Replacing the water pump and thermostat on most 6-cylinder BMWs 91 thru 05 (M50 thru M56, S50, S52)

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This DIY How-To video shows how to replace a water pump and thermostat on the BMW 6-cylinder engines from the early 90s through the mid 2000s, M50, M52, M52TU, M54, M56, S50, S52. These engines have been used in various 3, 5 X and Z models.
The Bentley Publishing repair manual for the specific BMW or MINI model being serviced, will detail the pump and thermostat and model specific procedures
Click link for water pumps: www.bavauto.com/se1.asp?dept_i...
Click link for Thermostats: www.bavauto.com/se1.asp?dept_i...
Click link for Coolant: www.bavauto.com/se1.asp?dept_i...
Click link for Metal water pump pulley: www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?part...
Click link for Bentley publishing repair manual: www.bavauto.com/se1.asp?dept_i...
Click link for Spill-Free funnel: www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?part...
Click link for Form-a-Funnel: www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?part...
Click link for Coolant drain pan: www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?part...
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In the Fall 2013 issue of Fast Times we showed the DIY replacement of a common late model BMW electric water pump and thermostat.
Click link for electric water pump DIY video: blog.bavauto.com/14581
In this DIY video we will cover the very common later model 6-cylinder engines. While some details will vary depending on the specific BMW model, this DIY water pump and thermostat replacement will apply to the 6-cylinder engines (M50, M52, M52TU, M54, M56, S50, S52) in most 3-series from 1992 through 2005, 5-series 91 through 05and the X and Z series through the mid-late 2000s.
In most cases, the majority, if not all, of the work in replacing the water pump and thermostat can be accomplished from under the hood. We do recommend draining the coolant from the engine block before removing the thermostat or water pump. While this does require getting under the car, in most cases, it does provide a neater way to drain the coolant from the engine as opposed to having it gush from the water pump mounting recess as the pump is removed.
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[@NorthernChev]

ATTENTION VIEWERS: It is NOT necessary to remove the Vanos oil line or the bracket to remove the thermostat. Simply remove the four retaining bolts and gently slide the thermostat housing out from under the bracket. Clean the surface and install the new thermostat. No need to remove Vanos oil feed line.

[@drlest717]

Because you have clearly and precisely demonstrated how to perform both the Water Pump and Thermostat housing removal and replacement steps, I feel confident I can do both jobs this weekend. Thank you! (2000 BMW Z3 2.5)

[@NorthernChev]

ATTENTION VIEWERS: It is NOT necessary to drain the coolant from the block to do this job. Simply remove the drain valve from the bottom of the radiator. Draining the block does have the advantage of removing all the old coolant. But if your coolant is in good shape, simply drain the radiator. Saves you a huge amount of time.

[@mule666]

love these videos...so relaxt and clear explenations

[@O-RoD]

Just a heads up, the bolts you removed from the thermostat housing can be used to extract the water pump from its housing. Same diameter. I just did this today to replace my water pump of my e60 530i m54 engine. No need to buy a water pump removal set.

[@76djt]

Thank you for this info. My 93 E34 needs a new water pump..

[@VOLKSMAN28T]

I've often used diagonal cutters for removing plastic push-pins with great success but proper push-pin tools are better. I like that you balance your videos for the majority of the DIY'ers out there that might not have the proper tools. Great video as always.

[@bavarianautosport]

Right you are, and thanks.

[@madmaz8890]

This is the perfect DIY video, my water pump has recently gone on my 728i 1999, I assume that every thing is pretty much the same as this👍 fantasticly clear instructions

[@thulsa5218]

So calm and concise..gotta love it! Good directions and advice here

[@vinhbui7115]

Very professional, explanation into each detail for each problem, extremely helpful for learner

[@govivo2010]

Thanks for the video. Have done a few of these on E36 and not a lot of fun . Finally sprung for Mishimoto tank after second plastic tank cracked after 3 years both times. Added a Pegasus racing 3/4 inch OD aluminum splice in the overflow tank return hose under the airbox so can remove shroud and overflow tank as one unit after radiator. Also drill a 1/8 inch weep hole in thermostat to allow a faster air bleed ( hole rotated to top of thermostat ). Use upper radiator hose as funnel to fill radiator then switch ends to fill block and remaining hoses. The bleed hole and fill procedure reduces air bleed time a lot and top up in overflow tank to about 8 ounces. Takes one gallon to fill radiator and 3 quarts to fill everything else when block was not drained. Removed belts to avoid coolant contamination and sealed ends of hoses with 3M trim adhesive to block water /chemical ingress. The vacuum hoses under the L shaped air boot and the air boot crack causing idle surge . BMW boot lasts longer than aftermarket and can reseal cracked hose ends after rubbing alcohol cleaning with red silicone if not replacing them. Bel-Metric sell 6 mm nuts with rotating flange washer that deforms a little to soft lock the nuts. Hard to believe BMW spec of 5 nm on the water pump nuts but they are right on. Thanks again for very helpful video.

