Can I replace fuel pump at 1/2 tank? -SOLVED, YES
 

I want to change my electric fuel pump (right side, pass.). Bently says drain tank to 1/4, also read anything under 3/4 I can safely open it up??
MY tank is at 1/2 and wanted to do it today and draining is not an option.


Thanks!

I don't see why not. Just make sure to work in a well-ventilated area and NO open flame

Get yourself a pair of extra long gasoline proof gloves. You don't want to expose your skin to gasoline for any length of time.

Upallnight - is that an absolutely "YES" - I can open the pump/level sending access hole at 1/2 tank of gas??

My understanding is there is a syphon between the 2 sides and fear if I open it at higher than 1/4 tank (as Bentley says) the syphon action will pump fuel up and into my back seat!! ??

hoping to hear from someone that has worked on it between 1/4 - 3/4. Isn't the access hole at the top of the tank?

THANKS!

Access is at the top of the tank. Siphon pump only works when the fuel pump is running. Unless you will be changing the fuel pump with the engine running this is a moot point.

I changed a fuel pump on my E34 Touring which is a similar design to the X.

And how much gas was in the tank?

Don't want to be a jerk/distrustful, but why is Bently saying to drain the tank to 1/4?

I would say I did it with just a half a tank. It's a lot harder to work on getting the fuel pump out if the tank was more than a half tank, since you need to let the fuel drain out of the pump and sending unit. Messy if the tank was more than 1/4 full.

I changed pump in my E39 touring with more than half a tank. Biggest issue for me was making sure no crap fell in the tank. Just make sure you have plenty of rags handy to stop fuel dripping everywhere when you pull the old pump out.

I would imagine the pump is sitting down in the fuel regardless of how much fuel is in the tank (it wont work well otherwise!), so I guess it's just a matter of degree - how much of the pump will be dripping fuel when you remove it.

Done this on a Golf but never on a Beemer... tank was about half full and as others have said - it's messy but do-able.

The fuel pump sits in a sump which is the lowest portion of the tank, so the pump is always immersed in gasoline.

Kevin, replied to your PM.

Go for it, as mentioned here it's doable at 1/2 tank and even more.

Just be careful with the float assembly, they can get brittle and any damage will be hard to fix because the gasoline tends to affect any adhesives.

Good luck!

My fuel pump failed on my x5 a few kms after I filled the tank. I replaced it with the tank full so you will ok.

You can remove and replace the pump with the tank reading about 1/2 full as you said. the only concerns are that there may be fuel vapours that could explode if exposed to a spark. Ive done the job a few times (once in my X on the side of the highway)
my procedure was simple.
- unlock the doors on the X5 and open the rear hatch.
-disconnect the battery (no short cuts here, just disconnect the negative terminal.)
- lift out the lower rear seat, with the rear passenger door open (the access point) carefully peel back the sound deadener, and disconnect the electrical connector, then fuel hoses. make sure you have a fair collection of rags and paper towel around!, carefully pull up the pump, take your time to let the fuel drain into the tank. be careful not to let any dirt or debris fall into the tank!! once you get the pump out, you have to roll it to one side or other to allow the fuel level sender to exit the hole. once you have it all out, place the new pump in connect the hoses and then the electrics but before you put the seat back in, connect the battery and test it, you should be able to hear a whirring sound for about 2-3 seconds as the pump primes the lines.
then start the engine, it should come to life and show the fuel level in the tank.
good luck!
:cool:

THANK YOU!

done.

Just some info to anyone else doing this.
I only replace the pump and not the sender. Bought the original manufacture PIERBURG 16116755043 off eBay, about $182 with shipping. It does NOT come with a new filter/net, I rinsed my old one out in gas but might opt to get a new one if I did it again.

You need 2 stainless small clamps, got mine at Home dept.

Its difficult to get the pump out of the holder I used a 36mm socket (used for hub nut) to get torque to push the pump out and in - see photo. This will only make sense while your doing it.

There was a sort of cup in fuel tank that had some debris that cleaned out easy with a paper towel - then I refilled that "cup" with some gas.

When I first started the car I heard a SPIT sound, I am assuming it was air being discharged.

and like most of you said, I would not hesitate to do this at even much higher than 1/2 tank. I went overkill on the prep with towels and buckets.

Congrats on getting it done!

thanks for posting this. I have about 120k miles on my X and I never think about this repair. Glad to see its fairly simple and parts are not that bad.
Wonder if its worth just buying the whole part, instead of just pump, since plastic in gasoline can weaken after time for sure.

CHECK this post:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...el-pump-2.html

You can be the test to see if this is a legitimate deal - if it is grab the whole part