Water pump leaks? (FIXED, w/ instructions and pics)

[simoncpw]

Hi all,

There is a leak from somewhere in the Windsheild cleaning system. And the best I could find was that the Water Pump (#4 below) is leaking.


Has anyone experienced this with their X? Is it normal for this pump to leak and anywhere else I check as well?

Thanks.

[NOVAX5]

if you have cold weather package with headlight washers, then you have 2 number 3 and 1 number 12 (the grommets) those things are rubber and they shrink over time resulting the leak. replace them first before you replace the pumps they are very cheap $3 a piece. put some clear silicon seal (the kind you use to seal around your bathroom) underneath each grommet. you should be ok. i had that same leak for 2 years. it doesn't happen during summer but leaked like crazy in winter when the grommets shrink the most. one day i decided to get it done since i am tired of refilling with cheap windshield fluid every 2 weeks. easy job, done in 10 mins. good luck.

[simoncpw]

Thanks, Novax5. I did check those rubbers and saw no water coming out from there. But like you said, they are cheap, so I might as well get those replaced first. Thanks again!

[X5 Meister]

I don't know your car's year or model, but yes there was a known issue with the windshield wiper pump systems in the past. Using aftermarket low grade wiper fluid or straight water would clog the strainer on the end of the pump and cause failure or leaking. BMW issued an SIB on the matter recommending to use only BMW washer additive, preferably with distilled water, and they also made the strainer on the end of the pump with a larger mesh.

[Weasel]

Actually just about all BMWs produced in the last decade used the same washer pump that is #4 in that pic, and they all seem to leak after a few years. I agree that you need to change the rubber washer as it is also a filter screen, but I have not seen one leaking from there in 5 years. If you look at the pump right by where the #4 is pointing you will usually see some blue/white (or whatever color washer fluid you use) residue coming from a small rectangular hole in the side of the motor. (just like the weep hole on the engines water pump) If that is the case then go for the pump and grommet, and check the same style pump motor for the rear wipers as well.

Side note, when putting back together the plastic elbow part# 10 sill leak about half the time, feel free to either replace it or just pull it out and put the rubber hose directly on the nipple.

And for what it's worth I've not yet seen the bigger pump for the headlight washers leak yet on anything.

[Weasel]

Originally Posted by X5 Meister

I don't know your car's year or model, but yes there was a known issue with the windshield wiper pump system in the past. Using aftermarket low grade wiper fluid would clog the pump and cause failure or leaking. BMW issued an SIB on the matter recommending to use only BMW washer additive, preferably with distilled water, and they also made the hole in the pump larger.

And they still wear and leak... pretty much unavoidable after so many years.

[X5 Meister]

Hey I didn't say the pump was bigger, just the strainers on the end of pumps were made with larger mesh. Here are photos of the two strainers (# 3 and # 12; left to right; MSRP $2.62 & $3.85) in the Realoem schematic. Below is the SIB 610109. And here is a link for the repair:

BMW330ci.net - Changing Your Windshield Washer Pump (Do-It-Yourself)

[simoncpw]

Thanks so much guys. Mine is a 2002.

I just went and bought both the pump (U$12.8) and the rubber washer (US$2.5). Will get them replaced tonight and hopefully fix the problem.

Next is water leaks into the rear passengers floor area when parked under heavy rain, which will probably take longer time to trace and fix :-(

[X5 Meister]

Here you go: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...loorboard.html

Originally Posted by simoncpw

Next is water leaks into the rear passengers floor area when parked under heavy rain, which will probably take longer time to trace and fix :-(

[simoncpw]

Thanks for the link. I've read the link before and got some idea of what might the cause. But looks like the link had the wet floor on the front-passenger, while mine is at the rear passenger, water coming in from the door / floor, and rear seat, on both sides. The could be the drainage is block also? I was going to start by replacing the door seals first, they look and feel aged.

Originally Posted by X5 Meister

Here you go: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...loorboard.html