[@reevesnowpaw6251]

Im buying e39 soon, these videos are golden, now i can do these maintance by myself and save tons of money. thank you so so much!

[@RoxusRemo]

Did you end up buying one?

[@jamesogara2219]

These videos are the best thing going

[@josephmckenzie5144]

Super that's how you demonstrate this man is very good and timely

[@seuksavanhvongsipraseuth5153]

Amazing tutorial! Very professional

[@larrymeister5255]

That’s the best tutorial video on the internet!!!

[@ksukutube]

Excellent video and professional voice Thanks.

[@Ralgexthecat1]

Good tutorial video, easy to understand not like many on here who are obsessed with putting some kind of background noise on in the background,

[@beltowski7094]

Explain detaily,thank you for your video.

[@Vikingdescendent]

Perfect! Thx for posting.

[@jamesgilmore860]

I found the video to give me the tools to complete the job myself. thanks

[@joshua1281]

This is outstanding

[@airsetsuna1162]

great video,thanks

[@anthonym5050]

hello I appreciate all the videos you ever put up.. my question is on my 05 bmw z4 it's extremely tight due to the different frame design in the front. is it possible to remove without raising the motor? thanks for your help.

[@bigdoe]

Thanks for the video,I have a leak somewhere above the crankshaft pulley do I need to replace the pump or just the O ring my engine M54 530i

[@SouthernGrowSpot]

These videos are very much appreciated, but will this video apply to my 2006 525i 6 cyl?

[@calebdavies526]

good video. will it be the same for a 2000 323i?

[@neb-co2cs]

when filling the coolant into reservoir, shouldn't you not turn the heating to maximum (with the fan off/minimum)? This way the thermostat will open allowing more coolant going into the system? Great video by the away!

[@ironmantooltime]

Nice video 👍

[@hugolopez9342]

muy bueno gracias

[@MrAcc45]

that's so easy with just basic tools.. a water pump replacement on my mitsu 4g13 involves crankshaft pulley, timing belt, tight space, more tools etc

[@aliifioaffandra1495]

thanks..boss ..very clearly

[@mailabu2647]

Does the high performance water pump fits the BMW 325i 2001?

[@davidmoore660]

Thank You.

[@StuartOliver83]

Thanks👍🏻🇬🇧

[@edbikerii]

On my 2002 E39 530i I did not need to remove the bracket with the banjo bolt to remove & replace the thermostat.

[@escarroll23]

Thanks for the great videos -- long-time BavAuto fan and customer. Do you have any tips for reaching the drain plug on the block on a 2001 330xi? The car is on jack stands and I can see the plug, but I cannot reach it at all; not with my fingers, and not with any tool.

[@rcashley]

I bought the 4 Pc 3/8 In. Drive Quick-Release Extension Bar Set at Harbor Freight. It is a great set to have because of the quick-release feature that keeps a socket or additional extension from coming off or apart until you want them too. You can put a couple extensions together with a universal joint socket adapter (because of the angle to reach the drain plug), and easily reach the drain plug. I've done it multiple times on my two E46s, with no problems. The quick release extension set is also a great thing to have when changing spark plugs, because your socket won't come off the extension until you want to remove it.

[@MrDrummerman1969]

Nice thanks

[@razortm9947]

My water pump had a catastrophic failure, sending shards of the plastic impeller into the water pump housing. I tried to fish out the shards with my finger and got a few, but I'm not sure if there are more shards beyond my reach. How can I make sure that I got them all out? Or, should I not bother, i.e. would they have no impact on the cooling system?

[@marcoabarca3126]

hello, my 2007 525i overheated on me while driving on the freeway. Wasn't low on coolant. I'm thinking thermostat or water pump. Any idea? Would an ODB 2 read do anything for me? Any help is appreciated.

[@edotero61]

Very nice video. Probably the best I've seen on this topic. But there is absolutely no reason to remove the banjo bolt.

[@naseebkhankhan6131]

Good ser g

[@johnbugay214]

I'm going to replace a radiator in a 1997 5.28I v6 here soon, will this video cover the info i need? Newer, mechanic here, help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[@cb7rider18]

can you use anti seize on water pump o ring?

[@toyotoe3732]

Excellent video. Thank you. Is the engine coolant temp. sensor known to give any problems? Would you recommend to replace it as a preventative maintenance, if so at what mileage interval? Where is the coolant temp. sensor located on this model?

[@bavarianautosport]

We really don't see a need to replace the engine temp sensor as a scheduled maintenance task. The sensor on the M54 6-cylinder engines is located in the cylinder head, below the #6 intake port. Therefore, the intake manifold needs to be removed to access it.

[@gixxerhoff7502]

What do you do when it’s so stuck on there that your removal bolts snap ?

[@omaralejandro1951]

Thanks

[@Highway94]

No rtv on the water pump o ring? Only coolant ?

