The electric water pump on N20/N26 engines is known to fail. Mine just went at 85k km on my F30 328i. Warning signs I ignored:
Replacement cost: 800 EUR at indie shop (BMW wanted 1400 EUR). If you have an N20, keep an eye on these symptoms.
VANOS solenoids are cheap to replace (about 50 EUR each). Try new solenoids before assuming its the VANOS unit itself. 90% of the time its the solenoids.
The N20/N26 electric water pump typically fails between 60-100k km. Warning signs: coolant temperature fluctuations on the gauge, occasional overheating warnings that go away, and sometimes a whining noise from the pump. If you see the red temperature warning, pull over immediately - the N20 can overheat and warp the head very quickly. Preventive replacement costs about 500-700 EUR. Waiting until it fails can cost 3000+ EUR in head gasket repairs.
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