A bad water pump in your BMW can lead to serious engine damage, overheating, and costly repairs if ignored. Like any vehicle, it’s essential to keep up with regular maintenance on your BMW to make sure it lasts as long as possible. One maintenance task that gets overlooked time and time again is the water pump.
Symptoms of a Bad Water Pump
The last thing you want is to be enjoying a day out at the Botanical Gardens or Railroad Park and getting back to your vehicle, ready to drive home and you end up watching your BMW’s engine temperature gauge starting to rise into the red zone. You are going to want to stop right away and get some help. You might also see coolant leaks, strange noises, and visible rust or corrosion. A leaking water pump can result in puddles of coolant under your car, indicating compromised seals or gaskets.
Another symptom of a failing water pump is hearing whining or grinding noises from the front of the engine, which can be caused by worn-out bearings. With these sounds, you’ll usually notice a drop in performance or an increase in engine temperature. You don’t want to be going to the McWane Science Center and feel like your BMW is starting the field trip early!
If you notice rust or corrosion around the water pump, it could also signal that the pump is starting to fail. You’ve got to be on top of checking for these signs to catch them early – you can always have a technician check during routine maintenance appointments. Depending on the model of your BMW, your vehicle might have sensors that trigger warning lights that can help warn you of bigger issues. Staying on top of issues helps keep you safer in the long run and keeps money in your pocket versus spent on larger repairs.
Consequences of Ignoring a Bad Water Pump
As much as we’d like to tell you that you can just ignore a bad water pump, not taking care of it right away can lead to much larger engine damage and expensive repairs. The first thing you are going to notice is probably going to be that your engine is overheating, as the water pump fails to circulate coolant properly, causing engine components to warp or seize. If you decide to look the other way, you’re going to end up with blown gaskets, cracked cylinder heads, or even a warped engine block. And if you still think you have time to wait before fixing, the overheating can progress to complete engine failure, resulting in a breakdown that may require an engine replacement – and that’s not at all a cheap fix.
The longer you wait to address water pump issues, the more damage is done to other engine components, which then means you are going to be watching money leave your bank account faster than if you’d just replaced the water pump right away. Replacing the water pump early is much less expensive than fixing a severely damaged engine. You’ve got to keep up on maintenance tasks because neglecting maintenance reduces the overall reliability of your BMW. A failing water pump can leave you stranded on the road or cause your car to perform poorly, and then you’ll really be upset!
Why You Should Get Your BMW’s Water Pump Inspected and Replaced Promptly
The first sign of a water pump issue, it’s 
best to just get it checked out. You don’t want to be stranded on the side of the road late to your final destination. Our professional mechanics at Momentum Motorworks, are experienced in diagnosing and repairing issues with BMWs and other luxury vehicles. We are going to tell you that regular maintenance and timely repairs are key to keeping your car running smoothly and extending its lifespan.
At Momentum Motorworks in Birmingham, AL, they specialize in high-end German automobiles like BMWs. Our technicians can grab our latest diagnostic tools to quickly identify any issues with your water pump or cooling system and provide reliable, high-quality repairs. Whether you’re in Alabaster, Homewood, Helena, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Vestavia, or Birmingham, Momentum Motorworks is here to help ensure your BMW remains in excellent condition.