Suddenly Engine overheat
#1
Thread Starter
New Members
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, CA
My Ride: 535i
Model Year: 2008
Engine: 3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M
Suddenly Engine overheat
Hello,
I was driving my 2008 535i and all of the sudden Engine overheat posted in yellow and in less than 10 seconds turns to red and the car stopped in the middle of the road. I wait for few minutes and i was able to derive it way form the traffic. however, I called the Mechanics and he came to check the car and told me it's the water pump. I done the recall about 4 years back and the impression I had BMW fixed the problem. Any advice would be appreciated.
I was driving my 2008 535i and all of the sudden Engine overheat posted in yellow and in less than 10 seconds turns to red and the car stopped in the middle of the road. I wait for few minutes and i was able to derive it way form the traffic. however, I called the Mechanics and he came to check the car and told me it's the water pump. I done the recall about 4 years back and the impression I had BMW fixed the problem. Any advice would be appreciated.
#3
Members
Senior Members
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 45
From: Denver, USA
My Ride: 2006 BMW 530xi 6MT
Model Year: 2006
Engine: N52
Hello,
I was driving my 2008 535i and all of the sudden Engine overheat posted in yellow and in less than 10 seconds turns to red and the car stopped in the middle of the road. I wait for few minutes and i was able to derive it way form the traffic. however, I called the Mechanics and he came to check the car and told me it's the water pump. I done the recall about 4 years back and the impression I had BMW fixed the problem. Any advice would be appreciated.
I was driving my 2008 535i and all of the sudden Engine overheat posted in yellow and in less than 10 seconds turns to red and the car stopped in the middle of the road. I wait for few minutes and i was able to derive it way form the traffic. however, I called the Mechanics and he came to check the car and told me it's the water pump. I done the recall about 4 years back and the impression I had BMW fixed the problem. Any advice would be appreciated.
Last edited by twh; 03-05-2015 at 09:26 AM.
#4
New Members
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
My Ride: 535xi touring
Model Year: 2008
Engine: N54
What's your mileage? My car overheated just like yours a few weeks back with similar symptoms. The water pump was the problem. Mechanic told me it went into shut off mode or something.
Mileage was 62 K.
Mileage was 62 K.
#5
Thread Starter
New Members
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, CA
My Ride: 535i
Model Year: 2008
Engine: 3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M
Mileage is almost 59K. And yes I checked with BMW north America and the recall was for the high pressure fuel pump. Still the car at the Mechanic shop.
#6
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,672
Likes: 326
From: Augusta, GA
My Ride: 05 530i M54
Model Year: 05 530i
Engine: 3.0 M54
I dont know how you got the fuel pump mixed up with anything in the cooling system but I would say it is either the water pump, thermo or hose I put my bet on the pump since the thermo is suppose to stick open at failure. You will be over charged for whatever it is. Keep us posted maybe you can save yourself some money if you know about working on cars.
#7
Thread Starter
New Members
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, CA
My Ride: 535i
Model Year: 2008
Engine: 3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M
I would like to ask more questions and gave you more information too. What things can lead to water pump malefaction? Is the coolant can contribute to bad water pump. The mechanic changed the coolant 3 months ago!!. BTW, he chafed again with the new water pump and new thermostat too.
#8
Members
Senior Members
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 45
From: Denver, USA
My Ride: 2006 BMW 530xi 6MT
Model Year: 2006
Engine: N52
Water pump is an electric motor, so it really should last a very long time. Now, it does operate in a very hot environment and that leads to reduced electronic component lifetimes. I took one apart and I thought the impeller and seal engineering were pretty good. I don't think your coolant has anything to do with it unless the seal failed and I doubt that happened based on the one I took apart. Having it fail after 3 months is very strange. It is either defective or something else uncommon is going on. Don't know what uncommon things there are - I can imagine things like messed up wiring or voltage spikes or ??. Electric things have a higher initial failure rate, so maybe you just got unlucky. You shouldn't have to pay for the water pump itself as that should be covered under the manufacturer warranty I would expect. Labor I'd expect you to pay again.
#10
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,672
Likes: 326
From: Augusta, GA
My Ride: 05 530i M54
Model Year: 05 530i
Engine: 3.0 M54
Ok what is coolant? Coolant keeps the engine parts cool but also keeps the parts going. You said that your coolant was changed 3 months ago. That means the initial coolant was in the engine for 7 years XX miles. Coolant breaks down like any other fluid. Properly maintained coolant will make the cooling parts in an engine last longer than you probably want to keep the car. Coolant keeps the parts conditioned for service. That means a thermo will last the life of the car (in theory) and the water pump would too. A water pump/thermo only goes bad because of design defects if the coolant is well maintained. I have three cars and all at 150K or over. My BMW is the only one I had to change the water pump and thermo. That is because I was being proactive and knew that the impeller had to be metal. Yes they are electrical which can give another reason why it stops working.