Preventative Maint - Fuel Pump

[JCL]

Originally Posted by upallnight

It's based on when you get stranded because of a fuel pump failure.

Only if you can predict that failure point with a reasonable degree of confidence. Otherwise, it is just throwing parts at it, not usually very cost effective or a good risk mitigation strategy.

[lhordmclain]

I guess there is no clear line for preventive maintenance. To each is own / for peace of mind

But if someone experienced being stranded then their out look will definitely change.
For the items/parts that can easily be replaced why not? ( that can cripple the vehicle)

I'm glad we (me/my family) have not experienced that yet (knock on wood)

X5 is really a challenging up keep but it's our choice to keep it for the long haul

I hope in the near future we can all meet ( at car show or nascar or Indy and more), tell stories, be proud and laugh about owning one.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by lhordmclain

I hope in the near future we can all meet ( at car show or nascar or Indy and more), tell stories, be proud and laugh about owning one.

When I had my E34 there was an annual E34 meet in Schaumburg at Busse Woods. Met a lot of E34 owners.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by JCL

I would not change the fuel pump as preventative maintenance. There is not a cluster of failure points that you can use to determine the expected life. PMs are by nature designed to reduce cost, but if you don't know the likely failure point you are more likely to increase costs.

Yes, they can fail at higher mileage. They can also fail when new. Infant mortality can be a greater risk than the next week of operation, especially when you consider that you are doing work that may disturb something. You are just trading off one risk for another.

Maintenance Programs have moved along a great deal from the old ideas of fixed change intervals, and replacing components to avoid failures, in the past twenty years. The attached article is about twenty years old, and illustrates some of the learnings. Worth reading. I have posted it before, but will have to go back and find the old link.

edit: found it. It was in 2010, in a discussion about transmission maintenance. Let's not go there right now. Same paper, in any case.

Do change the fuel filter.

Jeff

I agree with JCL. I would change only the fuel filter.

[racingbmwm3]

I've never heard of the fuel pump ever being replaced as maintenance. My E30 318i had 370k on it when finally sold it and it was the original fuel pump. My other E30's high 200k's original fuel pump. Maybe the E34's have issues, because I did replace a fuel pump each on our 530i and 525it.

BEST PRACTICE for fuel pump preventative maintenance. Good gas, and avoid frequently going below 1/4 tank. The fuel acts as a coolant for the pump. Additionally, if it frequently is run near empty, fuel starvation/sucking air causes cavitation which damages the pump.

[Doru]

Originally Posted by racingbmwm3

Stuff deleted

BEST PRACTICE for fuel pump preventative maintenance. Good gas, and avoid frequently going below 1/4 tank. The fuel acts as a coolant for the pump. Additionally, if it frequently is run near empty, fuel starvation/sucking air causes cavitation which damages the pump.

This

[Bargain Bucket]

What else are you going to swap out just in case? Wheel bearings, diffs, steering rack, PAS pump, alternator, transmission? The WHOLE car?

[puddinboo]

Originally Posted by Bargain Bucket

What else are you going to swap out just in case? Wheel bearings, diffs, steering rack, PAS pump, alternator, transmission? The WHOLE car?

i was a bit down today with my wife being in the london ont hospital for nearly a week but this made me laugh thx i needed that.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Bargain Bucket

What else are you going to swap out just in case? Wheel bearings, diffs, steering rack, PAS pump, alternator, transmission? The WHOLE car?

Yep, eventually.