Damn parts unavailability.

[Yale E]

I’ve owned a ‘60’s Ferrari in the past where parts were hard to find as they only made a few hundred cars. None the less, parts were available in some way and given the difficulty, supplying and getting parts was an expected part of the ownership experience. On the other hand, I find the parts situation for our turbos such that it almost makes using these cars an impossibility. Not that that stops me or some of you. But it is about the most frustrating part of owning these cars that seems unexpected. As I wrote above, I had work done at a Southern California shop and as part of this work they replaced the water pump. No original water pumps were available and so they used what was, which is a Chinese replacement. Of course there are many fine, well made things made in China, this water pump was not one. It leaked and the car ran hot. Apparently a known issue with this, the only available replacement for this part. Luckily a nos pump was on the shelf at the second shop. This was not the fault of the first shop, but how can an important part like a water pump, not have a good, usable part available. Maddening. 

[Lengrep]

Same as tii water pump. Very frustrating. 

[Yale E]

They made 1000’s (100,000’s?)of these cars how can they not have good water pumps for them?!?!!!

[wkohler]

The tii/turbo pump is different than the carbureted 2002 pump.  Instead of inlet and outlet being 180° apart like the standard pump, they’re 90° and they didn’t make nearly as many injected cars as they did carbureted.  I believe you can still buy them from BMW.  I think that if it was just turbo-specific, it probably wouldn’t be available, like so much mechanically on these cars.

[Yale E]

Thanks for the reply Kohler. If it was still available as a good workable part, I would not have written the above🤪. Though I am often clueless, the issue of availability was and is an issue. 

[Lengrep]

Ireland says they have three tii/Turbo water pumps in stock. You can find out if it’s a European aftermarket (I have one and it’s held up well) or something else. 
 

https://www.iemotorsport.com/product/water-pump-2002-tii/

 

Good luck!

 

Greg

[wkohler]

I bought one from a dude in Oregon that he said was German made and had his logo on it.  Within a couple months of my doing that, it was announced they were available from BMW but I guess I should have been sure by now that’s not the case so sorry for assuming.  

[VintageAutobahn]

Yale,
 

I have a couple tii (turbo) water pumps in stock. I have sold a few hundred of these and only had a couple come back with a leak from  the weep hole. You can email me at VintageAutobahn@Gmail.com if you would like to grab one as a spare. 

[Yale E]

Thank you!

[dlacey]

With some care you can buy a carb car water pump & use a press to remove flange & impeller before swapping the seal, bearing and shaft over to your original tii/turbo pump body. This works for original-style pumps only... some of aftermarket carb pumps are mechanically different dimensions...so its a bit trial-and error, but carb pumps are cheap.