Bypass aux water pump- anyone have pics?

[EricV]

Well, after all my obsessing earlier (and I thank you for your patience for that...time was of the essence as I can't be car-less, single father and all...) I went to pick the car up and they'd done the bypass for me.

Now I'm not exactly jumping for joy as I am fearful of how tight the bypass is (as this place did, after all, start w/ a quote of 907, revised that to 690, and then went to 390 and change after I questioned the need to also do the heather valve.) The guy tried to explain the routing, but I never got a close enough look at the stock configuration to begin with- so it may be a bit of a challenge straightening this out myself, though the diagrams should get me through.

Now truth be told I only have a very short drive most days for my little one, and outside of that I don't drive it nearly as much as I used to (since moving to a place two blocks from my office.) I may bump along and see how it goes as it is. On my 4 mile round trip (some through town) the temp needle stayed steady and the heat worked fine...other than my paranoia about it leaking someplace the car worked as it should, drove just fine.

I wish it was hard to believe this BMW shop would have gladly soaked me for 907 had I not questioned them (and then, when they waffled, I simply pulled the plug.) So again thanks guys...I was worried about trying to get this worked out cost effectively, busy w/ work, etc. He*l of a day and w/out your guidance I'd have been scrambling to find the info to make informed choices. I'm sure I'll be back to pick your brains when I do the rest of the job.

It's tough- I like this car (I've had it 8 years, it now has 116K on it) but it's getting old. Overall it's been very reliable, but I have had to replace the transmission, the radiator 3 times, various smaller issues, and some niggling gremlins (actuators rightfully doing their safety thing when they go bad and unlocking the whole car, door panels starting to come loose, headliner starting to sag, and stuff like that.) It's been maintained very well though, and it still looks like new. I'm torn on selling it for a younger car.

Sorry to go long, thanks again.

Eric

[632 Regal]

Eric,

What did you take the car in for in the first place, the heater valve? Sorry if I didn't see it but i re-read and didnt see whats up besides aux water pump... SO bear with my stupidity here for a moment as I may just be reading too far into this.

You took the car in for Aux pump...why? Besides lower heat at an idle this is no reason for great concern unless sub zero temps with the little one in there.

You took the car in for a "leaking" aux water pump which happened to me luckily 2 miles away from home in which I would not have been able to drive the car without a bypass.

In either case even emergency situation 900 or 600 or even 300 is quite a lot in my eyes. I want to understand this as I am quite anal at times... at other times I can be a total prick and ban people for no obvious reason lol.

[632 Regal]

Wow mine has 215K and a long way to go before I consider it old and used up except a small spot of surface rust.

I've had it 8 years, it now has 116K on it) but it's getting old.

Eric

[Black540]

I cant believe they tried to rape you for 690. I just did this repair myself...took all in 10 minutes, and cost me $30 for the pump.

[Ross]

"well, we really recommended the heater valve as a preventative thing,
Translation: Umm, usually since we have to remove both parts to replace one we attempt to (over)charge you for both parts also.
An engine overhaul or a complete set of dentures would be a "preventative thing" too.
Glad to hear they didn't get you.

[EricV]

Hey there. I don't mind clarifying at all as it helps everyone. It must be said that I went to this local "BMW Psecialist shop" only because it was in limping distance of where this happened. I usually use this fantastic and trustworthy shop an hour away. Anyway, what happened....

I was driving back into town from the country and all of a sudden whiffed coolant. Thought "uh oh" and looked at the temp needle, which was just beginning to touch the start of the red section. Pulled over immediately (in the rain, of course) and popped the hood. Plumes of steam coming from under the heater valve, so I knew it was likely to be the aux pump or (hopefully) a split hose in that area. It still had coolant in the tank, so I let the engine cool and then shot on up the hill to the crest (about 1/4 mile) and coasted down the other side (at the base of the small mountain is this shop...thought I was lucky then. )

First they call late Mon morning to say 907 for new aux pump, heater valve, and replacement of frozen sway bar links. I told them let's take the links off the table straightaway as I had all suspension and components replaced a few thousand ago, so I'd investigate that another time. That took us to 690. You guys schooled me from there, so I called and pressed on the heater valve issue- they then said "oh, well, we really recommend that as a preventive measure." I said "so it's not shot, as you stated earlier?" "Well, we didn't exactly say it was shot." Yeah.... Anyway, during that convo they said "OK, we'll do the pump for 390." I politely said the whole thing hadn't inspired confidence and that I wanted to pick it up after work- so I did (and paid the 75 bucks to get it back...awesome. I'd have given the customer a "break" after getting caught trying to soak 'em to minimize bad press, but oh well.)

So that was it- a spewing coolant leak from the aux pump.

215K is impressive- glad to hear you're having a good run w/ yours. Mine hasn't been bad, mind you, but I am finding that it's having things go wrong w/ great frequency (and great cost- a manual transmission giving up at 108K is unacceptable, IMO, but I now know this box is known for that.) Of course it is getting old and these things are to be expected, I do get that (have always had older cars.) Though an entirely diff beast my 93 Civic has 165K on it and has had virtually no repairs- even has the original clutch. It's now sidelined w/ a bad axle/CV joint, but at 165K I sure can't complain. No matter- again they are diff beasts altogether.

Thanks again guys-

Eric

[E34-520iSE]

Here in the UK a lot of E34's were not fitted with the aux coolant pump as standard and have ran fine for tens of thousands of miles......

HTH,

Shaun M

[russiankid]

Here in the UK a lot of E34's were not fitted with the aux coolant pump as standard and have ran fine for tens of thousands of miles......

HTH,

Shaun M

They will run fine, you will just lack the extra coolant circulation through the heater core.

[caqueenslace]

Hi, ours is leaking coolant, so why would we connect 21 and 22 to and connect to 3 and leave 23 along?
Also if we do this by pass is there still risk of it leaking??

[mikell]

Wow mine has 215K and a long way to go before I consider it old and used up except a small spot of surface rust.

Mine's now at 270k miles and I have no plans for getting rid of it.
Maintenance is required, of course - we all hate paying for replacements, but the cost of that beats the hell out of monthly car payments.
The only non-routine wear part I have replaced more than one time (so far) is the fuel filler door hinge.
I love my E34.