[johnung]

I watched a FCP Euro video clip about the ground bolt on the N55 water pump shearing off and leaving the car stranded. A BMW mechanic confirmed this to be true. Link below contains details and fixes.

https://blog.fcpeuro.com/bmw-n55-wat...lt-replacement

[Salty B.]

I saw that awhile back and thought "Oh shit another goddam stupid little part I need to buy and keep in the trunk" like the brittle-ass coolant reservoir hose...

This and the BS I'm dealing with on my E53 makes me want to fly to München and administer corrective beatings.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by Salty B.

I saw that awhile back and thought "Oh shit another goddam stupid little part I need to buy and keep in the trunk" like the brittle-ass coolant reservoir hose...

This and the BS I'm dealing with on my E53 makes me want to fly to München and administer corrective beatings.

Maybe we can get a bunch of BMW guys and make it a road trip!

My list also includes:
See photos…

The Mickey Mouse plastic coolant fitting that likes to break (before I found the aluminum replacement.)

The 20amp fuse in the trunk for the EKP/LPFP that prevents the engine from running.

The vent hose from the valve cover to the Turbo Inlet Pipe that deteriorates from the inside out so it looks fine. Just don’t touch it!

I’ll throw in the oil level sensor fails even when brand new that warns that the engine is dangerously low on oil even when it’s not. The engineer who made the decision to do away with an oil dipstick might as well call his wife to say that he won’t be home anytime soon.

[johnung]

I put the key information from the FCP Euro blog all on this one photo…

[Polo08816]

Where exactly is this bolt? I don't recall replacing this when I replaced the water pump...

[johnung]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

Where exactly is this bolt? I don't recall replacing this when I replaced the water pump...

See the FCP link in the original post…

[rlesko]

Originally Posted by johnung

I watched a FCP Euro video clip about the ground bolt on the N55 water pump shearing off and leaving the car stranded. A BMW mechanic confirmed this to be true. Link below contains details and fixes.

https://blog.fcpeuro.com/bmw-n55-wat...lt-replacement

This is odd- If I look up 12527557037 on realOEM with my serial number it says this part is not found. Actually, realOEM says this specific part is not on any variant of F3x. Have you confirmed that this is in fact on F3x cars?

[NxTH]

Originally Posted by rlesko

This is odd- If I look up 12527557037 on realOEM with my serial number it says this part is not found. Actually, realOEM says this specific part is not on any variant of F3x. Have you confirmed that this is in fact on F3x cars?

Part 12527557037 was found on the following vehicles:

1' E81   (02/2006 — 12/2011)
1' E87   (03/2005 — 02/2007)
1' E87 LCI   (01/2006 — 06/2011)
1' E88   (11/2006 — 10/2013)
1' E82   (11/2006 — 10/2013)
3' E90   (02/2004 — 09/2008)
3' E90 LCI   (07/2007 — 12/2011)
3' E91   (02/2004 — 08/2008)
3' E91 LCI   (07/2007 — 05/2012)
3' E92   (05/2005 — 02/2010)
3' E92 LCI   (09/2009 — 06/2013)
3' E93   (09/2005 — 02/2010)
3' E93 LCI   (07/2009 — 10/2013)
5' E60   (07/2004 — 02/2007)
5' E60 LCI   (11/2005 — 12/2009)
5' E61   (07/2004 — 02/2007)
5' E61 LCI   (11/2005 — 05/2010)
5' F07 GT   (09/2008 — 06/2013)
5' F07 GT LCI   (08/2012 — 02/2017)
5' F10   (01/2009 — 06/2013)
5' F10 LCI   (08/2012 — 10/2016)
5' F11   (02/2009 — 06/2013)
5' F11 LCI   (10/2012 — 02/2017)
6' E63   (02/2004 — 07/2007)
6' E63 LCI   (04/2006 — 07/2010)
6' E64   (03/2004 — 07/2007)
6' E64 LCI   (04/2006 — 07/2010)
6' F06 Gran Coupé   (05/2011 — 02/2015)
6' F06 Gran Coupé LCI   (06/2014 — 09/2018)
6' F12   (10/2009 — 02/2015)
6' F12 LCI   (07/2014 — 05/2018)
6' F13   (04/2010 — 02/2015)
7' E65   (06/2004 — 07/2008)
7' E66   (07/2004 — 07/2008)
7' F01   (06/2008 — 06/2012)
7' F01 LCI   (05/2011 — 05/2015)
7' F02   (09/2007 — 06/2012)
7' F02 LCI   (05/2011 — 05/2015)
X1 E84   (09/2008 — 08/2011)
X3 E83 LCI   (02/2006 — 08/2010)
X5 E70   (02/2006 — 03/2010)
X5 E70 LCI   (04/2009 — 06/2013)
X5 F15   (08/2012 — 06/2018)
X6 E71   (01/2007 — 06/2014)
X6 F16   (09/2013 — 05/2019)
Z4 E85   (10/2004 — 08/2008)
Z4 E86   (10/2005 — 08/2008)
Z4 E89   (01/2008 — 08/2011)

