Water Pump Replacement – BMW N52 6 Cylinder Engine

November 13, 2023

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Water Pump Replacement – BMW N52 6 Cylinder Engine

The water pump in the BMW N52 engine is electronic, which means there are no pulleys or drive belts operating it. It is tucked low underneath the front right side of the engine and requires a bit of strategy to get to. Since the thermostat is attached to the water pump, the BMW Repair Guide strongly recommends replacing both together (please also see our article on replacing the N52 thermostat). This repair contains step-by-step instructions on removing the water pump from the N52 6 cylinder engine.

Not sure which engine you have in your BMW? Use our engine finder tool to easily identify it!

Possible Symptoms: Engine overheating, coolant leak at front right side of engine

This repair can be used on the following BMW models:

2004

325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Sedan, 328i Touring, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Touring, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2005

130i 5 doors, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Coupe, 330xi Sedan, 330xi Touring, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2006

128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Coupe, 330xi Sedan, 330xi Touring, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2007

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Coupe, 330xi Touring, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2008

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2009

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 528Li Sedan, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 28iX SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2010

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Touring, 528Li Sedan, 528i Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 28iX SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2011

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 528Li Sedan, 528i Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 28iX SUV, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2012

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325xi Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Touring, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X3 28iX SUV,

2013

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325xi Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328xi Coupe, 330i Convertible, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan,

2014

530Li Sedan, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan,

2015

730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan,

Expert level repair.

Step 1 - Purchase Parts

You will need the following parts and supplies to perform this repair.

Water Pump

This Pierburg pump is of the same superior construction as a factory BMW pump at a fraction of the cost. If your water pump is starting to fail, you may notice coolant leaks, or even hear a whining noise coming from under the hood. If you think your water pump is starting to fail, replace it as soon as you can before your car starts to overheat.

Water pump aluminum mounting bolt set

The water pump in BMW N52 6-cylinder engines is anchored to the engine block with two aluminum bolts THAT MUST be replaced after use! Aluminum bolts stretch when torqued, so attempting to reinstall a new water pump with old bolts is a serious issue. old aluminum bolts can work themselves loose causing the water pump to vibrate excessively, leading to coolant leaks and possible water pump failure.

Step 2 - Repair Procedure

Unless otherwise noted, all vehicle repair step images in this article are copyrighted, and used courtesy of BMW of North America, Inc. .

The N52 six-cylinder engine was found in many different BMW vehicles. The following instructions may differ slightly depending on year and model.

1. Removing the water pump.

You must drain the coolant system and remove the underbody protection before starting this repair.

For detailed instructions on draining the coolant system, please see our article Coolant Flush and Replacement – BMW N52 6 Cylinder Engine before proceeding.

Water Pump Replacement – BMW N52 6 Cylinder Engine

Click to enlarge image

- Locate the water pump/thermostat assembly. It is anchored to the lower right side of the engine block as shown in image.

View part diagram for this step

n52 engine water pump and thermostat assembly

Click to enlarge image

- The water pump in the N52 engine is electronic - there is no need to remove any accessories belts.

- Begin by unplugging its electrical connection (1).

- Disconnect coolant hose (2) on the rear of the water pump.

- Next, remove the two upper mounting bolts (3) that attach the water pump to the thermostat.

- Disconnect coolant hose (5).

View part diagram for this step

remove the water pump from the engine block

Click to enlarge image

- Remove the lower aluminum bolts (1). Note - These are aluminum bolts and must be replaced! Please see our parts list above for more information.

- Grasp the water pump and remove it from the vehicle.

View part diagram for this step

Tightening torque chart:

M6 bolts water pump to thermostat - 9 Nm (6.5 ft-lb)

Aluminum M8 bolts water pump to engine block - 21 Nm (15.5 ft-lb)

Refill coolant system and initiate automatic bleeding process.

For detailed instructions on refilling and bleeding the coolant system, please see our article Coolant Flush and Replacement – BMW N52 6 Cylinder Engine before proceeding.