2005 X5 4.4 fuel pump question

[pghguy517]

Car died today, 163K miles, I think it's the fuel pump but need to verify. I see that most fuel pumps being sold include the sending unit assembly. Should I buy the assembly or just the pump? Makes me think there's a reason why most are sold as an assembly.
Thanks

[andrewwynn]

I would rather get a better pump than a combination though I was budget conscious and needed prime quickness so I got a combo unit.

Are you sure the electric pump has failed? Often symptoms mimic pump failure and it's siphon jet.

On the other hand 164,000 miles means 32 mph avg. should get you to failure so it does seem to be in the right ballpark.

If the gas level is about 1/4-1/3 and you have fuel starvation OR if hidden test six shows fuel on the left and 000 on the right that is indication the siphon jet is shot (which I would be fairly certain if it hasn't been replaced: a design defect usually craps out at 4000 hours or so)

[pghguy517]

Thanks for the quick response. The tank is almost full, about 50 miles since fill up.
I'll do a pressure test tomorrow to verify if the pump is the problem.
Is a Delphi pump good quality? I see that Auto Zone sells the pump locally only for $144 with lifetime warranty.
FCP and Pelican sell Delphi pump and sending unit assemblies, so I'm thinking the Delphi pump must be an ok alternative. But FCP and Pelican don't sell just the pump by itself.
Pelican does sell URO brand pump and sending unit assembly for $125, with a 24 month warranty. Is the URO assembly good quality? I've had good luck with Pelican, but not sure about URO quality.

[andrewwynn]

Pull up the back seat and listen when you turn the key to on: no buzz electric pump is shot. When you are replacing it you must check the siphon jet before it leaves you stranded check my diy siphon jet repair thread

It's so easy to swap a pump and with lifetime warranty I wouldn't shy from the instant gratification of the Delphi unit. I'm driving with a pump that is near end of life I may buy a "pump only" solution to keep in the trunk for the inevitable failure.

[pghguy517]

OK, will check pump and siphon jet. Never heard of a siphon jet, but read your repair thread and will replace the seal, and do the teflon and zip tie thing. So the siphon jet is on the driver side of the gas tank, and the fuel pump is on the passenger side? And each has a fuel level sensor?
Should I replace the fuel filter also? I changed it once about 75,000 miles ago, seems due.
Thank you!

[andrewwynn]

We try to avoid "driver/passenger" nomenclature because many people on the forum are RHD. The siphon jet is on the port/left side and the electric pump is on the starboard/right.

Every BMW of the 1999-2006 vintage I've looked inside the fuel tank has had the exact o-ring failure and based on the dozens of threads I've read were the siphon jet has failed I'm quite sure the MBTF is about 4000 hours. I recommend everybody with that type of siphon jet open up their tank and put on the zip tie before it fails and add some teflon to the "non seal" seal. A better solution is to cut a groove and add an o-ring but the Teflon is a quick fix that will last years since it won't catastrophically fail like the o-ring it will just weep of and when it starts to leak.


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[cn90]

The X5 3.0i, 4.4i and 4.6i use the same fuel pump.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=16_0460

The whole assembly is PN 16116755043, about $320 at dealer.

I use the BMW dealer in Lincoln NE a lot, prices are good and shipment is fast:

https://www.bmwdirectparts.com/


The ONLY way to get the fuel pump (instead of the whole assembly) is Ebay.
Go to ebay and enter "Pierburg 16116755043", there is a seller selling the Pierburg (which is genuine OEM) fuel pump for $150.

NOTE: Aftermarket pumps are mostly made in China. Quality is unknown. This part can get you stranded in the middle of nowhere. My personal opinio is either whole assembly at dealer ($320) or the Individual Pierburg fuel pump ($150), and nothing else. When you think about it, $320 for every 165K miles is a great price!

PS: While there, search forum for Siphon Pump Repair, buy that $3 O-ring and replace it. Add Teflon as needed for the LOWER part of the coupling. All info is in that thread.

[andrewwynn]

Pierburg that's the name. As upallnight has suggested pick up a complete pump assembly from a pick n pull yard and pull the pierburg pump off and put in a sealed container in your trunk to have on hand when your original pump fails.


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[cn90]

- At 165K miles, I'd recommend a NEW fuel pump anyway. Pierburg pump is $150.

- Towing the car can cost you time/aggravation/money ($100 just for town truck to come).

- Fuel Pump is not something to nickle and dime over.

[pghguy517]

Thanks all, I ordered the Pierburg pump and improved siphon jet O ring on Ebay.
I also ordered a new fuel filter since my existing one has 52k miles on it.
Should have everything by the end of the week.