September 18, 2023

This article is AI free. It contains original content, and was researched and written by our own staff at the BMW Repair Guide. For more information on our AI Free Zone, please click here.

Affiliate link disclosure – The BMW Repair Guide uses affiliate links in their site. For more information on affiliate links, please click here.

Water Pump Replacement – BMW N20 Turbo 4 Cyl. Engine

The following article gives detailed instructions on replacing the electric water pump in BMW vehicles with the N20 four cylinder engine.

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

Possible Symptoms: Engine overheating, higher than normal coolant temp, coolant leak from under front of engine

This repair can be used on the following BMW models:

2009

X1 20i SUV, X1 28i SUV, X1 28iX SUV,

2010

125i 3 doors, 125i 5 doors, 520i Sedan, 520i Touring, 528i Sedan, 528i Touring, 528iX Sedan, 528iX Touring, X1 20i SUV, X1 20iX SUV, X1 28i SUV, X1 28iX SUV,

2011

125i 3 doors, 125i 5 doors, 320Li Sedan, 320i Sedan, 320i Touring, 320iX Sedan, 328Li Sedan, 328i Sedan, 328iX Sedan, 328iX Touring, 520Li Sedan, 520i Sedan, 520i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 528i Sedan, 528i Touring, 528iX Sedan, 528iX Touring, X1 20i SUV, X1 20iX SUV, X1 28i SUV, X1 28iX SUV, X3 20iX SUV, X3 28iX SUV, Z4 20i Roadster, Z4 28i Roadster,

2012

125i 3 doors, 125i 5 doors, 220i Coupe, 228i Coupe, 320Li Sedan, 320i Gran Turismo, 320i Sedan, 320i Touring, 320iX Gran Turismo, 320iX Sedan, 320iX Touring, 328Li Sedan, 328i Gran Turismo, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328iX Sedan, 328iX Touring, 428i Coupe, 428iX Coupe, 520Li Sedan, 520i Sedan, 520i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 528i Gran Turismo, 528i Sedan, 528i Touring, 528iX Sedan, 528iX Touring, X1 16i SUV, X1 20i SUV, X1 20iX SUV, X1 28i SUV, X1 28iX SUV, X3 20iX SUV, X3 28iX SUV, Z4 18i Roadster, Z4 20i Roadster, Z4 28i Roadster,

2013

125i 3 doors, 125i 5 doors, 220i Coupe, 228i Coupe, 228iX Coupe, 320Li Sedan, 320i Gran Turismo, 320i Sedan, 320i Touring, 320iX Gran Turismo, 320iX Sedan, 320iX Touring, 328Li Sedan, 328LiX Sedan, 328i Gran Turismo, 328i Sedan, 328iX Gran Turismo, 328iX Sedan, 328iX Touring, 420i Convertible, 420i Coupe, 420iX Coupe, 428i Convertible, 428i Coupe, 428i Gran Coupe, 428iX Convertible, 428iX Coupe, 428iX Gran Coupe, 520Li Sedan, 520i Sedan, 520i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 528Li Sedan, 528LiX Sedan, 528i Gran Turismo, 528i Sedan, 528i Touring, 528iX Sedan, 528iX Touring, 530Le Sedan, X1 16i SUV, X1 18i SUV, X1 20i SUV, X1 20iX SUV, X1 28i SUV, X1 28iX SUV, X3 18i SUV, X3 20i SUV, X3 20iX SUV, X3 28i SUV, X3 28iX SUV, X4 20iX SAC, X4 28iX SAC, X5 40eX SUV, Z4 18i Roadster, Z4 20i Roadster, Z4 28i Roadster,

