On Honda models, you really should replace the coolant pump when replacing the timing belt as a leaking pump will ruin the belt. I learned this the hard way, when my Acura developed a coolant pump leak about 1 month after I'd shelled out big bucks for a new timing belt. Then, I had to pay for another belt as well as the pump. It cost a fortune in the end.

Mercedes' system of timing chains and a v-belt for the accessories is MUCH better. When MB's begin to come with timing belts, the automotive world will have sunk to a new low.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

I am also seeing that cars that have always had Mercedes coolant (best) or an acceptable alternative, have longer water pump and radiator lives. I am not sure yet on Tstats.

I was buying oil the other day a a local parts store. I was surprised to hear the employee tell a customer:
"If you want the best coolant, use the Mercedes stuff. Expensive, but there is just something about it."

Of the three 'Benz that I have now, one had MBZ coolant for all of its life and it is the one that hasn't had any coolant issues.

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

Hello,
I have to conclude that w/p life really is just a *luck of the draw* kind of thing. All my cars have always run the genuine manufacturer recommended coolant. The newer Mercedes with the automatic tensioner multi-vee belts have an advantage in the sense that the belt cannot be overtensioned. My observation has been that the M103/104 and later V-6/V-8s have long pump life, up to 160K+miles.
Have a good weekend.

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Nachi11744

I thought the dig on the aftermarket was 2 fold:

1) If a MB rebuilt pump is available, it's cheaper
2) MB will do the R&R if it leaks ?? 2 years. Depending on the car, it can be a fair amount of effort.

I've heard sometimes, the impeller on aftermarket cars maybe different or located incorrectly and insuing hot running engines result.


Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

just replaced the wp on my 1992 300E. M103, W124 at 166k miles. It was a slow but nagging leak. Changed the thermostat too for posterity and all that...

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88 TOY 4x4 putt putt w370k still putt'n...
92 300e old but clean
02 C320 sweet...

I think the quality is "iffy" at best.

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

380 K Kms M104.980 engine, original water pump.

RayH

I had to do a water pump on my '83 at about 326,000 miles. The one I pulled was stamped "Japan" so I have to believe it was the second (or subsequent) one. I've had the car 8 years and 34,000 miles, so I am not thinking the water pumps are junk.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I was surprised when mine went at ~60K miles. M103.

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1988 300E

344644mi. same pump

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Wow, a 9 year old thread bump!

My SD has 320k and its on its second pump, original started weeping around 215k...current pump has been great (Laso I think).

Replaced one on my dad's SD when we swapped in the engine as we had a pump on the shelf.....other than that, no failures ever, in hundreds of thousands of miles/several cars.

Pretty sure the pump on my dad's V8 is original with 308k on it..... my OM601 has an original pump with 245k or so on it....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I remember the first s-class MB I ever rode in - 1984 500 SEL gray-market car. It had 90k on it and was absolutely perfect. But, he said the only thing he ever had to fix was the water pump!

In my experience, the overriding factor for any water pump failure is the pulley/belt. Any small wobble in the pulley, bump in the belt, jerking in the tensioner can create excessive wear on the seal and lead to early failure.
That being said, pumps that don't have the fan blade attached to the end of the shaft "should" last longer. Belt tensioners that have little shock absorbers with "instantly hardening gromments" on the ends that rattle and bang are in for trouble (m103/104, etc). I've seen these start to bang and thump at 10k miles.
And, yes, they make some really bad aftermarket pumps.
I seem to get about 50k from my M103 pumps - Lasso seems the best I have tried.
Best advice; get a Lasso or other good brand, be sure the belt runs very smooth (just install a new one), be sure the belt tensioner and idler pulleys run smooth and the tensioner shock is good, adjust tension properly, use MB coolant, inspect for leaks/noise often.

DG

S-Class GURU you brought up a very important point that I had overlooked !

Other contributing factors to pump failure !

Indeed, these other items need to be controlled in order to insure more life out of these pumps.

Funny how my lowly 300D keeps on going with no water pump problems !!

Meanwhile my C280 fails regardless of controlling the variables..

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

There may be some validity to the argument supporting mb reducing parts quality over time, including the w124.
My 87 wagon has the original water pump with 285k miles no complaints
the 94 E320 has a new to the car water pump (MB part) and it is already making bearing noises. Now this is the 2nd water pump in a total of 85K miles on a dealer serviced and proper coolant w124. The belt seems tensioned correctly and rolls smoothly with no wobble but 2 factory pumps in 87K miles seems poor quality.

I have also noticed that the E320 while being a garage queen most of it's life has more signs of surface chassis and body rust than the 87 w124 that has been sitting outside in the elements for most of it's life. While the fixtures and grade of steel used in manufacturing both series may have been the same, I think that the bean counters started skimping on things like rust-proofing and parts quality requirements as the series matured. Time will tell.

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Stable Mates:
1987 300TD 310K mi (Hans)
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee OM642 165k mi (Benzrokee)