FCPeuro coolant system refresh

[hcbeck2689]

Hey guys, I know similar things have been covered related to price and different kits. But still...
I am wanting to take advantage of FCPeuro's year end sale and have been planning to buy some stuff anyways. This is for my recently purchased 2002 x5 3.0. I don't know any of the maintenance records. I was looking at the kit they have but I don't mind spending a little more money to build a better kit. I am hoping that someone could give me some insight on the part manufacturers for specific parts (hepu v graff water pump etc). There are usually more than one OEM and the genuine BMW part(which is $$$). If anyone has any input on build quality between certain parts that would be so appreciated. I don't really feel the need to go with a Stewart water pump for an X5, so that one is out.
I'm also doing the trans fluid, diff fluids, fcab, and oil. If you have any othe suggestions lmk.
Link to kit: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-water-pump-and-thermostat-replacement-kit-e53-11517509985kt5

[anandoc]

As far as the water pump goes, Graf, Hepu & Geba waterpumps all come with the improved metal impeller (instead of the composite impeller in the BMW one). I went with a Geba pump 3 years ago and all is fine. You should be ok with Graf as well.

Wahler is OEM for the thermostat I believe. I went with a Wahler thermostat as well.

Everything else looks ok in that kit except for the URO waterpump pulley. It does say that its the aluminum pulley, so technically it should be ok - but I have only heard bad things about the URO's quality control on various forums so personally, I would not put a URO part on my car.

[az3579]

As far as the water pump goes, Graf, Hepu & Geba waterpumps all come with the improved metal impeller (instead of the composite impeller in the BMW one). I went with a Geba pump 3 years ago and all is fine. You should be ok with Graf as well.

The composite impeller is BMW's latest and greatest design. The metal impeller units used to have bearing issues. I'm not sure if they've been resolved by the aftermarket manufacturers, but I don't think BMW sells the metal impeller one anymore due to being replaced by composite.

[BMWCurves]

When I did my sister's cooling system, these are the parts I went with:

Radiator (Behr) - 17119071518
Expansion tank (OEM) - 17117573781
Expansion tank cap (BMW) - E46 - 17117639022 (2.0 bar) or E30 - 17137639023 (1.4 bar)
Expansion tank mounting clamp (BMW) - 17111707777
Water pump (BMW) - 11517509985
Thermostat (Mahle) - 11537509227
Upper radiator hose (Rein) - 17127510952
Lower radiator hose (BMW) - 11531436408
Coolant temperature sensor/auxiliary fan switch (BMW) - 13621433077
Coolant level sensor (BMW) - 17137553919
Coolant (BMW, 1 gallon) - 82141467704

Wahler thermostat might be the only real change I would make, or Rein coolant hoses. But they should all be fine. For the pulleys I used Uro in both my car and my sister's. They haven't been in there that long, about 5k each, but haven't had any issues. Vas also said Uro was fine back when I was asking for brand suggestions.

[anandoc]

Here are the parts (and brands) that I used. Did my cooling system refresh in 2014 (around 130,000 KMS) and now I am at 183,000 KMS.

ECS Aluminum water pump pulley
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-parts/ecs-aluminum-water-pump-pulley-black/001977ecs03a~a/

Geba Water pump
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-geba-parts/new-water-pump-with-o-ring/11517527910~geb/

Gates upper radiator hose
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-gates-parts/radiator-hose-upper/17127510952~gat/

Gates lower radiator hose
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-gates-parts/radiator-hose-lower/11531436408~gat/

Wahler thermostat
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-wahler-parts/thermostat-with-housing/11537509227~wal/

BEHR radiator
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-nissens-parts/radiator-automatic-or-manual/17119071519~nin/

Vaico idler pulley
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-vaico-parts/idler-pulley-priced-each-no-longer-available/11287841228~vai/

Ruville mechanical A/C belt tensioner
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ruville-parts/mechanical-a-c-belt-tensioner-assembly/11287512758~ruv/

Ruville hydraulic alternator belt tensioner
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ruville-parts/hydraulic-alternator-belt-tensioner-assembly/11287838797~ruv/

Continental AC belt
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-continental-parts/accessory-belt-air-conditioning-compressor/11287512762~ct/

Continental accessory belt
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-continental-parts/accessory-belt-alternator-water-pump-power-steering-belt/11281706545~ct/

Rein expansion tank cap
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-rein-parts/expansion-tank-cap/17111742231~crp/

I did not replace the expansion tank at the time since it had just been replaced by the used car dealer. I have a BEHR backup expansion tank just in case things go explodey!