I presume I'm fine when I put 3 new bolts (11517602123) on with my new water pump.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by rlesko

This is odd- If I look up 12527557037 on realOEM with my serial number it says this part is not found. Actually, realOEM says this specific part is not on any variant of F3x. Have you confirmed that this is in fact on F3x cars?

THE STATEMANTS BELOW IN REGARD TO WATER PUMP GROUNDING BOLT ARE INCOORECT. IT IS ACTUALLY A SEPARATE BOLT THAT ATTACHES A WIRE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK.

Good catch! I didn’t check FCP Euro’s work. It was so detailed that I assumed that it was correct. I bought the stock bolt that they specified and just had it put on while some other work was being done in that area of my car. It’s 20mm long instead of the 26mm bolt that is listed for my car. The mechanic who replaced it never said anything about it being short. I’ll have to check back with him.

It appears that FCP may have used an E-Series N55 for their article, not realizing that BMW changed to a longer bolt in the F-Series?

So the 26mm bolt is:
BMW 11517602123, dealer list $2.56

I’ll have to do some searching to see if there is a BMW part number for a steel bolt with those specs: M8x1.25x26 with a torx head and integrated washer. But any high strength steel bolt with a washer should work in that size. Fastener torque specs do not change if only the length changes, so steel bolt torque spec remains the same at 19Nm with blue loctite recommended.

I sent an email to FCP with this additional information.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by NxTH

Part 12527557037 was found on the following vehicles:

1' E81   (02/2006 — 12/2011)
1' E87   (03/2005 — 02/2007)
1' E87 LCI   (01/2006 — 06/2011)
1' E88   (11/2006 — 10/2013)
1' E82   (11/2006 — 10/2013)
3' E90   (02/2004 — 09/2008)
3' E90 LCI   (07/2007 — 12/2011)
3' E91   (02/2004 — 08/2008)
3' E91 LCI   (07/2007 — 05/2012)
3' E92   (05/2005 — 02/2010)
3' E92 LCI   (09/2009 — 06/2013)
3' E93   (09/2005 — 02/2010)
3' E93 LCI   (07/2009 — 10/2013)
5' E60   (07/2004 — 02/2007)
5' E60 LCI   (11/2005 — 12/2009)
5' E61   (07/2004 — 02/2007)
5' E61 LCI   (11/2005 — 05/2010)
5' F07 GT   (09/2008 — 06/2013)
5' F07 GT LCI   (08/2012 — 02/2017)
5' F10   (01/2009 — 06/2013)
5' F10 LCI   (08/2012 — 10/2016)
5' F11   (02/2009 — 06/2013)
5' F11 LCI   (10/2012 — 02/2017)
6' E63   (02/2004 — 07/2007)
6' E63 LCI   (04/2006 — 07/2010)
6' E64   (03/2004 — 07/2007)
6' E64 LCI   (04/2006 — 07/2010)
6' F06 Gran Coupé   (05/2011 — 02/2015)
6' F06 Gran Coupé LCI   (06/2014 — 09/2018)
6' F12   (10/2009 — 02/2015)
6' F12 LCI   (07/2014 — 05/2018)
6' F13   (04/2010 — 02/2015)
7' E65   (06/2004 — 07/2008)
7' E66   (07/2004 — 07/2008)
7' F01   (06/2008 — 06/2012)
7' F01 LCI   (05/2011 — 05/2015)
7' F02   (09/2007 — 06/2012)
7' F02 LCI   (05/2011 — 05/2015)
X1 E84   (09/2008 — 08/2011)
X3 E83 LCI   (02/2006 — 08/2010)
X5 E70   (02/2006 — 03/2010)
X5 E70 LCI   (04/2009 — 06/2013)
X5 F15   (08/2012 — 06/2018)
X6 E71   (01/2007 — 06/2014)
X6 F16   (09/2013 — 05/2019)
Z4 E85   (10/2004 — 08/2008)
Z4 E86   (10/2005 — 08/2008)
Z4 E89   (01/2008 — [...]

