E30 Zone

Hi,

So I was driving slowly in traffic and my 318is started to make a 'pinking' sound under acceleration. Then the engine cut out it rolled to a stop. The temp gauge was high, and there was no water in the expansion bottle. I let it cool down, topped up the water and it came trickling out of the water pump area of the engine. The AA told me that the water pump was shot and needed replacing. Once cold, the engine turned over and ran smoothly for 30 secs before I turned it off.

Please can you tell me:

Roughly how much is it to buy a new pump and have it fitted?
What else can be done at the same time (timing belt)?
How can I tell if the engine was damaged by the overheating?

Thanks!

The IS has a timing chain, not a belt

new pump is around £35 and is easy enough to fit if you'd want to give it a go? you'd need new antifreeze too don't forget and you could put a new thermostat in if yours is the original one? (£10 ish).
as tps says the m42 (your engine name) has a timing chain which never really need changing in the real world. you could give your car a good service at the same time and have a good look through everything though. i would charge around £40 to change the above on a 318is and have a look round and see any other possible problem areas. but your local man or garage etc would probably charge a little more i'd guess? hard to say really but it's not bank breaking stuff don't worry too much.
hth
Kev

Thanks kevo...that's a relief! The way that the AA guy was talking, I thought I was in for a new engine.

So £35 for a new water pump, about an hour to fit it (£60 at the local garage), don't bother changing the timing chain (although I don't know when it was last changed), new antifreeze, and an oil & filter change (which is due anyway). About £150 all told.

That's good news =)
Simon

Cyman wrote:Thanks kevo...that's a relief! The way that the AA guy was talking, I thought I was in for a new engine.

If you ran this engine until it quit, then I'm not sure that I disagree with him!
BMW put a gauge right in front of your eyes, and you failed to notice it - I think " the temperature gauge was high" might be a bit of an understatement.
These are tough engines though, so you might be lucky. Either way, you won't know until the pump's replaced and you run the thing for a few days.

Good luck getting the pump out if it's been in there for 10+ years! Cooking an M42 can crack the head - if it begins starting up on 3 cyls, you've done some damage.

All fixed. Just had the water pump replaced (+ an oil & filter change), and the IS is back to its old self. They build these engines to last! Thanks for all the advice...