I got a 2002 R53, and I recently got the gear grinding/overheating thing goin' on, so I just bought a rebuilt SC. Thought I'd go ahead and get a new water pump and thermostat along with it. Any suggestions on where to get them? I was looking at waymotorworks, and they have the OEM parts, but I was wondering if these were ok?

I want to save some money but I don't want to compromise my car..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=#ht_499wt_892

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-M...#ht_537wt_1165

or should I go for a gates water pump? or does that matter? my dad just said gates are the way to go for water pumps.

thanks!

 

I'd be pointing a cross at those parts as if it were Dracula looking to suck the life outta me !

While aftermarket alternators (BOSCH), A/C compressors and the TYC Brand Aux fan assemblies have a great track record and are in my MCS, I personally wouldn't use an aftermarket waterpump if it was given to me.....too vital a part IMO if it fails.

And while I run an M7 180* thermostat, as far as I know that gray style gasket in that eBay auction is the one that leaked and was discontinued by MINI.....The new gaskets for the 1st gen models is whitish/clear.

 

yikes.. thanks for the input! I think I'm going to go with the thermo from WMW:

http://www.waymotorworks.com/thermos...t-r50-r53.html

and as for the waterpump, i saw someone had gotten one from DDM:is this the right water pump for a 2002 R53??
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/11...TER-PUMP115019

i think the OEM part number is 11 51 7 520 123, this is what came up when i searched that part..

thanks!

 

would a WHALER thermostat be plausible?

http://www.rmeuropean.com/part-numbe..._91deffee.aspx

 

According to the op you want a trouble free, install, with no performance/relalibility compermisees..

So just bite the bullet, get oem. The thermostat has a notch in it...looks standard, but it must have that little cutout to work right....that is a reason the oem is sold everywhere, as opposed to the usual aftermaret ones...
As far the waterpump, it is such a pain to replace, anything other than a oem/oem quality pump is taking a bit of a chance...rebuildd are usually prety good, but if the install goes bad, it is lots of work to fix....so the quality of the part is paramount as grayraven has said.