Yup. You are fine if you used new water pump bolts.

[johnung]

CORRECTION:
The water pump grounding bolt is NOT one of the bolts that holds the water pump on. It is another bolt that is screwed into block with a wire attached. See photo published by FCP Euro.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by NxTH

Part 12527557037 was found on the following vehicles:

1' E81   (02/2006 — 12/2011)
1' E87   (03/2005 — 02/2007)
1' E87 LCI   (01/2006 — 06/2011)
1' E88   (11/2006 — 10/2013)
1' E82   (11/2006 — 10/2013)
3' E90   (02/2004 — 09/2008)
3' E90 LCI   (07/2007 — 12/2011)
3' E91   (02/2004 — 08/2008)
3' E91 LCI   (07/2007 — 05/2012)
3' E92   (05/2005 — 02/2010)
3' E92 LCI   (09/2009 — 06/2013)
3' E93   (09/2005 — 02/2010)
3' E93 LCI   (07/2009 — 10/2013)
5' E60   (07/2004 — 02/2007)
5' E60 LCI   (11/2005 — 12/2009)
5' E61   (07/2004 — 02/2007)
5' E61 LCI   (11/2005 — 05/2010)
5' F07 GT   (09/2008 — 06/2013)
5' F07 GT LCI   (08/2012 — 02/2017)
5' F10   (01/2009 — 06/2013)
5' F10 LCI   (08/2012 — 10/2016)
5' F11   (02/2009 — 06/2013)
5' F11 LCI   (10/2012 — 02/2017)
6' E63   (02/2004 — 07/2007)
6' E63 LCI   (04/2006 — 07/2010)
6' E64   (03/2004 — 07/2007)
6' E64 LCI   (04/2006 — 07/2010)
6' F06 Gran Coupé   (05/2011 — 02/2015)
6' F06 Gran Coupé LCI   (06/2014 — 09/2018)
6' F12   (10/2009 — 02/2015)
6' F12 LCI   (07/2014 — 05/2018)
6' F13   (04/2010 — 02/2015)
7' E65   (06/2004 — 07/2008)
7' E66   (07/2004 — 07/2008)
7' F01   (06/2008 — 06/2012)
7' F01 LCI   (05/2011 — 05/2015)
7' F02   (09/2007 — 06/2012)
7' F02 LCI   (05/2011 — 05/2015)
X1 E84   (09/2008 — 08/2011)
X3 E83 LCI   (02/2006 — 08/2010)
X5 E70   (02/2006 — 03/2010)
X5 E70 LCI   (04/2009 — 06/2013)
X5 F15   (08/2012 — 06/2018)
X6 E71   (01/2007 — 06/2014)
X6 F16   (09/2013 — 05/2019)
Z4 E85   (10/2004 — 08/2008)
Z4 E86   (10/2005 — 08/2008)
Z4 E89   (01/2008 — [...]

Actually you aren’t okay by replacing water pump bolts. See my CORRECTION post

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by johnung

See the FCP link in the original post…

Originally Posted by rlesko

This is odd- If I look up 12527557037 on realOEM with my serial number it says this part is not found. Actually, realOEM says this specific part is not on any variant of F3x. Have you confirmed that this is in fact on F3x cars?

