possible fuel pump?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by oldskewel

... and the fuel pump itself (removed from the plastic assembly) is so small it could easily be stowed with the spare tire as a spare (stowed alongside my multimeter, tire plug repair kit, etc.).

Also, it sound like upallnight got an original pump. But he could have got lucky with a recently replaced BMW pump.

If the pump didn't have the BMW logo on it I wouldn't have bought the pump. OE parts for pennies on the dollars.

[andrewwynn]

T20. Snap off triangular plate covers the scewss


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[Feeze]

Originally Posted by oldskewel

The fuel pump in my '01 3.0i went out at 173k miles, luckily right in front of my house. So your mileage is right on target.
Part number for the pump is 16-11-6-755-043 (pump only - not the plastic assembly around it)
Pierburg was the original supplier for this pump. Now owned by TI Automotive. Seem to be sold by Bosch as well. Cost should be around $120-$180.

Fuel filter is 13-32-1-709-535. I put a Mahle KL96 in mine. Costs around $50. One tip I remember on the replacement is that you don't actually need to remove the giant panel under the car, just remove it at the front where the filter is, and pivot it down.

There are some online references to needing new Dorman 800-027 clips for the fuel line connections at the filter, so I bought some of those. Not needed on my truck. Must be for other models. I did use new hose clamps and a new segment of vacuum hose.

All of this work is pretty easy.

My car died last Thursday.

Took the fuel pump out that night. Tested it, and it was toast.

Ordered a fuel pump from Amazon next day (Friday) States to Canada

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Received it today at 2:00. started putting everything back together @ 2:30. Fixed @ 3:15

Best $65 bucks I ever spent!

[stackz]

I actually just put an entire hanger assembly from the local park auto parts distribution center....I couldn't wait for one online and hell no to dealer prices. It's been flawless and only cost $125

[cn90]

@Feeze,

- That Chinese fuel pump you bought on amazon will fail in a bout 1y/12K miles, which ever comes first.

- Search ebay for "E53 Pierburg fuel pump", about $150. This is ONLY fuel pump, not the entire assembly. Pierburg is OEM.

- Keel fuel level above 1/4 at all time...

[andrewwynn]

Explain what you mean about "keep fuel above 1/4 tank". This is nonsensical when applied to an E53 as I've outlined in excruciating detail. *

Every argument for "keeping 1/4 tank" has been debunked as a myth. Having been stranded on the freeway BECAUSE of the myth I know first hand so it's "personal"

Good to know the brand of OE pump though.

* There are reasons to always have gas in the car but they ONLY relate to "quick getaway" or "emergency evacuation" eg hurricane and nothing to do with pump longevity or any performance situation of any kind.

[cn90]

Just in case the siphon pump does not work...

I keep my X5 fuel tank above 1/4 at all time.

[andrewwynn]

That's exactly backwards thinking. You need to draw your gas down to single digits at least a couple times a year to make sure siphon jet is working.

By masking whether or not it is working you just make the situation worse. The jet will leak more and more and the pump gets weaker until the failure point gets to a higher and higher distance to empty and you will fuel starve the engine with up to 1/3 of a tank of gas

If your car is older than about 200,000km or 120,000 miles you should open up the left side of the fuel pump and address the siphon jet o-ring defect before it fails and leaves you stranded at MORE than 1/4 of a tank. (it can happen up to about 27L of fuel)

My wife subscribed to the myth that you should always keep 1/4 tank of gas because her siphon jet o-ring had failed when I was out of town and she had my dad bring her a can of gas. She never told me the gauge wasn't at zero when that happened so keeping the tank above a quarter just masked the problem until it gets worse and leaves me stranded at 6°F on the freeway.

[cn90]

That is not backward thing, it is FORWARD thinking...

- I have an E39 1998 528i, it runs perfectly even down to 1-2 gallons of gas (I have tested it down to almost empty). But from reading E39 forum with some people with car stalled when gas is below 1/4.

- Even though my siphon pump runs perfectly in the E39 1998 528i, I have made it a habit of filling gas when it hits 1/4. Basically I "write off" the bottom 1/4 tank, simply b/c I don't want to deal with the 1% chance of siphon pump failure that can strand me. I have done this (filling up with gas when it is 1/4) for 10 years, zero issues. Maybe I am paranoid but...

- Now for my E53 2006 X5, it also runs perfectly even down to 1-2 gallons.

- I understand that the E53 X5 gas tank design is different from E39 5-series.

- For my E53 2006 X5, I basically do the same thing, filling the gas tank once it is just above 1/4. So far zero issues.

- You and I basically approach the potential problem differently. It is both preventive.

1. You prevent the problem by:
a. Recommend replacing the O-ring etc.
b. Occasionally test the 2 sides using the hidden menu.

2. I prevent the problem by:
a. Always fill it up when it is just a tad above 1/4....so
b. I don't have to open the tank and replace the O-ring.
c. I don't have to remember testing the 2 sides (and making note that when I last test it).

d. God forbid if:
- I forgot to fill it up when it is 1/4 (the chance of this happening is less than 0.000001%).
- Siphon pump failure (the chance of this happening is 1%).
- Then if I get stranded, I simply call AAA, they will bring me gas and I am good.

I know it is difficult for you to understand my reasoning b/c you spent a lot of time to show forum the E53 gas tank design (I admire you for doing it), you want to make it perfect as the factory design.

I am different, I have a full-time job, my time is limited, my solution is to "write off" the bottom 1/4 gas tank. Life is good for me this way...zero issues so far...

[andrewwynn]

You can perform some easy maintenance to prevent the siphon jet bite in the butt. It's a permanent fix. If you get to the fix before the o-ring blows it's a 20 minute job.

Reducing your fuel tank from 25 to 19 effective gallons will mean hours wasted at gas stations without need.

It also will not prevent the problem you are no less likely to have the fuel starvation problem bite you in the butt, mathematically you increase the chance because you will cross over that imaginary threshold more times

There are solid advantages to keeping more fuel in the tank but not related to the siphon jet defect. The problem can and will eventually occur up to 1/3 of a tank so if the problem isn't addressed it will sneak up and bite you when least expected.

Now: as long as you occasionally run down to single digits DTE once in a while you will be pretty darn safe when you keep more than 1/4 tank of gas is just a waste of time in the long run (spending hours and inconvenience to have a false sense of security?)

I had about 1/3 of a tank on the gauge when I rolled to a stop the second time my wife's car did this to me. She religiously kept it over 1/4 and it didn't help in the end the imaginary out of gas line will keep getting higher until it happens.

I'm not trying to say you should always use the tank until the low light comes on although there is no car function related reason, only personal mindset or readiness reasons. The test should be performed periodically to test the siphon jet.

Here is another example of an old mythical rationale of doing something that can also have a good reason having nothing to do with the function:

A client of mine keeps her alkaline batteries in the fridge: it doesn't help them keep fresh not even a little (unless you live where the temp in your house is above 90F), but it does help her know where her batteries are!

That said there is some sound reasoning behind your logic but you are missing the key ingredient that the siphon jet failure combined with an old pump as I gets weak will creep up that imaginary out of fuel line higher and higher up to about 28-29L or about 1/3 of a tank. It will be less effort, time and anxiety to remove the siphon jet failure from the equation.

I've heard of people getting over 200,000 miles on their siphon jet but ours both failed before 150,000.