2008 BMW 330i over-heating

2008 BMW 330i over-heating

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deanyo76

Original Poster:

14 posts

92 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Hey everyone
I'm new to the forums so bear with me 😊
Today driving down the m6 in Birmingham my yellow coolant light came on and within a few seconds it turned red and I lost all power some kind of limp mode I'd imagine.. I had the rac check it out and a basic diagnostics check which showed up an intermittent water pump issue.. The car is now with a local BMW Indy.. So I'm waiting on a phone call.. One thing that did catch my eye was I had tiny drops of what I though was water dripping from the tail pipe.. Could this be a head gasket issue aswell as the water pump? I'm hoping not..there are no tell tails signs such as the Mayo effect in the oil or expansion bottle.. The car currently has 89k on the clock full service history and tightly maintained.. Hope you guys can advise me many thanks
Dean👍

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Friday 29th July 2016
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Probably the header tank split. Some sort of diagnostic kit that can show a mechanical fault, which a water pump is.

deanyo76

Original Poster:

14 posts

92 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Hi mate thanks for your time... Hopefully the mechanic will be on it tomorrow and I'll know a bit more..I'm just sitting here Stressing lol
Would that be an expensive job?
Thanks again

driver67

976 posts

164 months

Friday 29th July 2016
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I've got a 130i (N52B30) - The electric water pumps only appear to be good for 75k miles.

That and the thermostat at the same time is the fix. (can you read the codes).

Pump installed at the BMW dealer on mine was £480 all in.


Open the cap and start the engine when cold, see if water coolant is circulating. If not, defo the pump.

deanyo76

Original Poster:

14 posts

92 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
quotequote all
Morning
now u say that I've got a feeling it might be the pump.. As I looked at the coolant yesterday and there was no movement at all it was still.. Hopefully the mechanic can shed some light today fingers crossed!! On the diagnostics it just read "Auxiliary water pump intermittent" and no other codes..
Thanks
Dean

CB 987

382 posts

146 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
quotequote all
Mine did the same approx 6 weeks ago, car was on 97k and to my knowledge was still on the original pump.

I had the thermostat done at the same time. Thermostat was OK, but if it failed at a later date it's effectively the same amount in labour again.

The electronic pumps aren't cheap, I can't believe the poster above managed to have a a pump fitted at a main dealer for £480, bargain!

All in my bill (inc new stat) was approx £670 inc VAT. Most people say expect £6-700 at a good indy.

The waterpump alone was £309, before VAT. This was for a Pierburg pump, who make the BMW OEM pumps.

Edited by CB 987 on Saturday 30th July 13:58

deanyo76

Original Poster:

14 posts

92 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
quotequote all
Morning
It's just been confirmed that the water pump was shot! So all I'm waiting on now is a pressure test to Rule out and damage to the head...Hopefully I'll find that out tomorrow plus the costs of a new pump and stat!

E-bmw

9,102 posts

151 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
quotequote all
roofer said:
Some sort of diagnostic kit that can show a mechanical fault, which a water pump is.
They aren't mechanical. they are electric on these.

driver67

976 posts

164 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
quotequote all
deanyo76 said:
Morning
It's just been confirmed that the water pump was shot! So all I'm waiting on now is a pressure test to Rule out and damage to the head...Hopefully I'll find that out tomorrow plus the costs of a new pump and stat!
At least you've got the problem diagnosed and will be good to go for at least another 75k smile

I managed to grab some parts for sale on another forum from a BMW Challenge 130i, got a brand new water pump waiting on it's next fail if required (now on 117k).

Great engines smile

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 31st July 2016
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Had exactly the same experience as OP on Friday in our N52 E91... Unfortunately we were in south of France driving to Spain. Switched off immediately as the red light came on- we were just leaving a peage.

Car is stranded in an awful motorway recovery rip off merchant's yard, we have ADAC cover so got a hire car, switched the bikes and roof box, and kids to the, Peugeot 2008 and continued. ADAC want to mess around with local garages diagnosing but my Carly obd thing already showed the only 2 error codes, both intermittent water pump problems.

Plan is to get the car to BMW Bordeaux this week and get it fixed, then drive the hire car 1100km back to pick it up, hopefully all this coming week and well before our ferry back from Spain to UK end of next week...

Keep posting and I will update in our error. Galling as I knew about the failures and had Birds garage check for any early signs of failure including reading the ecu and they found nothing, about 500 miles ago. I had wanted to change the pump and thermostat (itself expensive) before this trip but told myself to get off my car nerd preventative maintenance mentalism... Oh well. Just get it changed folks!

