Check Coolant

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by X5SHARMA

I read about the plastic impeller also which is what prompted me to get all these parts to change. Its pretty simple from all the forums im running through but am paranoid myself about breaking something else and/or changing something while im already in there. The expansion tank definitely has a bulge perhaps from pressure on the known hairline crack sections. Got the cap the tank the hoses and waiting for water pump and now the thermostat.

Sounds like you're on track.

Oddly enough, the water pump I took out of my '02 3.0 was a metal impeller model. It was original as I bought my X5 brand new. Oh well. It really isn't that bad. If you want to know you've got a clean slate then do it all. A serpentine belt, water pump, a few hoses, and coolant aren't that much money. My belt was getting old and a friend just had his X5 water pump take a dump on him so I was extra paranoid. After all was swapped out I knew that my cooling system was good to go.