engine and drivetrain Play In New Water Pump Bearing

[thehackmechanic]

I bought a new water pump from Blunt for the tii about six months ago. It has less than 500 miles on it. When I was preparing to take the car to The Vintage and pulling the radiator out and in and taking the mechanical fan off and on, I noticed that the water pump bearing has noticeable play. A day before I thought I was leaving for The Vintage, I bought a new water pump at Bavarian to have one with me as a spare. But then I wound up driving the E9. While I was at The Vintage, I chatted with Steve Peterson about the water pump being defective, having play at 500 miles, and he said he / BMW would warranty the water pump and he'd send me another one. 

 

Today I pulled the water pump off the tii in preparation to send it back to Steve. I verified that there was play in the bearing. How much? Enough that, to me, it doesn't seem right. I'm used to grabbing the fan blades on an 02, moving them fore and aft, and not feeling ANY play.

 

Then I remembered I had the spare pump I'd bought from Bavarian. I pulled it out, and sure enough, I can feel play in the bearing, even when it's not installed in the car and there's not a fan on it. I stress that all of these water pumps are BMW-logo'd parts (I'm not sure there is another source for the tii water pump).

 

Then I took the original water pump -- the one that I'd pulled out six months ago -- and checked it. It feels like the bearing is a little scratchy, but I'm not feeling any play in it.

 

Anyone else have this experience of bearing play in a new water pump? How much is acceptable? "None" is the answer I've always used.

 

--Rob

 

[Honolulu]

Last pump I put in (my E9) had no play that I recall, but it was a new part from a trusted FLAP and I simply installed it.  I don't believe there should be any play in the pump bearing.

[FB73tii]

I just bought a new (not remanufactured) 2002 Bosch water pump. The box says "made in Japan". The pump has zero play.

 

--Fred

[allbim]

The play is not necessarily in the bearing itself. It could be between the bearing and the shaft or the bearing and the pump housing. Not quite as bad, but not exactly ideal either.