Thanks for your write-up which helped me a great deal to complete my cooling system fixes. The outer roller bearing was blown out from the BMW original water pump and the rollers were falling everywhere. I was very disappointment that this was happened at only 28K miles. I also found that the AC belt roller was “worn-out” on the roller surface (the AC serpentine belt looks fine though) which was also shocked me. I ended up replaced water pump, thermostat and housing, both serpentine belts, and AC roller/mechanical tensioner (the whole thing is one part from dealer).

Engine block drain plug, located at cylinder #2 under exhaust manifolds, is not too difficult to reach even from the top. The 2000 528i (M52 TU) has two oxygen sensors and located at the top side of the exhaust manifolds. Hence I don’t have the issues that the oxygen sensor is getting damaged by the coolant from the block drain as some people mentioned.

The water pump I bought from the dealer is made in Italy by Branorost. The black “plastic like” impeller is made in Germany. The new (or refurbished?) BMW WP looks exactly the same as my broken one.

M52 TU has electric map-controlled thermostat and is part of the thermostat housing. Hence I got the whole thing from dealer.

Pulling out the radiator was tricky. I broke one of the two plastic rectangular fan housing brackets underneath the radiator while I was trying to pull out the radiator. These brackets are not cheap ($8 a piece) and worse the dealer had to special order for me since they didn’t have it in stock. Make sure to take these two plastic brackets out before pulling out the radiator.

• ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT Tips and Tricks (Very Long, Enjoy!) (pic) - CNN-090 2006-05-14 04:27:25 (47524 views)
  • The censorship at roadlfy is 'low-class' and disgusting - CNN-090 2006-06-16 23:32:13 (1758 views)
  • HEPU Water Pump holding up nicely 1 month/1K miles later..... (url) - CNN-090 2006-06-02 19:31:04 (1472 views)
    • HEPU Water Pump Info for those who want to know... (url) - CNN-090 2006-06-02 19:47:54 (1976 views)
  • Re: ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT Tips and Tricks (Very Long, Enjoy!) - yrwei52 2006-05-19 12:14:09 (1986 views)
    • My answers to your questions (url) - CNN-090 2006-05-20 15:44:05 (1798 views)
      • Re: My answers to your questions - yrwei52 2006-05-23 23:24:04 (873 views)
        • Re: ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT Tips and Tricks - yrwei52 2006-06-14 03:46:05 (1188 views)
  • The mORE rEASONS TO kEEP YOUR Cooling System in Top Shape: The HEAD GASKET (url) - CNN-090 2006-05-18 12:20:25 (2049 views)
  • That is an outstanding example of documenting your work. Definite e38.org material. (nt) - davidc 2006-05-17 02:32:42 (808 views)
    • It had 'only' 550+ viewings in 2 days! Must have been useful to people! (nt) - CNN-090 2006-05-17 09:32:50 (740 views)
  • 88C thermostat gauge temp pic (pic) - CNN-090 2006-05-16 09:32:55 (1951 views)
    • BMW and VDO temp gauge (pic) (url) - CNN-090 2006-05-17 15:18:27 (1682 views)
    • The gauge is dead center ... - srr2 2006-05-16 12:37:06 (1000 views)
      • Re: The gauge is dead center ... - jimcash 2006-05-16 12:47:15 (845 views)
        • Jim, I may be wrong but VDO makes gauges for BMW (url) - CNN-090 2006-05-16 12:53:47 (745 views)
          • Re: Jim, I may be wrong but VDO makes gauges for BMW - jimcash 2006-05-17 07:53:17 (693 views)
            • Ideas for Testing gauge readings (pic) - CNN-090 2006-05-17 09:51:47 (1157 views)
        • Jim, For my info what temp does it have to be - CNN-090 2006-05-16 12:49:19 (720 views)
  • My Observations - dan 2006-05-14 23:04:28 (1368 views)
    • Great input, the more input the better...... - CNN-090 2006-05-14 23:21:05 (891 views)
  • Forgot a few pictures (pic) - CNN-090 2006-05-14 20:13:54 (3897 views)
    • MANUAL TRANS FOLKS! When Raising the Front - CNN-090 2006-05-17 10:34:34 (1084 views)
  • Thanks - This should be very helpful (nt) - Roderick 2006-05-14 19:04:52 (692 views)
  • Re: ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT Tips and Tricks (Very Long, Enjoy!) - jimcash 2006-05-14 07:11:02 (2098 views)
    • From what I understand, Bosch Motronic FI system - CNN-090 2006-05-14 13:01:49 (1051 views)