Water pump GRAF or Hepu

Further, the metal unit (Graf) had a sort of reptile-skin texture to the impeller fins, no doubt a product of the casting process. I spent some time with a dremel polishing the fins (because that's how I roll ) to get them as smooth as the plastic ones being replaced.

Metal impeller model is available but can be hard to find (Hepu brand). Recommended interval for changing is 80-100K depending on who you talk to. But many fail earlier and may fail as early as 20k. Change as preventive maintenance.

The waterpump in my kit from germanautoparts.com was made by Hepu.

I have the Hepu unit in my car. It's been going great for the past 45k miles. Both are good options. I would go with what is cheapest.

I went with the Graf in my 95 passat glx. The graf has a cast iron impeller wheel. The stock one that was in there was plastic and some fins broke off when the pump failed

I'll confirm that too (don't remember if it was iron or steel though). But I was highly skeptical too until I saw it w/ my own eyes. But definitely metal, made by German aftermarket manufacturer Hepu, AND it was cheaper than the OEM one w/ plastic impeller. Also that description on ECS's website must have changed recently because when I bought it, there was no mention of the impeller being metal. But Tom@ECS came on here and confirmed it. Still begs the question though if a metal impeller is really any better than the plastibake one if you change it out w/ the belt at 50-60K. I wouldn't hesitate to switch back to the plastic one if that's what I had on hand.

I got my Hepu pump (all metal) for a little over $40 from Euclid Foreign Auto in Euclid Ohio.

My OEM plastic one broke and so did the metal-impeller Graf I replaced it with. They Graf seized up and leaked whereas the OEM plastic one just leaked.