Mercedes rebuilt water pump findings
 

I bought a Mercedes rebuilt water pump for my 190D a couple weeks back and was finally able to pick it up today. I was somewhat surprised by what constitutes a Mercedes rebuild.

I'll get some pictures up soon but this is what I found:

The bearing shaft is new. The impeller is not new but reconditioned. The pulley mount is not new but reconditioned. But most surprisingly, the housing itself was new.

Some people have expressed concerns with rebuilt water pumps because the bearing may fit loosely in a reconditioned housing but that is not the case with the rebuilt pumps from the dealer. I paid about $90 plus a $65 core charge, which makes it a little more expensive than a Laso or Graf pump but I have the peace of mind of having bought an OE part which should hopefully last as long as the original pump, which as far as I know is the one still on the car at 320K miles. I'll know pretty soon here once I get it off and can look it over.

Well Febi impellers on M102 water pumps are pressed steel **** - not the cast versions on the original...

...consider yourself lucky it isn't all made on monkey metal!

That's exactly why I went with a water pump from the dealer, I didn't want ot deal with getting an aftermarket pump that is not as good quality.