Originally Posted by johnung

THE STATEMANTS BELOW IN REGARD TO WATER PUMP GROUNDING BOLT ARE INCOORECT. IT IS ACTUALLY A SEPARATE BOLT THAT ATTACHES A WIRE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK.

Good catch! I didn’t check FCP Euro’s work. It was so detailed that I assumed that it was correct. I bought the stock bolt that they specified and just had it put on while some other work was being done in that area of my car. It’s 20mm long instead of the 26mm bolt that is listed for my car. The mechanic who replaced it never said anything about it being short. I’ll have to check back with him.

It appears that FCP may have used an E-Series N55 for their article, not realizing that BMW changed to a longer bolt in the F-Series?

So the 26mm bolt is:
BMW 11517602123, dealer list $2.56

I’ll have to do some searching to see if there is a BMW part number for a steel bolt with those specs: M8x1.25x26 with a torx head and integrated washer. But any high strength steel bolt with a washer should work in that size. Fastener torque specs do not change if only the length changes, so steel bolt torque spec remains the same at 19Nm with blue loctite recommended.

I sent an email to FCP with this additional information.

This is why I asked... I've replaced a the water pump on an X3 35i and the (main) water pump on my 2014 335i RWD. I couldn't recall the bolt in this picture:



Does anyone know in which parts diagram it is located on RealOEM?

[NxTH]

I like how pre-emptive maintenance on a BMW has come to literal single bolts. If this one single bolt decides to throw me through a window, then so be it. I'll just pretend it's not there until it shows itself.

[rlesko]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

This is why I asked... I've replaced a the water pump on an X3 35i and the (main) water pump on my 2014 335i RWD. I couldn't recall the bolt in this picture:

If such a bolt is actually there, that appears to be the power steering rack. If someone wants to crawl under their car and check, that would be cool. If not, I am probably doing some light work this weekend and will check if I end up doing it. But I won't crawl under my car just to check for the existence of this bolt.

This would be a pretty massive oversight if realOEM is missing a whole entire grounding bolt, I'm inclined to think the note from FCP euro is inaccurate at this time, and ground is provided by the wiring harness to the water pump along with power.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by rlesko

If such a bolt is actually there, that appears to be the power steering rack. If someone wants to crawl under their car and check, that would be cool. If not, I am probably doing some light work this weekend and will check if I end up doing it. But I won't crawl under my car just to check for the existence of this bolt.

This would be a pretty massive oversight if realOEM is missing a whole entire grounding bolt, I'm inclined to think the note from FCP euro is inaccurate at this time, and ground is provided by the wiring harness to the water pump along with power.

I actually verified this last month with the guys at TSD Motorsports, had them install it when they were doing a project for me last week, and verified it with them again today when the question came up.

They said they have had N55 cars come in with that bolt head sheared off with the symptoms that FCP Euro described. They encouraged proactively replacing it not only because it sucks to be stranded, but also because it can be a bear to remove.

[paimon.soror]

I'm confused. Is 07129905423 the right bolt or just for the Exx N55s

[johnung]

Originally Posted by paimon.soror

I'm confused. Is 07129905423 the right bolt or just for the Exx N55s

BMW 07129905423 is the exact same size bolt (M8x1.25x20) in steel as the aluminum BMW 12527557037 bolt that definitely fit on my F30 N55 engine. It was installed last week.

The advantage of the steel bolt is that the head is less likely to shear off under the same conditions as the stock aluminum stretch bolt. During installation the steel bolt is torqued to 19Nm and a few drops of blue loctite is placed on the threads. Blue loctite adds extra protection against engine vibration loosening the bolt (without making it difficult to remove with a wrench like red loctite does)

Hope this helps!

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by johnung

THE STATEMANTS BELOW IN REGARD TO WATER PUMP GROUNDING BOLT ARE INCOORECT. IT IS ACTUALLY A SEPARATE BOLT THAT ATTACHES A WIRE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK.

Good catch! I didn’t check FCP Euro’s work. It was so detailed that I assumed that it was correct. I bought the stock bolt that they specified and just had it put on while some other work was being done in that area of my car. It’s 20mm long instead of the 26mm bolt that is listed for my car. The mechanic who replaced it never said anything about it being short. I’ll have to check back with him.

