Possible source of concern for BMW AG

[TerminatorX5]

Hello folks. I have not been on this forum for a very long time, and stopped by just to make this post. There are so many things going on at this time, that i simply don't have time to come here as much as I wish I could.

So, long story short - my wife (yeah, I know, I know!!!) is driving my car last Thursday, and the car shuts off on her. she tries to restart it, to no avail, calls me in panic, I am coming home from work, find her stranded a mile away from home on a shoulder (some strangers pushed the car to the shoulder) with kids sitting on the side of the shoulder, waiting for me. I tried to start the car, the auto starter is cranking strong, nothing else is happening. Sounds as if engine is flooded or if there is no fuel coming. I can't listen to the pump priming, so I have the car towed home.

As I listen to the pump, I do not hear it priming, so I check fuse 47 in glove compartment, it is good (tested good), I dig into the glove compartment for the relay, swap it with other same relays, still, no priming.

pull the rear seat, cut the sound barrier, test the voltage on the pump pins, good voltage. Look at the pump's connectors, one connector is darker than the rest, and seems to have oil residue around it... hmmm..

it is middle of night on Thursday, going on to Friday, so I get on line, order a new pump from BMW of Fairfax for about $330 with the tax. Early in the morning call them, confirm they have the part, pick it up in the afternoon, come home and replace the pump in the late evening (spill total about 10mL of fuel!). Car starts right up, after test drive around house, still starts right up. All good!

Total cost is

$330 for the pump
$1 for a hose clamp from Home Depot
$5 for rubber mallet (that I can use for my work later)
$20 for shop towels (that I will use for my work later)

But the kicker is here... As I went to inspect the old pump, I see that one of the power pins has fallen into the opening of the plastic housing. What??!! Did not take a genius to realize, that the pin overheated and MELTED the plastic around itself and the pin fell through.

This is a serious reason for a concern - a HEAT source next to highly COMBUSTIBLE substance!!! I smelled gasoline inside the car for some time, and was "blaming" the fuel filter, but once the pump was replaced, there is no more gasoline smell. So, this plastic melting business was going on for some time.

Here are some pictures