The common E36 water pump failure is in the earlier six cylinder cars where the impeller is plastic, and can break and/or come off the shaft so that it doesn't spin any longer. Also on these cars, the water neck is plastic as well, and this part is prone to failure. BMP among others have an aluminum replacement for the neck. Later sixes did not have the problem, as the factory changed pumps.
Any component on any car can fail, but I have not heard enough about the four cylinder water pumps failing to call it 'cronic' on the fours. |