So I replaced my water pump last week on my e28 at oriellys. My new graf water pump showed up today. The gasket that came with the cheap pump seems to be a better gasket. Can I reuse the old gasket? Or will it be junk after it gets all the coolant dumped all over it when I take off the current pump?
what kind of gasket? paper, cork, metal with rubber rings?
In reply to gunner:
The issue isn't the coolant dumped on it. It's made for that.
Many gaskets won't compress/ seal a second time after they've been previously compressed.
As patgizz noted, it matters what type of gasket.
Generally, I don't re-use gaskets.
Pretty sure this is for an S38. If they are like the S52 on the M3 go for it. Its just a thick o-ring. Otherwise, I would just order a factory BMW one if you dont like the one that came with the pump.
Just checked RealOEM, order a new one from BMW. Not worth reusing the old one or putting a crappy one.
$1.64 @ Tischer BMW
Part # 11511265654
If it comes off in one piece, you could dry it off, smear a little RTV on it and run it again. Though I assume a "graf" water pump is a nice piece, and includes the correct gasket, the thickness of which effects belt alignment. The cheap pump probably includes whatever the most common gasket thickness is at Chinese water pump plant C, as 30 year old BMW parts probably aren't high production items anymore.
Its paper. Both of them are. All great points. Thanks guys!
You can but should you ? 
I wouldn't.
I didn't. Turns out it ripped while taking the pump out. But the new gasket was so thin it was bent right out of the box and didn't seat right so the new pump leaked and im waiting for the new bmw one I ordered just now to get here. Yay.
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