Oh well, just after I cleaned it inside and out and gave it some loving care, the water pump packed in on me leaving me stranded at work 75 miles from home
perhaps I should leave her dirty.
It has been on its way the last few weeks with a crack in one of the metal feed pipes leading to the pump that I sealed up to stop the leak. That worked for a week, but this morning, red warning with no indication and no heat from the heaters. No leaks and full coolant, with the fan on constantly. Yup water pump gone to BMW heaven.
Managed to get it to a Indy (thanks AA, the 1st time in 6 years I have used you and you were great) and had a quote of £670 all in. Not too bad especially considering he could not source a OEM part and had to get original BMW pump at £450.
Have heard horror stories of £1500+ bills and mechanics stripping entire front ends to get at the pump, so a little relieved. It is possible to get at the pump from underneath if you remove the sway bar and know what you are doing and my Indy apparently does thank &*£
Only after investigation on the net have I found this quite common with the 3 series, electrical water pump with life spans of 80 - 110k. I have 90k on the clock, bang in the middle.
So be warned all you modern 3 series owners. It throws codes, internal ones only, but the car does not give these out as warnings of pump failure / problems. When it happens, it happens and it cuts all power. You will have about 30 seconds from the amber "i am feeling warm" light to the red and stop car light. Oil temp light was in normal range when lights came on, only after the red one did it start to rise.
What a start to the week and having to travel the 75 miles home on pubic transport
EDIT : On the plus side, I did get a renewal of £235 fully comp protected + business

It has been on its way the last few weeks with a crack in one of the metal feed pipes leading to the pump that I sealed up to stop the leak. That worked for a week, but this morning, red warning with no indication and no heat from the heaters. No leaks and full coolant, with the fan on constantly. Yup water pump gone to BMW heaven.
Managed to get it to a Indy (thanks AA, the 1st time in 6 years I have used you and you were great) and had a quote of £670 all in. Not too bad especially considering he could not source a OEM part and had to get original BMW pump at £450.
Have heard horror stories of £1500+ bills and mechanics stripping entire front ends to get at the pump, so a little relieved. It is possible to get at the pump from underneath if you remove the sway bar and know what you are doing and my Indy apparently does thank &*£
Only after investigation on the net have I found this quite common with the 3 series, electrical water pump with life spans of 80 - 110k. I have 90k on the clock, bang in the middle.
So be warned all you modern 3 series owners. It throws codes, internal ones only, but the car does not give these out as warnings of pump failure / problems. When it happens, it happens and it cuts all power. You will have about 30 seconds from the amber "i am feeling warm" light to the red and stop car light. Oil temp light was in normal range when lights came on, only after the red one did it start to rise.
What a start to the week and having to travel the 75 miles home on pubic transport

EDIT : On the plus side, I did get a renewal of £235 fully comp protected + business

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