does this water pump look new?

[monkeyodeath]

I just bought a 325i from a guy who said he'd put some work into the car before he sold it to me.

Specifically, he said he replaced the radiator, water pump, and timing belt. He seemed pretty knowledgeable about these cars and I'm not inclined to think he was bullshitting me.

Still, I'm a little nervous. The radiator looks brand new, so I think that checks out.

So I'm just looking for a judgement call - if, say, the timing belt and water pump look brand new like the radiator, should I just assume that everything's straight? Or should I just replace the timing belt to be safe? Was hoping for a sticker or receipt or something like that, but no dice.

[monkeyodeath]

BTW, he said he had this work done the month before I bought it, so I'm assuming that it should all look minty fresh still if it was indeed done.

[nrubenstein]

For peace of mind, I'd replace the belt. It's not hard and you don't really want to have to think about it. I mean, pull the upper cover and glance at it. If it looks great, schedule it when it's convenient. You just don't want to run the risk that it's old.

[SpecM]

you can see the water pump pretty well from under the car

if that looks new, I'd say you're OK. Its a pain to repalce the water pump w/o doing the timing belt

[slammin.e28]

you can see the water pump pretty well from under the car

if that looks new, I'd say you're OK. Its a pain to repalce the water pump w/o doing the timing belt

...and yet some SHOPS still do it that way. Or vice versa. Just had that happen on a '93 e30 325i. Couldn't believe it. Didn't even clean the old timing belt dust from the housing, and the water pump was leaking like a sieve.

[MR 325]

Pull the upper timing cover and inspect the belt.

[monkeyodeath]

Here's a picture of the underside of the water pump...what do you guys think? Does it look pretty recently replaced or not so much?

[monkeyodeath]

You guys think that water pump looks pretty recently changed?

[blefevre]

Looks that way. I am in the same situation, PO said he did everything. I waited 30k miles and I am doing the whole deal in about a week just to be sure.

[monkeyodeath]

Cool. Well unless anyone else thinks otherwise, think I'll just roll with this setup for the time being. I think I'll change it in maybe 20k or so....

[StereoInstaller1]

This is America, son. Lemme get you straightened out on how this works.

You need to drive this car around bouncing off the rev limiter in 1st gear for roughly 6 weeks, all on the freeway.

When it breaks, you sue the guy.

THATS how you do it.

(I would do it as BLefevre suggested but swap out cam seals too)

[monkeyodeath]

No joke! Might as well make some money on the deal, right? It IS the land of opportunity.

Not trying to wuss out of just getting in there and changing the belt, I'd just hate to spend the $$ and time if the damn thing was JUST replaced. PO was pretty adamant that the belt was new anyways.

But yeah, like blefevre said, I'll give it 20-30k and then redo it all, seals, pump, everything. Good suggestion on the cam seals too, thanks.

Wish his mechanic would have been nice and left a sticker indicating the car's mileage when it was changed but oh well...can't have everything (I guess e30 odometers are a crapshoot anyways). Unless maybe you want to sue for it.

[MonkeyMadness]

When in dought switch it out...! Presure wash that pour motor and while your in it Check the timing belt...

[hotballs]

I would only be worried about the belt. A bad old belt will have a million little cracks in it. Take a look at it and inspect it.

The water pump is not tied into the timing belt so if it goes bad it will leak or worse start overheating, but not destroy your head. Plus you can change the water pump every other timing belt change.