2007 Water Pump Replacement. Overheating and no coolant loss

[lt_texan]

Just updated the title to make it easier to find

[wacuna]

I have a 2008 X5 3.00si and changed the thermostat today. A PITA!!! I took me 5 hours.

Here is how I did it:

I put the car on ramps and remove everything underneath. I also remove the wall in the passenger side wheel. I didn't remove the wheel.

The fan is different than the one described here.It doesn't have any screws but tabs at both sides that clip into the radiator housing. This was very hard to figured out and I wasted a lot of time here.

At this point I could see everything, the hoses (two) with clamps, very easy to remove. The other two a PITA. The radiator does;t have a drain plug so removing the houses the system got drained.

The thermostat went out from the top.

Put everything back in reverse. The space to work is tiny but now I can celebrate. $1,500 from one pocket to the other one.

Cheers.

[hambone1983]

water pump is toast indeed - luckily your vehicle died in a residential area. Mine went out doing 85 on the left lane in a heavily congested speeding highway. The damn X gave me enough time to pull over to the right breakdown lane and then kaput - dead.

No damage to the vehicle, never got hot - just heavy damage to my wallet. 1000 bux later, its back on the road - new pump, thermostat and 1 gallon of coolant.

[lt_texan]

Newbe question. Do you "need" a lift for this? Can jackets suffice? Or do you dive in from top?

Manual is on its way

Dan

[ECS Tuning]

Originally Posted by lt_texan

Newbe question. Do you "need" a lift for this? Can jackets suffice? Or do you dive in from top?

Manual is on its way

Dan

I've had a couple of guys say a lift isn't needed, I would use jack stands not just a jack to safely keep the X in the air during removal and instillation of the new parts.

Also don't forget a jug of fresh coolant in your parts list! It's always a pain to have to drain and refill with the proper mixture of coolant when you forget to pick it up the first time.

Also I've tossed the needed parts in a custom cart for your to check out if you'd like, it can be viewed HERE.

[lt_texan]

Jack stands. Yes!

[seattle]

Had exactly same thing happen ocasionally on my Corolla. Sudden overheating, but no coolant loss. On other ocasions, the air would all of a sudden start blowing cold.

Figured it would be either thermostat or water pump. Since thermostat is much cheaper and easier to replace, went ahead with it. No problems since.

[vinny323]

Hi guys quick question when draining the coolant for this job is there two drain plugs or one on the e70. I have a 2009 4.8 and have the same symptoms. I wanted to change the coolant at the same time.

[lt_texan]

So I bought a pirate service manual off ebay and it does not have the full procedure for water pump and t-stat R&R. Or at least with my VIN it doesn't.

I'm going to give it a go with the belly pan off and from the top removing the fan and shroud.

Will attempt without removing the radiator.

Here goes!

[lt_texan]

Okay,

Step 1 - Raise the truck
Jack using the front centre jacking point
Support with jack stands at the two front tire changing jacking points.

Step 2 - Drain "lifetime" coolant.
Remove belly pan. Or whatever the BMW vernacular for it is
Remove engine brace plate. Disposable aluminum bolts? No blue paint, but they sure look the part.
Remove reservoir cap.
Unscrew blue plug bottom left of radiator, let dangle.
Catch a bunch of coolant in a strategically placed pan.
Remove the inlet water hose on the water pump (it's under the a/c compressor pointing to the rear). I got the clamp off with a 1/4 drive 6mm ratchet.
Try to catch some coolant with your (now safely emptied) pan.
Clean up the unbelievable mess with lots of cheap kitty litter.

Step 3 - remove electric fan assembly
Remove the two bolts on each side of the brace.
Unsnap the hood release cable from the 3(?) clamps on the brace.
Work the left side of the brace up and move to the left so that the right side clears the a/c hoses, then lift the right side and slide out to the right.
Unplug the electrical connector on the right side of the shroud.
Press in the lock on one side (you can see how the one by the plug works as it is not hidden by the rad hose like the right hand side one).
Lift each side enough to clear it out of the lock.
The "ear" on the left of the shroud folds back and into the shroud so it clears the radiator hose.
Lift/work the fan assembly out.

Step 4 - remove thermostat assembly
(This is where my BMW service manual has no documentation, so it might be hit or miss until I get there.)
Loosen the t-stat end of the water pump inlet hose and remove (6mm wrench accessed from the rear after to other unsuccessful tries from the bottom front and attacking from above.)
Release holds from the radiator to t-stat housing and remove - a little working back and forth and then they slide off.
Unplug the t-stat housing power connection and move out of the way.

That's where I am now. Really wanted the water pump and t-stat housing to be on the garage floor today, but then I messed around yesterday and most of today trying to get the service manual to spit out the procedure.

Next step, I'll remove the other hoses on the t-stat housing and then it looks like two smaller screws hold the t-stat housing to the water pump. Hopefully this will get the t-stat out of the way so I can access the upper water pump bolt.

Oh well.