Tried bleeding the system and the pump wouldn’t engage.
Cons: pump went bad, car overheating, pump wouldn't engage
Vehicle:
BMW
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