The Random E46/ZHP Question Thread

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Originally Posted by az3579

You are letting your gas tank get way too empty. The fuel pump needs the fuel to help keep it cool. Your symptoms are sounding like a bad fuel pump. I had almost the same issue when mine let go. Luckily I was driving around with a spare pump in the trunk in case it happened, since it had 191k on it. Time between first symptom and replacement: 3 hours, only because I had somewhere I needed to be before I could swap the pump.

I strongly believe that not letting my gauge read below 1/4 tank most of the time helped prolong my pump's life, which is exactly what I did. I have no facts to prove it, but there isn't any reason to let it get that low, so I fill it up once it reaches 1/4 mark. :thumbsup

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Hmm well I am only at 81.4k so hopefully my pump is still alright. As for filling habits, I generally tend to fill up as soon as I can after the yellow indicator comes on. From now on, il leave a 1/4 in there.. Can't hurt right? :)

Would there be any way I could check my fuel pump's well being just by pulling it out and inspecting it? I'm assuming no.

It sounds like running out of gas and loosing a fuel pump feel pretty similar :dunno


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Originally Posted by OtterEffect

Hmm well I am only at 81.4k so hopefully my pump is still alright. As for filling habits, I generally tend to fill up as soon as I can after the yellow indicator comes on. From now on, il leave a 1/4 in there.. Can't hurt right? :)

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Fuel pumps are like computer hard drives. They have a 100% failure rate. It's not a question of IF, it's a question of WHEN!

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Would there be any way I could check my fuel pump's well being just by pulling it out and inspecting it? I'm assuming no.

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Unfortunately not. :(

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It sounds like running out of gas and loosing a fuel pump feel pretty similar :dunno

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Yes, the symptoms can be similar, but not always. Sometimes a pump will soft fail, meaning throw codes, have hard starting, or have a loss of power. Other times it'll be a hard failure, such as the car not starting at all. In my case, it was a soft fail that very quickly escalated into a hard fail; I lost almost all power above 2k RPM, and at that moment knew I had to pull over. I got extremely lucky; there was a service station on the highway I was travelling on, so I pulled over there, got a ride to my destination, and swapped it when I got done.


You could have tests done to test fuel pressure if you wanted some sort of test. I'd start ordering one now though and keep it handy just in case...


P.S. - Just for reference, I ordered the VDO branded fuel pump from FCP Euro (since they have a location 15 minutes from me). I was pleasantly surprised to see that it is an actual Genuine BMW pump, only with the BMW logo scratched off. :thumbsup

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Originally Posted by stephenkirsh

Hey I guess that's something until the new pump arrives.

So you would hit it, then go start? Or would you try and start it and then it if it didn't work?

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Turn key to the first position, strike the tank/pump, then turn key to start. After striking it i would hear the pump prime itself.

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Originally Posted by OtterEffect

Hmm well I am only at 81.4k so hopefully my pump is still alright. As for filling habits, I generally tend to fill up as soon as I can after the yellow indicator comes on. From now on, il leave a 1/4 in there.. Can't hurt right? :)

Would there be any way I could check my fuel pump's well being just by pulling it out and inspecting it? I'm assuming no.

It sounds like running out of gas and loosing a fuel pump feel pretty similar :dunno


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Yes. 1/4 tank is good rule of thumb.

No flame suit required!

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Originally Posted by OtterEffect

Hmm well I am only at 81.4k so hopefully my pump is still alright. As for filling habits, I generally tend to fill up as soon as I can after the yellow indicator comes on. From now on, il leave a 1/4 in there.. Can't hurt right? :)

Would there be any way I could check my fuel pump's well being just by pulling it out and inspecting it? I'm assuming no.

It sounds like running out of gas and loosing a fuel pump feel pretty similar :dunno


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My car/pump only had 70k miles.

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Originally Posted by OtterEffect

I'm thinking this. Haven't had a single problem or even indication of a failing pump. When I went to fill her up, the pump only registered 14.3 gallons + the .8 I dumped in a couple minutes before. That's only 15.1 gallons when a "normal" fill is usually around 15.8 or so for me.


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Don't forget I've taken that cluster apart like 4 times. The gas gauge could be maladjusted because of me.

I try not to let the light come on.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

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Originally Posted by Avetiso

Don't forget I've taken that cluster apart like 4 times. The gas gauge could be maladjusted because of me.

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That could be possible. Does the light correlate with needle position or the actual sensor? In other words, if the gauge was slightly off, would the indicator turn on at the wrong time, or are they unrelated?


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All this talk about fuel pumps and DTEs...I just found out that the 951 has a 21 gallon fuel tank...

If I could average 25mpg that's a massive 525 miles to the tank!!! Can't wait for the tune up so she's running smooth and oil burning free!!

Thanks for all the help today, guys! Never had anything like that happen before. Fuel pumps don't break the bank, so I'll pick on up with my next paycheck and keep it handy just in case. I might also pull off the cluster one last time and see if I can re-calibrate the needles.

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Originally Posted by Hornung418

All this talk about fuel pumps and DTEs...I just found out that the 951 has a 21 gallon fuel tank...

If I could average 25mpg that's a massive 525 miles to the tank!!! Can't wait for the tune up so she's running smooth and oil burning free!!

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I can't wait for videos with 'wooooshhh' noises :biggrin