E39 Waterpump impeller

Having had the plastic impeller disease on my E34 I'm wondering about my
recently acquired 2000 E39. Does this engine use a plastic impeller water
pump as well, and if so what's the anticipated time / mileage before
failure?

TIA,

Mel

i think it could be either,,, 50k miles


"Mel Z." > wrote in message
news:AGBhd.5403$o52.967@trndny03...
> Having had the plastic impeller disease on my E34 I'm wondering about my
> recently acquired 2000 E39. Does this engine use a plastic impeller water
> pump as well, and if so what's the anticipated time / mileage before
> failure?
>
> TIA,
>
> Mel
>
>

"Mel Z." > wrote in message news:<AGBhd.5403$o52.967@trndny03>...
> Having had the plastic impeller disease on my E34 I'm wondering about my
> recently acquired 2000 E39. Does this engine use a plastic impeller water
> pump as well, and if so what's the anticipated time / mileage before
> failure?
>
> TIA,
>
> Mel

I have the same question for a 6/98 build date US market 528i. When
was the switch to metal impeller?

To my knowledge, the impeller for the I-6 is plastic. It would be prudent
to carefully examine the entire cooling system around the 70K mile mark and
regularly thereafter (not that I'd ignore more basic inspections throughout
the service life of the vehicle). The 6 has not demonstrated the 8's
propensity for early cooling system demise, but safe is better than sorry.

Places to inspect: Thermostat housing, Overflow tank, Radiator hose attach
points and where the plastic top and bottom covers fit on the metal core.

R / John

"Sapere Aude" > wrote in message
m...
> "Mel Z." > wrote in message
> news:<AGBhd.5403$o52.967@trndny03>...
>> Having had the plastic impeller disease on my E34 I'm wondering about my
>> recently acquired 2000 E39. Does this engine use a plastic impeller water
>> pump as well, and if so what's the anticipated time / mileage before
>> failure?
>>
>> TIA,
>>
>> Mel
>
> I have the same question for a 6/98 build date US market 528i. When
> was the switch to metal impeller?

Mel Z. wrote:

> Having had the plastic impeller disease on my E34 I'm wondering about my
> recently acquired 2000 E39. Does this engine use a plastic impeller water
> pump as well, and if so what's the anticipated time / mileage before
> failure?
>
> TIA,
>
> Mel

The quick answer is no - you do not have the dissolving impeller.

BMW did a switch back to metal in late '96, so even '97 model year
528's should be just fine.

They have since come out with a new waterpump with an engineered
material (fancy name for an exotic plastic) that is not supposed
to have the problems of the original I6 water pump.

Don

As always, thanks for all the informative answers.

Mel

Don wrote:
> Mel Z. wrote:
>
>> Having had the plastic impeller disease on my E34 I'm wondering
>> about my recently acquired 2000 E39. Does this engine use a plastic
>> impeller water pump as well, and if so what's the anticipated time /
>> mileage before failure?
>>
>> TIA,
>>
>> Mel
>
> The quick answer is no - you do not have the dissolving impeller.
>
> BMW did a switch back to metal in late '96, so even '97 model year
> 528's should be just fine.
>
> They have since come out with a new waterpump with an engineered
> material (fancy name for an exotic plastic) that is not supposed
> to have the problems of the original I6 water pump.
>
> Don

> Having had the plastic impeller disease on my E34 I'm wondering about my
> recently acquired 2000 E39. Does this engine use a plastic impeller water
> pump as well, and if so what's the anticipated time / mileage before
> failure?
>
> TIA,
>
> Mel

My 1997 535i with V8 engine still runs with the original water pump.
However, I had to replace the expansion tank a few months ago at 225,000 km.

--
Best regards.
Giovanni Tarantino
Bevaix (NE)
Switzerland
1997 Audi A4 2.8 Q 230,000 km (144,000 miles)
1997 BMW 535i 229,000 km (142,000 miles)