2014

125i 3 doors, 125i 5 doors, 220i Convertible, 220i Coupe, 228i Convertible, 228i Coupe, 228iX Convertible, 228iX Coupe, 320Li Sedan, 320i Gran Turismo, 320i Sedan, 320i Touring, 320iX Gran Turismo, 320iX Sedan, 320iX Touring, 328Li Sedan, 328LiX Sedan, 328i Sedan, 328iX Gran Turismo, 328iX Sedan, 328iX Touring, 420i Convertible, 420i Coupe, 420iX Coupe, 428i Convertible, 428i Coupe, 428i Gran Coupe, 428iX Convertible, 428iX Coupe, 428iX Gran Coupe, 520Li Sedan, 520i Sedan, 520i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 528Li Sedan, 528LiX Sedan, 528i Gran Turismo, 528i Sedan, 528i Touring, 528iX Sedan, 528iX Touring, 530Le Sedan, X1 16i SUV, X1 18i SUV, X1 20i SUV, X1 20iX SUV, X1 28i SUV, X1 28iX SUV, X3 18i SUV, X3 20i SUV, X3 20iX SUV, X3 28i SUV, X3 28iX SUV, X4 20iX SAC, X4 28iX SAC, X5 28iX SUV, X5 40eX SUV, X6 28iX SAC, Z4 18i Roadster, Z4 20i Roadster, Z4 28i Roadster,

2015

2016

125i 3 doors, 125i 5 doors, 220i Convertible, 220i Coupe, 228i Coupe, 320Li Sedan, 320i Gran Turismo, 320i Sedan, 320iX Gran Turismo, 320iX Sedan, 328Li Sedan, 328LiX Sedan, 328i Sedan, 328iX Touring, 420i Convertible, 420i Coupe, 420iX Coupe, 428i Coupe, 520Li Sedan, 520i Sedan, 520i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 528Li Sedan, 528LiX Sedan, 528i Gran Turismo, 528i Sedan, 528i Touring, 528iX Sedan, 528iX Touring, 530Le Sedan, X3 18i SUV, X3 20i SUV, X3 20iX SUV, X3 28i SUV, X3 28iX SUV, X4 20iX SAC, X4 28iX SAC, X5 28iX SUV, X5 40eX SUV, X6 28iX SAC, Z4 18i Roadster, Z4 20i Roadster, Z4 28i Roadster,

2017

320i Sedan, 320iX Sedan, 520Li Sedan, 520i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 528i Gran Turismo, 528i Touring, 528iX Touring, X3 18i SUV, X3 20i SUV, X3 20iX SUV, X3 28i SUV, X3 28iX SUV, X4 20iX SAC, X4 28iX SAC, X5 28iX SUV, X5 40eX SUV, X6 28iX SAC,

2018

320i Sedan, 320iX Sedan, X4 20iX SAC, X4 28iX SAC, X5 28iX SUV, X5 40eX SUV, X6 28iX SAC,

2019

X6 28iX SAC,

Advanced level repair.

Step 1 - Purchase Parts

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

Water Pump

The water pump on your BMW takes a pounding...not only is it mounted against the engine block but it has to pump thousands of gallons of hot coolant through its lifespan. These brutal conditions take a toll on the mechanical parts so only the best built water pumps survive! This Genuine BMW water pump is the same factory unit that would be installed at the dealership. Don't get sucked in by cheaper aftermarket water pumps...they are not built the same as a factory pump

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. .

Before starting this repair, the coolant system must be drained.

Please see our article Coolant Flush and Replacement – BMW N20 Turbo 4 Cylinder Engine for detailed instructions on draining and refilling the cooling system.

1. Replacing the water pump

Water Pump Replacement – BMW N20 Turbo 4 Cyl. Engine

Click to enlarge image

- Remove the front plastic underbody protection panel.

View part diagram for this step

Click to enlarge image

- Remove the front belly pan (2).

View part diagram for this step

Click to enlarge image

- Locate the electric water pump. It is attached to lower right side of the engine block.

View part diagram for this step

Click to enlarge image

- Remove the two lower external torx bolts that anchor the water pump to the side of the engine.

View part diagram for this step

Click to enlarge image

- Loosen the hose clamps (1) on the two front coolant lines as shown in the image.

View part diagram for this step

Click to enlarge image

- Remove the coolant lines (1) and (2).

- Unplug the water pump (4).

- Remove the upper mounting bolt (3).

- Grasp the water pump and carefully remove it from the engine compartment.

View part diagram for this step

2. Final installation notes and torque values

- Make sure all of the coolant hoses are firmly attached.

- Water pump to engine block mounting bolts 21.6 Nm (16 ft lb).

- Refill and bleed the coolant system following the instructions in our article Coolant Flush and Replacement – BMW N20 Turbo 4 Cylinder Engine.