Suspect fuel pump?

[Myndit]

Hi forum members, this is my first post so please excuse any errors/protocol mishaps.

My beloved 2003 3.0 diesel sport broke down last week. After stopping for a quick 'comfort' break in the hills just south of Krakow, Poland, it refused to start with an error on the dashboard saying ' fuel injection error'. The engine cranked as per usual but did not fire. I was at the top of quite a big hill ( about 3 Kms) so thought rolling down the hill in 2nd or 3rd gear may help. But no good, the engine was turning over at about 30 mph but still no firing. Obviously the hill ran out and I came to a stop.

Now it was serious and the handbook said call bmw service but it was a weekend and I was in Poland! I have a recovery option but thought I should try a bit of fault finding first. I instructed my girlfriend to switch the ignition on and off whilst I listened outside the car for the sound of the fuel pump running. This she did and I heard the pump running ( continuously ), then she turned the key too far and the engine cranked and fired!!

The display still had the fault showing but I drove off no problem at all.

The next time I started the car, the display fault cleared and the car is fine. The only problem is ( I think ) the fuel pump runs continuously when the engine is on or off and I think it is getting noisier??

Ok I think it is a failing fuel pump, but why does it now run all the time? Does this pump self regulate the fuel pressure or is there a sensor somewhere controlling the the pump performance?

All feedback / advice greatly appreciated as I am travelling back to uk in a week or so ( 18 hour drive - 1280 miles ) perhaps I will change the pump before travelling??

Some info

Bought new in 2003, manual gearbox 175000 miles. Magnificent car only failed once in the past with a broken driveshaft that took less than 30 mins to replace

[upallnight]

Fuel pump are electrical dc motors. They have a commutator in which the windings to the armature is solder to it. It could be that one of the segment in the commutator is a dead stop and you just happen to land on that dead stop when you shut the engine off. The drive down the hill might have been enough to bounce the fuel pump motor to turn to get off that dead spot. Had this happen to me on my old E34 Touring. The car ran fine, but now and then it wouldn't start, cranks fine but no start. Replace the fuel pump and never had a no start problem again.

[Myndit]

Thanks upallnight

It looks like it is going to be a pump replacement then. With labour rates being in excess of £55.00 per hour for an independent, it will be worth trying. The pump is still running continuously so I will attend to it on my return to uk next week.

Chastny novo rock as they say in Slovakia.