It appears that FCP may have used an E-Series N55 for their article, not realizing that BMW changed to a longer bolt in the F-Series?

So the 26mm bolt is:
BMW 11517602123, dealer list $2.56

I’ll have to do some searching to see if there is a BMW part number for a steel bolt with those specs: M8x1.25x26 with a torx head and integrated washer. But any high strength steel bolt with a washer should work in that size. Fastener torque specs do not change if only the length changes, so steel bolt torque spec remains the same at 19Nm with blue loctite recommended.

I sent an email to FCP with this additional information.

Originally Posted by Polo08816

This is why I asked... I've replaced a the water pump on an X3 35i and the (main) water pump on my 2014 335i RWD. I couldn't recall the bolt in this picture:



Does anyone know in which parts diagram it is located on RealOEM?

Originally Posted by rlesko

If such a bolt is actually there, that appears to be the power steering rack. If someone wants to crawl under their car and check, that would be cool. If not, I am probably doing some light work this weekend and will check if I end up doing it. But I won't crawl under my car just to check for the existence of this bolt.

This would be a pretty massive oversight if realOEM is missing a whole entire grounding bolt, I'm inclined to think the note from FCP euro is inaccurate at this time, and ground is provided by the wiring harness to the water pump along with power.

Originally Posted by johnung

I actually verified this last month with the guys at TSD Motorsports, had them install it when they were doing a project for me last week, and verified it with them again today when the question came up.

They said they have had N55 cars come in with that bolt head sheared off with the symptoms that FCP Euro described. They encouraged proactively replacing it not only because it sucks to be stranded, but also because it can be a bear to remove.

Originally Posted by paimon.soror

I'm confused. Is 07129905423 the right bolt or just for the Exx N55s

This is where the 26mm bolt is:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...12#11517602123






If you've used new bolts while installing the N55 primary water pump on an F chassis vehicle, you should be good to go. I've replaced the N55 water pump in both the F30 335i RWD and F25 X3 35i.

I think because the coolant pump is mounted using three of these bolts as opposed to the picture from the FCP Euro blog (which is not for a F chassis N55) involving a ground strap, the probability of not having a proper ground if 1 of them shears off is pretty low.

I really don't view this procedure as necessary or preventative. If you're going through the trouble of replacing these 3 bolts, you should just do it when you replace the coolant pump.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

This is where the 26mm bolt is:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...12#11517602123






If you've used new bolts while installing the N55 primary water pump on an F chassis vehicle, you should be good to go. I've replaced the N55 water pump in both the F30 335i RWD and F25 X3 35i.

I think because the coolant pump is mounted using three of these bolts as opposed to the picture from the FCP Euro blog (which is not for a F chassis N55) involving a ground strap, the probability of not having a proper ground if 1 of them shears off is pretty low.

I really don't view this procedure as necessary or preventative. If you're going through the trouble of replacing these 3 bolts, you should just do it when you replace the coolant pump.

It doesn’t matter if all of the water pump bolts are replaced because the bolt being discussed is NOT one of those bolts.

The confusion here has been because the FCP article wasn’t clear that the water pump ground bolt is NOT actually on the water pump. So it doesn’t show up on Realoem water pump diagrams. The water pump ground bolt is actually on the engine, where it grounds a wire necessary for water pump operation to the engine.

Over time engine vibration apparently causes the head of the stock aluminum stretch bolt to shear off. The ground wire loses its connection to the engine, disrupting the power to the electric water pump.

[rlesko]

The ground bolt should appear on this diagram, but it does not



In the middle of the image at the very bottom, you can see a ground wire protruding from the engine wiring harness '1'.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by rlesko

The ground bolt should appear on this diagram, but it does not



In the middle of the image at the very bottom, you can see a ground wire protruding from the engine wiring harness '1'.

Realoem isn’t perfect. It’s just how they decided to categorize parts and diagrams years ago. I’ve gotten incorrect information several times from dealers using my VIN. Just the way it goes.