I may have to consider a different pump if the Saleri I get from FCP has the lower grade composite impeller. The BMW/Saleri pumps with impellers made of PPS-GF 40 composite have proven to be quite durable. This thing I have that failed is either NOT a genuine Saleri pump, or Saleri is offering a vastly inferior unit for their aftermarket sales. I'll update once I receive the new Saleri pump from FCP. If it looks like my old one, it's not going in my X5.

Genuine may be the best route.



E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

Hey guys, I'm back : )

It's been a while since i've posted anything here but the thing I wanted to reiterate was that the Saleri i got from Napa was entirely different from the FCP Saleri. I am leaning toward there having been a bad run of Saleri pumps OR something. Who knows? All I know is that the Saleri I got from Napa in the Saleri box was ROCK solid. The composite impeller felt absolutely bulletproof and was an entirely different material than the one that failed. I remember being able to flick it with my finger and it pinged like metal. but it was NOT the old metal impeller with the shitty spot welds. i got one of those back in like 2016 and refused to put it on the car. Looked like a kid's science project.

https://i.postimg.cc/KRSDLT5N/2023-03-17-11-44-55.png https://i.postimg.cc/FYhbCQ8k/2023-03-17-11-45-05.png https://i.postimg.cc/Yh6fxSnw/2023-03-17-11-45-33.png

Welcome back, and thanks for responding! I clearly have the same exact issue as you. The pump I got from FCP in 2019 does not look like the online photos I can find. Mine has no casting or other markings whatsoever and of course the biggest issue is the inferior impeller material.

Didn't you say you got a replacement pump from FCP after you bought the NAPA version? I'm just curious if it was like the NAPA pump, or was it different like your failed pump? I have one on the way from FCP and am anxious to see what I get.

I just looked at your pictures. Interestingly, it appears you got an older version of the pump from NAPA that was mfgd in 2015 (sate code on impeller). Notice the 659EU designation vs. the current 659S. It has been suggested in other threads that the "S" designation was due to a bearing upgrade, but could just be internet hearsay.

AM.

you are correct about that 2015 iteration. That's the one i got from Napa in July of 21. I am 90% sure I received the exact same part from FCP (warranted) but can't say for certain which one I ended up using. I was so fatigued from troubleshooting and the headgasket etc that I didn't make a record.

I will say however, that there's no way i would have installed an inferior pump once i saw that saleri from Napa with that excellent build quality.

No telling which one you'll get. I guess you'll just have to wait and see !

To your earlier point though, you mentioned you got your defective Saleri in January 2019? Mine was purchased in February 2019. Very interesting indeed.

Sunny's like a water pump scandal is on the cards :popcorn:

Here are the few pics of my WP as promissed.
The impelers feel very sturdy.
I wonder if Saleri does make the original bmw pump after all since this one is made in Italy.
IIRC, last original one I bought for my E39 528i was remanufacutred in Austria.

https://i.postimg.cc/mDsCrrm6/IMG-20...-203210289.jpgacer aspire v5 keyboard issues

https://i.postimg.cc/brYnQBcx/IMG-20...-203230842.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/7hB2Xnwp/IMG-20...-203331743.jpg

Awesome! Thanks for posting. Your pump looks like all the various BMW part numbers going back as well as many of the photos I"ve seen of good Saleri aftermarket pumps. The good composite impeller and the large weep hole casting. My FCP Saleri is hopefully arriving tomorrow. I'll post pictures when I get it. I hope it looks similar to your genuine BMW pump!

AM.

No problem.
I'll probably remove the original pump tommorow, compare it to new and post pics of that comparision.
I was going to wait to do the WP PM but realized yesterday that my 2 year old thermostat housing has a crack and it's leaking.
I believe it's Wahler so I got the Mahle / Behr that's also made in Italy.

Quick update on WP subject:
Just pulled my original 17 year / 130k miles WP and it's identical to new one other than INA moving plant to Chech Republic.
There is a slight bearing play so I'm glad I'm doing the PM.

More importantly, I'd stay away from Wahler thermostat (so much for made in Germany).
It started leaking after 2 years and new Mahle I got seems to be better made but time will tell.

https://i.postimg.cc/7Y8b7L0x/IMG-20...-110430664.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/dt239KjG/IMG-20...-110514972.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/HkTxZP6R/IMG-20...-110534840.jpg