Cambelt Water Pump Woes

[Phil303]

The S8 was back in the garage today having the cam belt changed as well as the recently whining ATF pump/filter looked at.

Seeing as the front of the car was in pieces it made sense to check the water pump as well, which it turns out had been weeping.

All of the nuts holding it in were close to sheering as they were being undone, and 1 in fact did sheer off. The garage are now scratching their heads about how to proceed. They are 6mm at the thread so drilling it out would be very risky.

The only way they can proceed (short of taking the engine apart) is to fit a new OEM pump and hope that 1 missing bolt won't affect the seal too much.

Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions/prayers welcome.