Couple of warnings about E36

[steve325IS]

Okie...
Some of you may know about the water pump using a plastic impeller. I found out the hard way. Almost home and all of a sudden smoke, steam comes from under my hood. Im like holy shit! Only 1 block from house so I keep on going, as I drive onto my driveway, it gets worse. I get out, look behind me on the street and theres *lots* of water following me to my driveway. Looked under the hood and no coolant. Had to get the car towed to mechanic and turns out, the plastic impeller failed-broked, causing the radiator to bust and some hoses. Radiator probably busted at weak point,old age, but this did cost me alot to fix. 99% of people talked to say the plastic impeller caused this. No coolant flow, heated up, and boom..problems.

Anyway, it turns out its a common problem. Have the pump replaced or end up SOL when it fails.

Heres a good article I found on a wiring problem that shorts out...causing electric failure

Wiring Problem of the E36


This is just a heads up..its better to be safe than to shell out money on things you could have avoided

[wulley1]

I heard that it was just the 92-95 E36 that had the water pump problem. Is this true? It was an item that I plan on replacing very soon, but if 96 through 98 weren't affected then I won't replace it.

[97alpineM3]

Mine was not plastic..... I've taken it off before... and I'm possitive it was never changed... and I have a 97.

[kamikazinyc]

Mine 94 changed mine dealers don't sale the plastic ones anymore.