Edited by Polynesian on Monday 1st August 07:57


Edited by Polynesian on Monday 1st August 07:58

silent ninja

863 posts

99 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Polynesian said:
Had exactly the same experience as OP on Friday in our N52 E91... Unfortunately we were in south of France driving to Spain. Switched off immediately as the red light came on- we were just leaving a peage.

Car is stranded in an awful motorway recovery rip off merchant's yard, we have ADAC cover so got a hire car, switched the bikes and roof box, and kids to the, Peugeot 2008 and continued. ADAC want to mess around with local garages diagnosing but my Carly obd thing already showed the only 2 error codes, both intermittent water pump problems.

Plan is to get the car to BMW Bordeaux this week and get it fixed, then drive the hire car 1100km back to pick it up, hopefully all this coming week and well before our ferry back from Spain to UK end of next week...

Keep posting and I will update in our error. Galling as I knew about the failures and had Birds garage check for any early signs of failure including reading the ecu and they found nothing, about 500 miles ago. I had wanted to change the pump and thermostat (itself expensive) before this trip but told myself to get off my car nerd preventative maintenance mentalism... Oh well. Just get it changed folks!

Edited by Polynesian on Monday 1st August 07:57


Edited by Polynesian on Monday 1st August 07:58
That sounds stressful. True petrol head driving down to the continent like it's cross country..

deanyo76

Original Poster:

14 posts

92 months

Monday 1st August 2016
quotequote all
Oh man I feel for you it's bad enough anyway but when ur away from home cry
For me now the total cost of parts has come to £480.00 not sure how much labour will be included I'm guessing 2-3 hrs max.. hopefully I'll be back on the road by Wednesday... It's still a kick in the nuts but at least the head isn't damaged!
The mechanic I'm using has had 25 years with BMW and has recently gone independent I would highly recommend him!

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 1st August 2016
quotequote all
silent ninja said:
That sounds stressful. True petrol head driving down to the continent like it's cross country..
Kids aged 2 and 6. Yes, stressful :-)

We really love the drive. A chance to use the car outside of London and it's an annual drive home for my wife, who's Spanish. We share the driving through the night and can usually do it in 24 hrs door to door including all the stops the kids need and waiting for customs and the rest.

Annoying when I reckon I could buy the parts and tools and get the job done in a day, no question I would do this back home but we're staying 5 hrs drive away from the car and it's a bit of a logistical nightmare.

bd electric faily water pumps!

deanyo76

Original Poster:

14 posts

92 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2016
quotequote all
My motor is back on the road with the new pump and stat and all seems good smokin
All in it has cost me £645.00... Could be worse eh lol

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2016
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Glad to hear it. Hopefully won't be too far behind you!

deanyo76

Original Poster:

14 posts

92 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2016
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Fingers crossed eh mate beer

Sam.

305 posts

120 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2016
quotequote all
deanyo76 said:
My motor is back on the road with the new pump and stat and all seems good smokin
All in it has cost me £645.00... Could be worse eh lol
Got me looking into mine now. 115,000 on the clock and no evidence of a waterpump change.

OH DEAR

amacbrown

11 posts

104 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2016
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our 335i 12plate on 26k is having a new pump and expansion tank fitted this morning, no indys available in surrey at short notice that I could find so its with Banstead BM. £1200 odd repair with good will is £412. Cheaper than the renewal of £630 on warranty but still 26k miles!

deanyo76

Original Poster:

14 posts

92 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2016
quotequote all
Oh man I feel for you it's bad enough anyway but when ur away from home cry
For me now the total cost of parts has come to £480.00 not sure how much labour will be included I'm guessing 2-3 hrs max.. hopefully I'll be back on the road by Wednesday... It's still a kick in the nuts but at least the head isn't damaged!
The mechanic I'm using has had 25 years with BMW and has recently gone independent I would highly recommend him!

Sam.

305 posts

120 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2016
quotequote all
deanyo76 said:
Oh man I feel for you it's bad enough anyway but when ur away from home cry
For me now the total cost of parts has come to £480.00 not sure how much labour will be included I'm guessing 2-3 hrs max.. hopefully I'll be back on the road by Wednesday... It's still a kick in the nuts but at least the head isn't damaged!
The mechanic I'm using has had 25 years with BMW and has recently gone independent I would highly recommend him!
Just priced up the parts. I can get the water pump for £180 + VAT for a pierburg unit. Then it suggest a bolt kit.

Joys of working for a motorfactor i guess.