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      12-18-2023, 04:15 PM   #1
BMWZ42023
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Coolant issue

Hello good folks

My Z4 E89 sDrive20i 2017 89k miles Has developed an issue with a strange twist

So a good month ago now on a journey the temperature got high and I got the amber warning on the screen. I stoped and I heard the fan going full speed. I check bimmerlink for a code telling me "Engine cooling system: Motor speed, coolant pump outside tolerance". I restarted the car and went a long my journey with no problems.

Fast forward to now and after a number of test runs, trying to learn and troubleshot what it could be.

Doing the same test journey from a completely cold start the water pump speed will hover around 194 rpm and will stay that way until around 14 minutes in the journey doing mostly 55 MPH. The car gets fully warmed up around 12 minutes with the coolant temperature hovering around 220F and oil temperature hovering around 200F. once around the 14 minutes hits the water pump speed just stops as in O rpm. Then soon after the coolant temperature will go upto 255F. I pull over stop and turn the engine off. Start it back up to carry on for a few more miles to then turn around and head back home. After restarting the car I took note the water pump speed would settle down to 175 rpm and stayed that way until back home.

After more test runs on the same roads from a cold start. I've concluded there is an issue but this issue only happens from a completely cold start to when just after the car gets fully warmed up. And hear is the twist, I can stop the issue from even happening by simply switching the engine off and back on again when car gets to around full temperature which stops the water pump from stopping in the first place.

Can anybody think what it could be? I really hope it's not the water pump as it seems fine.

Last edited by BMWZ42023; 12-18-2023 at 04:21 PM..
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      12-18-2023, 04:28 PM   #2
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The water pump is a brushed unit…the brushes wear down over time..mostly use…as it’s an electromechanical affair as it heats up /cools etc it functions intermittently..

This failure mode is very common on N52 and N54s..I’ve personally not heard of it on a N20..but given your miles..

My 35is pump went the same way at 60k miles
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      12-18-2023, 05:06 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by B21 View Post
The water pump is a brushed unit…the brushes wear down over time..mostly use…as it’s an electromechanical affair as it heats up /cools etc it functions intermittently..

This failure mode is very common on N52 and N54s..I’ve personally not heard of it on a N20..but given your miles..

My 35is pump went the same way at 60k miles
Yup I was leaning towards it could be the electronic module inside the water pump. I saw this website http://www.spminipump.com/m/news/309.html and I did think that would explain how I can just restart the car and it be fine for miles apon miles after. Ok so new water pump it is then. Thankfully because I can stop it from happening in the first place it can wait until the new year to get fixed.

Thank you for your informative reply

Last edited by BMWZ42023; 12-20-2023 at 07:57 PM..
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      12-19-2023, 03:00 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWZ42023 View Post
Yup I was leaning towards it could be the electronic module inside the water pump. I saw this website http://www.spminipump.com/m/news/309.html and I did think that would explain how I can just restart the car and it be fine for miles apon miles after. Ok so new water pump it is then. Thankfully because I can stop for happening in the first place it can wait until the new year to get fixed.

Thank you for your informative reply
Mine failed on the furthest point of the Scottish North Coast 500 road trip…at the furthest far north West Point on the Uk mainland..

Having let it cool down I limped at 50 mph to Thurso about 100 miles and the next day a further 300 miles home ..

It seems on the N52/N54 the pumps go for about 1,000-2,500 miles before they irreversibly fail..
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Change history here… https://www.dropbox.com/s/8h1vabklgz...0List.pdf?dl=0
Build thread here… https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=131886
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      12-19-2023, 04:56 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by B21 View Post
Mine failed on the furthest point of the Scottish North Coast 500 road trip…at the furthest far north West Point on the Uk mainland..

Having let it cool down I limped at 50 mph to Thurso about 100 miles and the next day a further 300 miles home ..

It seems on the N52/N54 the pumps go for about 1,000-2,500 miles before they irreversibly fail..
Oh jesus sorry to hear that. Must have put a downer on the trip back home. I've not done the full North Coast 500 but I've gotten a bit north of Ullapool. There was places you didn't even get a phone signal so I'd imagine when it happen to you it would have felt isolating.

Thanks for telling me about roughly when the pump will fail. I've done around 600 miles since the issue occurred. My independent garage might fit me in before their 2 week brake.
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      12-19-2023, 07:36 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWZ42023 View Post
Oh jesus sorry to hear that. Must have put a downer on the trip back home. I've not done the full North Coast 500 but I've gotten a bit north of Ullapool. There was places you didn't even get a phone signal so I'd imagine when it happen to you it would have felt isolating.

Thanks for telling me about roughly when the pump will fail. I've done around 600 miles since the issue occurred. My independent garage might fit me in before their 2 week brake.
First time in about 50 runs that I have been let down..always useful to carry a decent code reader with you!
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Build thread here… https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=131886
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