Kind of thought this might be coming when I could not find out where the coolant went a month ago, the drips are noticeable now on the passenger side. Looks like that plastic cover that looks like a sensor plug but isn't, is where the leak comes from on the water pump. I read somewhere that is just a cover over the weep hole. Looked over the forum for how-to's and just found the "S" models.

Got an Indy quote for $515 for the job, and am still considering doing it myself. Sure is tight in there, might let them do it.

Anyway, my question is about the three pumps offered by ECS, quite a price range there - what are your recommendations?

Justa Cooper, 2008, manual.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2008-C...ump/ES2703072/

 

I'd spend the extra cash and get the OE Mini part. Can't go wrong with a factory original.

 

I have the HEPU and ended up having to get a shop to put it in after I had trouble because the spindle is longer than the OEM. I seem to recall the Graf suffers the same issue. You can get them in, but it is more trouble.

It could be my imagination, but I think I hear my HEPU spinning every now and then. So I'm not entirely sold that it is going to be long lasting.

If I have to replace mine again, I'll spring for the OEM part.

 

We've installed the OEM and the Aftermarket ones. Like they said the aftermarket one is longer and much harder to install.

We carry the new style OEM which is all aluminum as the early one is plastic and I think part of the reason they leak.
http://waymotorworks.com/water-pump-...8-r59-r60.html

We have them in stock and ready to ship.

 

The indy shop (Autohaus) got the new style OEM, they put in a new belt while they were in there and I am very pleased with their work. It seems to me the engine is much quieter, perhaps that water pump had been having some problems for a while. It was 5 months ago that I noticed I had some loss of radiator fluid, but after a few days at that time it seemed to stop disappearing right up until last month when I started seeing puddles too. While I had it in the shop they also did the brake/clutch fluid replacement and greased the shifter tube - both operations had a really noticeable effect on the shifting. This relieved most of my concern about the clutch condition at 52k miles.

For all that, $710 seems reasonable to me. Peace of mind from the expert opinion of the condition of the rubber hoses as good, quieter engine, fresh fluids, instant heat on this cold morning as well as an inspiring clutch/shifter action - all these benefits confirm the deal was a good one for me and that I realize how lucky I am to be able to afford it right now. I had read the procedures on doing the water pump myself, the horror stories posted of when it went wrong, and while I would not hesitate to do the job on other cars I own and have owned to save me a couple hundred bucks, some of the steps just seemed too tricky to handle with so little room to work with.