What's the sweet spot currently for water pump, low temp thermostat, belt, etc.?

I'm digging this new car. It deserves new bits. I'll buy from the stealer if it's worth it.

Are you asking where the best deals on parts are to be found online? If so, it pays to shop around, as you may not find a "one stop shop." I usually start with Pelican and then go from there. Others here can chime in on their trusted sources.

More a question about which ones. Oem, aftermarket? What works, what works less. 1. Water pump 2. Low temp stat 3. etc

Get the plastic impeller water pump. Go ahead with a low temp T-stat too, there�s not much downside unless you live in very cold climates where temps are freezing and you drive all winter long. As for v-belt, I�m not sure. When it doubt, choose OEM unless the cost is stupidly high.

Most people here would recommend the OEM Pierburg water pump. Get a metal gasket and low temp thermostat. Try Warehouse33 and enter "Rennlist" to get a 10% discount. I don't think there is a downside to the low temp thermostat in cold climates.

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I've heard Pierburg for the waterpump, sounds like reasonable logic to avoid the metal impellers, there are lots of options though. Wahler for the low temp thermostat?

FCP Euro offers a life time warranty on parts purchased through them for what its worth. But they do seem to be a couple bucks more than the competitors so weigh your options.

The Pierburg water pump works very well and is totally acceptable. Don't forget the gasket. LN Engineering sells a low temp thermostat that is verified low temp. A bit of a premium cost but worth it. I use a Gates serpentine belt K060832 (99 C2 3.4 with AC). Good quality, reasonable price, available at the local auto parts store.

I have just used Piertburg waterpump, low temp termostat, Continental belt and OEM for the tensioners.

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Yes, they carry the Wahler 180 degree stat, not the160 though.

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To clarify: Standard wisdom is that the Porsche OEM water pump is made by Pierburg. If you buy it from a source other than Porsche, you get the same pump at a substantially lower cost. You definitely want a plastic impeller: a failing pump with a metal impeller can score the engine block. I believe (but don't know for certain) that Pierburg pumps made for the 996 all have plastic impellers.

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This isn't necessarily true. Just because the part is made by the same manufacturer, doesn't guarantee it's the same exactly part and only the packaging is different. Often the OE (Porsche) has different/higher quality standards than the ones the manufacturer sells under their own brand. Commonly when the OE makes a part that doesn't meet the standards of the client (Porsche), but does for their own brand, the part will be sold as their own or another brand. This doesn't mean the non OE brand is bad, it just that it meets a different set of standards.

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Good point. That's why I'm asking for what people are using. Guys, what is working vs. what is not?

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Right. But I replaced my OEM water pump with a non-OEM Pierburg that is (at least under close visual examination) indistinguishable. Absent evidence, I'm assuming their quality is unlikely to be vastly different. I think it's probable that Porsche went to Pierburg and said "We're planning to build a water-cooled flat 6 - please supply us with a good water pump." without adding "It needs to be somehow special in a way that isn't evident - and even though we're trying to keep costs down we'll of course be happy to pay the extra that this will inevitably cost." It may possibly be worth noting that the OEM water pumps originally installed in 996 models are nothing special in terms of demonstrated service life.

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Yes, the real question is what the service life of the oem, aftermarket, and official replacements actually is.

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Visual inspection is only small part of QC. Two parts can easily look exactly the same and not be. You are mixing up OE and OEM. OE is what come in a Porsche box. OEM is the aftermarket version made by the company that made the OE part. In this case Porsche is OE and this is what was installed on the engine at the factory or at the dealer. OEM is Pierburg but only if they actually make the OE pump for Porsche. Also, Porsche didn't go to anyone asking them to make a water pump or anything else for that matter. That's not how this works. Porsche and everyone else, specs a products that the intersected manufacturers can submit bids on. They might have a list of approved manufacturers to weed out all the crappy ones. The bid prices are often down to the 7th decimal (I've seen a quote like this myself) and then they pick a supplier and the process of getting their product approved for the contract starts.

There's a good chance it is the same part , the manufacture processes and tooling etc needed to produce a part will out way using different processes with lower cost materials, a water pump is a pretty basic part really , trust me it's the same !

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I just installed a Porsche water pump, LN Thermostat and Contitech belt. Thats what I would recommend. The water pump and thermostat was what was suggested during a class I attended recently. The belt was my personal choice. I also replaced all the bolts. They’re cheap.

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Interesting discussion guys. Basically it sounds like there aren't many successfully using anything but OE, OEM, water pumps or LN thermostats. Is that correct? Or, to put a point on it, all other water pumps and thermostats fail miserably in comparison? Has anyone had a different experience?

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I used a Pierburg water pump and a Wahler low-temp thermostat, which have thus far given excellent service. I'm not sure if this counts as a different experience. To be fair, these are parts that should be trouble-free for many miles and years - so it may be quite a while until I can say whether they've demonstrated acceptable quality.

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I used a wahler in my 2000 too. They seem like a simple device to me. They either work or they don�t. If you�re concerned, you can test the thermostat on the stove in a pot of hot water with a thermometer. Somebody will probably come along and explain that the better one opens faster or further... I opted to save a few bucks.

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Thanks guys. Perhaps this thread needed a bit more clarity. It seemed to me that there were enough guys using enough water pumps and thermostats that they would be able to give us some feedback regarding the different ones they have installed. Something beyond mantra and marketing.

thanks for your help guys. I was hoping to create a bit of a database that would help those who come later. Apparently it was a little too oblique. In retrospect maybe I should have asked a more direct question such as which parts have failed. With a topic like water pumps there have been so many removed and replaced at this point that you would think there was some kind of trend slash pattern that might be useful.

How long have your OE water pumps been lasting?

Pierburg Water Pump https://www.warehouse33auto.com/PIER...996-106-011-57 Low Temp 71* C Whaler Thermostat https://www.warehouse33auto.com/WAHL...996-106-013-59 Continental Belt https://www.warehouse33auto.com/CONT...996-102-151-66 -Jason

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My Porsche water pump was installed by Flat6Innovations in late 2013, about 33K miles back.(During The IMS Solution installation) I replaced it in January 2019 with another Porsche water pump because Jake suggested it. (He said do it, and the next weekend I did!) It looked fine, which is a good thing. I replaced it because a failed water pump can be bad, VERY bad. I considerate it a maintenance item, and will replace it every 4 years from now on. I also replace my thermostat with an LN low temp one at the same time.