[@johnbugay214]

This is the only video that pops up when i search how to replace the radiator for the 5.28i, which is bizarre, usually there's 10 different videos. So i imagine this will help but I'm really not sure.

[@miguelangelsanchezyescas38]

y la manguera inferior como se cambia la que sale del deposito del refrigerante

[@alizoom4310]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Heretic_Wolf]

👍

[@rickwalker3290]

my oil pressure light flickered on/off today and i noticed she was leaking around the coolant reservoir(lower thermostat?) fitting. The engine temp.was showing normal running temp. I towed it home but she cranks up and seems to be fine now with NO oil pressure lamp!! What/Where should I start looking. Thank you...and thanks for the videos..BTW we are customers of BAVAuto..and I thank you

[@chrisvocatura1112]

Rick Walker you will

[@jankracik4956]

wouldn't the engine have timing issues if the water pump pulley is not held at the same spot since when it was removed?

[@ltcterry2006]

No. The water pump pulley is not connected to anything else. It's also round with no teeth. The timing chain is inside the block under the valve cover in the front.

[@Argyle93]

"Billy Bob Thornton replacing the water pump"

[@aahmed4321]

HI, is this the same engine/ procedure as E60 530d m54 engine?

[@TX010]

530d is NOT M54 model M57😉

[@TX010]

530d is Not m54! M57😉

[@gottawatch1932]

our 525I 2001 is in the shop today, and the mechanic told me it will cost $860 to replace the water pump , serpentine belt and pulley.

[@fillecool2]

Thats insane :o

[@henrydiaz9806]

for the m50 engines isnt there a specific way the thermostat is supposed face? wish you would have covered that briefly in this video.

[@bavarianautosport]

The spring end (long end) goes into the mounting hole (toward engine). Thanks for your note. We'll add an on-screen annotation on that.

[@cihangirasi]

my car e34 520i m50b20tu . ı want change m50b25tu. How can change

[@henrydiaz9806]

Yes but isn't there an arrow on the thermostat that say its suppose to face up towards the cylinder head or something like that?

[@bavarianautosport]

No there isn't. These can be installed in any position. If, by chance, the thermostat had an air bleed hole in the flat base plate, this would go upward, at the 12-o'clock position.

[@keshaborja8564]

I bought instruction from Avasva and I build it very very cheap.

[@szaki]

If don't have those long 6 mm bolts, like I didn't, take out the hold down bolts (6 mm) from the fuel injector's plastic cover, they're long enough to break the pump than just wiggle out the pump. Bruhaha!

[@soburnedout]

There was NO ANNOTATION in your vid for Mech Pump

[@demik1553]

Will this work on 330Ci

[@konstantinparkhomenko]

John Dillinger yes

[@konstantinparkhomenko]

John Dillinger yes

[@JohnstonPettigrew]

Replace the car.....thats the ticket to no catastrophic failure 😺

[@m32mikestu]

Where can I find a Bently manual in today's world

[@boleg88]

Everybody skips M51

[@leslieldridz1731]

bravo

[@Chris-eo1bp]

too bad about those crap angles.

[@HuangJudeZhu]

it costs me $1500 to replace the pump and thermostat at one auto repair shop.

[@thanks_ace]

Jude Zhu next time try amazon. Bought everything for about 150$ and did it in my driveway in about 2hrs

[@LeonAllanDavis]

Getting that pan off would be a pain for a driveway mechanic who can't get underneath the vehicle. Is removing the drain plug absolutely necessary? Couldn't you just pump the water out of the radiator? Back in the day I'd just pop off a hose and let in drain out on the ground. That was before global warming, of course.

[@d3vilscry666]

Leon Allan Davis drive it up on ramps. You can get good reviewed ones for 40 dollars on amazon.

[@LeonAllanDavis]

Seems to me ramps are good for everything but draining fluids.

[@d3vilscry666]

Well the Rhino ramps are used for easy oil changes so you don't have to jack the car up and then put it on stands. Unless you prefer that, then go for it. I see a lot of people who do coolant flushes/ oil changes drive their car on ramps, slide under and unplug the drain bolts and let the fluids drain out.

[@LeonAllanDavis]

I always thought oil pans were designed so that the gunk settles into the depression just above the drain plug. When you drain the oil, the crap is the first to get flushed out. But if you tilt the vehicle back 30 degrees then not only are you not draining all the oil but what's left in the back of the pan contains a heavy concentration of sludge and metallic particles. This is why I've always drained my vehicles while they're level. For the same reason I don't take a piss standing on my head. I'm sure some people do piss while in the upside down position. Probably the same ones who change their oil on ramps...

[@LeonAllanDavis]

I make it a rule to never accept advice from thin-skinned, thumb-sucking snowflakes - and that goes double for thin-skinned, thumb-sucking snowflakes who get triggered by a robust, free-style exchange of opinions between two adults. Back to your safe space, snowflake and don't come out until you grow a pair.

[@Pyroguy92]

plastic, plastic, PLASTIC!!!!!!!!!!! wtf BMW you're so damn heinous...