Who currently makes the very best quality KV6 water pump?

[fandango151]

Just my 2p avoid continental ones.

I stupidly fell for their scheming on my latest k4 project. They don't appear to be continental but rather continental direct - they look ok and it appears to work as a pump (something in that area does appear to be making a whirling noise, suspect this pump or possibly the genuine tensioner).

Seems like they are playing on continentals reputation and packaging - I prefer of effort goes into the part rather than passing off packaging. In other applications I've used circoli which seemed ok and latest non mgr was forced to fit blueprint ... Time will tell on that one.

[Bolin]

Just copying this from another thread as it is relevant to this discussion:

Originally Posted by Phil-T4

Selecting parts like these can be confusing, the word "genuine" has to be taken with a pinch of salt as many parts that come in the MGRover boxes are not from the same manufacturer that original supplied them during production.

I have got to know Nick and the guys at E-Car Parts (BS Motors at Sandy) quite well and we have had lots of chats about replacement parts many times, which ones are good, which ones are bad, which suppliers offer the best backup service etc and based on these i choose to use the CD waterpumps, they use them in their workshop and they have the lowest percentage of returns based on actual use and supply.

*touch wood* i have not had any problems with the CD pumps, they fit perfectly and have a good seal.

Originally Posted by Phil-T4

This is a BGA branded pump, i dont use these generally as there were more returns on these than the Continental ones i prefer to fit.

So many contradictions on the thoughts of which brands to use - but the opinion of somebody who fits more pumps like Phil, or a garage, would be formed on the basis of more pump fitments than other folks who have only had experience of their own car.

I suppose I need to accept that all brands will have some failures, and that one reported case of a failure is perhaps not good enough grounds to reject the brand completely.

But then again, who likes to fit something when they have read that somebody has had failure of the exact same item?

Argh. Indecision!

[KWIL]

I fitted an SKF one, why? Because SKF make decent bearings and its bearings and seals that matter with water pumps.

[ballymenaman]

I fitted a Valeo one a few months back. Not the cheapest but seems to be OK so far (done 2k miles since November 2016). The car had one fitted last May that failed after 1.5k miles - not sure what make it was but it was part of the package supplied by DMGRS. This is not a criticism of DMGRS, by the way - I know he only supplies quality parts. I'm merely pointing out that even better quality pumps can fail early.