Benzmac - You are eeriely awesome!!! I now have to agree with your diagnosis of why the pump failed. Last night I just thought I was missing one bolt and that was why I couldn't get any slack in the belts. With pulling the fan to access one bolt, I was able to remove the water pump pully, releasing the belts. This afternoon in bright daylight, I could see that I had in fact loosened every bolt on the pump, and when I looked closely at the bottom adjuster, I could see why I could not get any slack. The pump was bottomed out as low as it could get.

Best speculation is that one of the prior owners got a couple of belts that "looked like they'd fit" and forced them on. The deflection I could measure was after untold miles/years of use. The belts were probably too tight from the time they were replaced. Since I'm gonna hafta remove the remaining belts, to replace the two pump belts, I might as well do the entire set.

Steve - I have a line on a pump with a separate resevoir. Would I be able to simply bolt my resevoir onto that pump body, is that how they were/are interchangeable? It looks like there is one 10 or 12 mm bolt and a larger allen fitting set off-center holding the resevoir to the pump body. I assume the off-center allen fitting is where the return line would attach to the body and the bolt is securing the resevoir.

Also what is the hard ring under the steady plate? It is approx one inch tall and two inches or so in diameter. Seems to be made of a hard fiberous material. Is this the steering fluid filter I have heard about?

Again, Thanks for all the advice and help. It is very appreciated!!!

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5

[This message has been edited by MikeTangas (edited 05-02-2000).]

Yes the two pumps are interchangable.

Yes the ring is the power steering filter. It feels a lot like balsa wood when new.

Steve & jeffsr,

I have located a pump here locally, should arrive tomorrow. Thanks for the leads in case I was unable to locate one.

I have not don an autopsy on the old pump yet, but I can see that the front bearing was toast and the seal was nearly gone. How it was retaining fluid is beyond me. On the backside of the pully, there appears to be a bushing or spacer pressed on the splined shaft, with a split ring at the pump end. I assume the front bearing held this piece in place. Will that have to come off the shaft, or should I be able to pull the pully without messing with this bushing?

I ask because I don't know if the replacement pump will come equipped with mounting bracket or pully.

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5

Remove the retainer nut & washer. Pulley should come off. If tight, you can tap on the threaded end of the shaft with hammer to knock it free. Helps to spray with penetrating oil if this is the case. Happy motoring and pumping.

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Jeff L
1987 300e
1989 300e
1987 BMW 325

Here's an update on my little saga:

Looks like there is a bushing between the front seal and main pump body. The squeal I heard was apparently that bushing seizing to the shaft, the squeal stopped when the bushing then spun in the housing. Years of having over tightened belts took it's toll. There is some scoring to the housing from the bushing, once I can disassemble the pump for further inspection I'll see if it's too far gone to be rebuilt as a spare.

The replacement pump is in, proper sized belts installed and it's ready to go. That is execpt for the resevoir. I had to order a tool, no one around here (Pep Boy's, Sears, ToolMart, friends with automotive shops) had a 14mm hex drive socket. I need it to remove the fitting holding the resevoir to the pump. One was ordered from Maatco on Friday and should be in Monday or Tuesday. Once I have it in hand, I'll swap the resevoir, hook up the return line and fill the system.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and assistance.

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5