I recently replaced the Pierburg pump in my 2001 3.0i. So I re-used the plastic assembly/sending unit, etc. The pump itself is not practically rebuildable (I'd say impossible, but ...). When mine failed, I cut it open to see what went wrong, and it was one of the brushes had just worn through - at about 174k miles. Everything else about the pump looked like it would run forever.

The one ebay unit listed above, Gas Fuel Pump Assembly for BMW E53 x5 00 06 3 0L 4 4L Sending Unit 16116755043 | eBay , is everything EXCEPT for the pump itself. So it's not what you want.

That FCP $145 price is a very good one. I paid about $180, I think, on Amazon.

Pierburg was bought by TI Automotive a decade or so ago, so don't be surprised if it says that on the part. Also, my original Pierburg was made in Germany, but my new Pierburg was MADE IN USA!

I would not try a differently spec'ed pump without really knowing what I was doing (including thinking along the lines of, "I like to drive fast so I need a bigger fuel pump, right?").

Yes, not a bad idea to also replace the fuel filter. I had replaced mine a few months earlier as preventive maintenance.

Rockauto has a SPECTRA PREMIUM / COOLING DEPOT SP1303 as an option for 4.8 but everywhere else it's listed only for 3.0, 4.4 and 4.6.

I would think if this works for 4.6 then it would for 4.8. I am confused. See below.

Spectra:
Min/Max Free Flow Rate (Gph) 47.00 - 56.30
Min/Max Pressure Range (Psi) 79.70 - 123.30


PIERBURG
Number 7.50138.00.0
Pressure [bar] 3,5
Pressure [psi] 50,8


Anyways, I just ordered the PIERBURG from FCP.

Other option is to get the sleeve hanger for other after market HFP pumps. See below a good video that covers some similar steps that most likely I need to follow to replace the pump.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNNXfG76VQM

BTW, I just filled the tank 50 km before the pump went. Any tips? Should I drain some?

Get a pair of long NITRILE gloves that isn't affect by gasoline.

Done. Thanks everyone.

Just a couple of notes though.
The old pump was pretty fixed in there, it wasn't moving/rotating in the white bracket/hanger but when I installed the new one it seems that I could move it a bit left/right. Did I miss something?

Was it suppose to be this dirty?
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...psklnam4wz.jpg

Can you update how you got it out and how it went in? I feel eventually I will have the same problem lol.

Yea the fuel discolors the plastic. I replaced one on my Lexus after 100k miles. And holy shit that thing looked all sorts of nasty compared to a new unit.

Maybe there it is supposed to be an o-ring that you missed and that's why it's loose.

The black stuff is a deposit of some sort. I wiped it off. The pump sock was completely black and although I could clean some, I couldn't bring it back to white.

For the uninstall/install procedure I used the youtube video below. It's for an M3 but pretty much the same thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DP5Al3bnoU

Is that sock not replaceable? I know I was able to get a new one for my Lexus. New they are supposed to be white.

Did you compare the old pump with the new pump? Did you compare the diameter of the old pump with the new pump?

If the pump is loose, it probably not exactly like the old pump.