the engine timing is not disturbed by removing the pump, the pointer removal at exact 0T position is required if you ever want to measure the injection timing, chain stretch etc.

to make life simpler - whilst you have everything off from the front (fan, shroud etc) rotate the engine CW so the crank pulley aligns with the arrow on the pointer to exactly 0T - at this point you can remove the pointer plate and proceed to remove the entire pump.

tip I got from Roy was to tie the water pump gasket with a few pieces of sewing thread through the holes. This is done because you cannot actually see the pump seating.

- buy a gallon of simple green HD from homedepot and dilute it 1:8 in a spritzing bottle. Once you remove major stuff from the front of the engine - its best to clean out all the accumulated black grime from the engine.

Simple green HD is safe on aluminum.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)