E36 Water Pump Worry

[endomorph]

I have just replaced the water pump on my E36 Compact, but I have a worry that maybe someone may be able to displace.

The pump bearings fell out a couple of days ago and the car was stopped within 8-10 seconds of it failing. I changed the pump yesterday (after getting some great advice from this site). Once I removed the pump, I noticed that the impeller was totally destroyed ! I managed to pull out a few pieces from the cavity where the pump sits and I flushed the engine out for about 10 minutes, but I estimate that I have only got about 20% of the impeller !!

I continued with the replacement, all finished and started the car. No leaks / rattles / knocks.

Should I be worried about the remaining pieces possibly shattering the new pump impeller or will they get trapped somewhere ?

Am I right in thinking that the path of the water flow from the pump is round the block, out the top and through the thermostat back into the rad ?

If so, I assume that the thermostat would catch any stray parts ?

Any advice greatly appreciated....

[Furious]

yes your right that is the path it travels in the easiest way to put it, are the parts harmful? well thats a good question, i would think not only because this is not an uncomon problem with the e36's im sure its happened a few times, and ive yet to read any threads regarding any after affects of the impeller failing. where they go im not sure, to be honest if the particles are big enough i would be worried if it might actually block or clog up the thermostat return but even than that to me sounds like a long shot. i say just keep an eye out for any issue in regards to the temperature, maybe if the peices were brittle enough they might break down in time.

[rej487]

I had about seven fan blades dismantle when my water pump bursts... those are probabably what you need to be cautious of, not the impellars from the water pump!

I had 2 hoses go snip lol and many people lose their radiators!

Just consider yourself lucky and look out for any cooling issues like Furious said

[endomorph]

OK thanks chaps, puts my mind at rest. I thought it would be the answer, but I just wanted to be sure.

I have run the car a few times now and listened very carefully, but I have not heard anything. Just to be safe, I may remove the thermostat housing this weekend and see if anything is caught up and back flush the rad in case any material made it in there.

My baby lives to breath another day ....

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[Furious]

great let us know, and throw some higer resolution pictures in the picture forum, nice looking.