2008 X5 3.0 Thermostat??

[scubalibre]

Hi folks, about to change my X5's water pump & thermostat. I have seen a few video & DIY posting on how to do this and feel confident I can do this. I purchased the thermostat from my BMW dealer this morning and when I opened the box there is a bolt, threaded on one end and has no head but what looks like a hole at the other end that fits a allen wrench. Does anyone that has done this know what this is for? None of the stuff I have seen shows replacing a bolt like this one. Is not a mouting bolt because it does not fit any of the mounting hole threads.

Thanks

[Cash]

That most likely is the screw used to remove the water pump. You will have to insert that threaded piece into the pump on either sides until it is totally retracted from the housing. Check the Bentley manual for further detail. The water pump comes with the threaded holes for this piece.

[scubalibre]

So why was it in the thermostat box instead of the water pump box?

[scubalibre]

Cash, just looked at the water pump and there no place for this bolt/screw. But thanks,

[Cash]

My bad! That's for the E53 model year.