[countofmc]

Fairly low mileage, about 50k. It's been a very long time since I took it on a meaningful road trip, but am thinking about doing so soon. Would be about 1000 miles round trip, through some desolate highways and roads.

I recently had some routine maintenance done to it along with a battery swap. Mechanic said car is clean, very good.

My only concern is the water pump, which seems like it can fail on these cars at this age completely without warning and leave you stranded. Which would suck if it happened in the middle of nowhere.

Is this a concern at all, or something so unlikely it wouldn't give you pause about taking the car on such a road trip? The mechanic did claim there's a code the car throws off that could warn you about an impending water pump failure and said my car didn't have that, so I should be ok?

[08TUNDRA]

A week before my waterpump went out my car made strange noisies after I turned it off, I didn't think much of it and the pump went out after that is when I realized it was the pump, I woukdnt worry if i was you if the pump has made it this far you shoukd be good mine died at 83k it was the original pump.

[BravoJohny33]

AAA is like 80 dollars a year for the 200 mile tow. Plus you get discounts.

[CruzBobby23]

Originally Posted by dmikhael619

A week before my waterpump went out my car made strange noisies after I turned it off, I didn't think much of it and the pump went out after that is when I realized it was the pump, I woukdnt worry if i was you if the pump has made it this far you shoukd be good mine died at 83k it was the original pump.

Does the pump always throw fault codes before going out?. I've read about people seeing fault codes months before the pump actually goes out.

[mjn77]

Don't worry. I've just done a 2905 mile roadtrip in my 95k mile 2011 335d, no worries.

It was the 19k mile 2010 120i that developed a failed oil pressure sensor!

[billscamaros]

I've got a 2007 328xi with 70k miles on it. My water pump went bad with no warning, no codes. Just the bright red icon on the dash that means shut the car down. And my understanding with BMW is that you do not want to let the engine overheat at all.

I'm not suggesting that you have to proactively replace it, just pointing out that the water pump failed with no warning.

I hope that you enjoy your trip. I've taken a couple of 600 mile trips in mine and loved the drive.

[patents]

I had the same thoughts as you when I set out for a 900 mile trip. It all went well.

It really doesn't make sense to proactively replace the pump/thermostat. The only issue you would have on a road trip is that you may get stuck in the middle of nowhere.

As long as you have cell service, you'll be ok. You can call BMW roadside assistance and they will tow it to the nearest dealer (not for free out of warranty, but they will arrange it). Worst case you are out a lot of money for the tow and dealer repair.

If you do break down, it wouldn't hurt to look up indy mechanics for BMWs on your phone and see if you can find a good one before calling for a tow.

[Underground6t9]

mine went out at exactly 80k no early warnings just yellow symbol followed by red symbol and car shutting off.

[hassmaschine]

at 50k I wouldn't be too worried. Still on my original pump - 120k.

[PichaDis11]

Take the Beemer! You'll love it.

[trjn]

Why are people so scared to take a long trip in this car?
I bought my e92 and with 60k miles last month and took a 1100 miles camping trip next day. Without any service history, purely based on a 25 minute test drive I bought that car. The trip was more like an extended test drive.
After two weeks another 600 miles camping trip.
So essentially I put almost 2500 miles in a month. No thing wrong happened. I had 30 day warranty, so I was testing everything. Guess what, nothing happened.

BMWs are good cars to take trips on. Having owned 3 BMWs and one audi, I will always take BMW in a trip.
You just have to accept the fact that cars can break anytime.
Be it BMW or toyota. Honestly, I have seen more hondas and toyotas on the side of the road with the hoods open than BMWs.

I had taken my old e46 for 1500 miles road trip when it had 145k miles on the original waterpump. I sold the car with 185k miles and still had original water pump. I had purchased a replacement pump, when I changed the thermostat(I changed it twice during its lifetime with me), but never replaced the water pump.


I'd keep a spare or a patch kit and a quart of oil in the trunk for the journey if I were you rather than worrying of water pump. If there is an obvious leak and your heater AC is acting funky, ofcourse change the pump if you think its the culprit. But if not, then just take the drive and enjoy.

Do you think rental cars have their water pumps changed after every trip?

[KNS]

Buy a water pump and T-stat and stick 'em in the trunk (just in case), have a nice trip. You probably won't need them but you'll have them ready to go when do get around to replacing.

[Efthreeoh]

I drive my car a minimum of 800 miles a week. Its on it's 1st replacement pump, the original died at 149K; the replacement pump has more miles on it than I got out of the original. The pump will throw codes well before it dies. I suggest you get a BMW scan tool and scan the car for codes every 3 to 6 months. I'd take my car across country and day I need to. Cars just don't decide to break because you are on a long trip on desolate roads; they break when they break. The set of manuals has a list of every BMW center in the country if you need help.

[dmatre]

If you don't have confidence in your car getting you where you want to go, why is it still in your driveway?

Would you accept that same uncertainty in a wife?

[tdavis42]

I drive my 2008 328i back and forth from Phoenix to Carlsbad every three months and its a DD for me as well. I had the thermostat replaced after i noticed the fan running on high when it was cold out and no AC on. I think that is the main reason the pump goes, people just don't listen to their cars for advanced warnings.

[jt335i]

Getting a little too paranoid at 50K miles. Just enjoy your trip and the driving pleasure.
Been on several 1000+ mile round trip drives (Tampa to Atlanta and back) in my 335 and it has not crossed my mind.
Had it checked recently by my trusted mechanic when I took in for regular preventive maintenance and it checked out A-Ok.