Just replaced mine yesterday, 3.0 adaptive drive (short plastic impeller housing). Not a bad job~4hrs, just messy without a rad drain plug. Pulled the fan assembly, belly pan, plastic pan, R wheel, and wheel well. Advice, replace the tstat, pump to block, pump to stat, and lower rad hoses while in the neighborhood. Also buy a pump with a good warranty, just in case. The labor is not so bad, 6 bills for a pump is though. Small detail, clock all your clamps so you can access them later from easier directions. :)

I finished up the water pump replacement on my 2012 35i (N55) yesterday.
I also swapped the thermostat and the coolant tank for good measure.

I was somewhat afraid of the job, but I think it's really over-blown.
If you tackle the job methodically, it's fairly simple. I had the entire job done in about 4 1/2 hours.

The things that I would add to the other's DIY:

When you pull the intercooler out, first loosen the engine oil cooler and push it back towards the engine. It only has 2 small bolts holding it in, and it makes the intercooler almost slip out. No having to muscle it in or out.

Remove the fan assembly. You need the room to work, and also to slip the thermostat and the water pump in and out of the engine bay. Disconnecting the bottom rad hose from the thermostat and pushing it out of the way makes this removal much easier.

For all the turbo plumbing and the water hoses, put the snap ring in place, then push the plumbing together. You know it is seated when you hear the click.

Hope this info helps others save some labor $.


MJ

For those that have recently replaced the pump - there is a short hose that comes off the water pump and connects to a rigid pipe that leads to the engine block. Could you remove the pump by simply disconnecting the short hose without having to remove the rigid pipe?

One of the how to videos that I found online removed the rigid pipe while another video did not seem to remove it but did not specifically talk about the short hose and rigid pipe.

Edit: I ended up removing the rigid pipe - was pretty straight forward to remove and reinstall so I did not attempt to remove the pump until after I removed this hose/pipe.

I haven’t performed it yet.
I monitored the pump several times and concluded that the pump is functioning properly.

However I ordered and received the pump and Thermostat. Will replace them as I get some free weekends.


Let me know how yours is going.



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OK, finished up today.

Not too bad of a job - took me about 7 hours total even though it did not feel like it took that long as I did it over 3 days. Not overly difficult just a lot of stuff in the way and limited space to work. I have the adaptive drive so there is even less room.

Parts and supplies cost me just below $500 which based on the estimate I received from a local independent ($1200) saved me about $700.

I ended up removing the fan but didn't need too as I pulled everything out through the wheel well and got to everything from underneath.

This job would be so much easier and at least 2 hours less if I had a lift as much of my time was spent getting down on the floor and then back up.

All in all pretty easy - everything came off and went back on without too much trouble.

I followed the referenced You Tube video which was extemely useful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re6oO43ldUs.

Nice job!




Did you drain the coolant beforehand?

Did you bleed the system?
You can do that manually. Takes 12 minutes of your battery when ignition is ON.



Also what are the special tools that are a “must” for the job?



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I did not drain the coolant before hand. My first evening was spent mostly prepping for the job by getting the truck as high off the ground as possible, removing plastic and metal splash guards under the vehicle, removing the right wheel and a section of the wheel liner and removing the fan (which I didn't need to do). At this time I un-fastened a couple hoses to let the coolant drain.

The must have tools for the job was the E-12 and E-8 torx sockets, 10 inch long pick tools (to unclip the hose fasteners). I would also recommend an E-12 wrench to get at one of the water pump bolts that I struggled to get the socket on. Of course you will also need some other fairly standard tools like screwdrivers and metric sockets.

Other than that, pretty straightforward. I would watch the You Tube video I linked a couple of times. It shows every step in a pretty straight forward manner and I followed it pretty much all the way.

Thanks. That is certainly very helpful.

I have all those tools except the 10 inch puck tool.

In that video (I’ve watched if few times), he uses a flexible screwdriver. Is that what you used too?

Is it also a must have?





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