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2006-2013 BMW 325i: N52 electric water pump + gaskets

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specific things to inspect and negotiate

What goes wrong

The N52 inline-6 is one of BMW’s most reliable engines, but its electric water pump is a known ~80-100K wear item that strands the car when it dies, and the usual BMW gasket rotation (valve cover, oil filter housing) applies.

Federal record for the 2010 BMW 325i, pulled from NHTSA when this page was built:
0 owner complaints on file.
3 safety recalls listed.
Complaint volume tracks how many were sold as well as how they held up , read it as a pattern, not a score. Counts change; confirm live at nhtsa.gov or by running the free check below.
Rough cost: $800-$1,400 pump+thermostat · valve cover/oil housing gaskets on rotation. Broad estimates , labor rates and parts vary widely by region and shop.

What to do about it

Before you hand over cash: Ask if the water pump was done. Original pump at 90K+ = budget it now, not later. Oil weep at the valve cover = normal negotiation material.

Whatever you find, a $100-150 pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is the cheapest money you’ll spend on any used car , including this one.

Run the full free check on this 325i →

Free · no signup · federal recall + complaint data included

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General reference information only , not a mechanical inspection, appraisal, or vehicle history report, and not specific to any individual car. Failure patterns describe documented tendencies across many vehicles; any single car may be better or worse. Cost figures are rough estimates , verify locally. The absence of a warning is not a statement that a car is safe or problem-free. Always verify recalls directly with NHTSA and get a pre-purchase inspection. Not affiliated with any manufacturer, dealer, or reporting service. No affiliate links, no commissions, no ads. © Used Car Informer, operated by MCC LLC · v6.6