Wife's BMW Z4 - pulling my hair out!

[Basil]

Back in the day ... my dad would "fix" that kind of leak by adding uncooked oatmeal to the coolant.

 

[NutmegCT]

Too much willow in the coolant?

(And dad *loved* oatmeal - but with cream, not coolant.)

 

[Basil]

(And dad *loved* oatmeal - but with cream, not coolant.)

Yeah I like oatmeal too, but I don't think I'd put it in today's cars. I remember back in the day I once used some Bars Stop Leak in an emergency situation when my Catalina developed a pin hole leak in the radiator.

 

[JPSmit]

Yeah I like oatmeal too, but I don't think I'd put it in today's cars. I remember back in the day I once used some Bars Stop Leak in an emergency situation when my Catalina developed a pin hole leak in the radiator.

Apparantly Bars Leak (or their version) is put in rads from the factory these days. On the advice of a very very knowlegeable friend, I put it in mine as a matter of course.

 

[Popeye]

Seems you have solved the problem - Happy Thanksgiving! For what it is worth, if I need OEM parts for my BMW, I buy from getbmwparts.com. (I do not have any financial affiliation.) They are are dealer that sells parts roughly 25% discounted* if you order via the web.

*still BMW prices... ugh. Unfortunately as my car approaches the third century of ultimate driving pleasure, I am also experiencing the ultimate "need more parts" pleasure.

 

[gonzo]

Performance and reliability of aftermarket parts are unpredictable, consider OE. I use FCP Euro for my Audis and they guarantee replacement for life of part / product. FCP for BMW

 

[Basil]

Performance and reliability of aftermarket parts are unpredictable, consider OE. I use FCP Euro for my Audis and they guarantee replacement for life of part / product. FCP for BMW

I’ve always had good luck in the past with Beck Arnley. I suspect this was just one of those flukes.

 

[LarryK]

I have had new wp bad on my ford vans, had a wp that would not fit right on my 03 MINI, was a cover if sorts and the mounting hole did not match. My wifes 2011 MINI S Countryman has a nightmare wp like the BMW, I relaced then the trans cooler leaked, then the dealer changed wp and trans cooler on warranty. Did not want to go to dealer, don't trust them, but they had the parts ( which means, happens aa lot) Might try glue on the oring before mating wp to block, always a chance it might slip down. Remember the old thermostats that were vertical and had to be stuck on with gasket sealer so they wouln't drop down.

 

[PAUL161]

I'm surprised that the bad pump was a Beck-Arnley, they have always had a good reputation for a quality product. Maybe they changed manufactures for their pumps, not unusual anymore in todays market.

 

[Basil]

I'm surprised that the bad pump was a Beck-Arnley, they have always had a good reputation for a quality product.

I was surprised too. My guess is (and it's just a guess) that the pump had sat on a shelf or in a bin for long enough such that the inner seals dried out and thus failed when the pump was finally installed.