The fuel pump in my '01 3.0i died suddenly (right in front of my house, luckily) at 173k miles. After cutting it open afterwards, I saw that the brushes had just worn down. So it did not break, it just wore out. Predictable.

Knowing what I know now, I agree and would definitly carry a spare, and yes Pierburg is what I used and would recommend. Pierburg, made in USA, was original, and what came out of mine.

BTW, TI Automotive bought Pierburg a decade or so ago, so don't be worried if the pump says that. I believe my box said Pierburg, sealed with a hologram and everything, fully legit. And the pump inside the box was a perfect match with the one I removed except that it said TI Automotive, which worried me for a couple of minutes until the google explained things. I re-used the plastic housing, gauge, etc. with no problems at all and would do it again.

It's something talked about often. The pump only is very small you can get a spare from pick N pull for $40 put next to spare in the trunk.

Pre emptive replace the hose clamps with finger tight models like I have or at least screw type so you can get them off in the field.

Divide your odometer by your average speed example for me 167000/40 =4175 I know that the average life is about 4000 hours and wouldn't you know it the pump died last year. Actually you can get about 5000 hours with ethanol 10% gas.


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I thought I was reading the comments when I saw the wording carry a spare. Eeeks. And replace it on the side of the road if it fails ;) Why not just R/R and considered it Preventative Maintc. as opposed to doing it when cars are flying by you at 65MPH.

Yeah, at 170K miles how much more service does a

Fuel Pump
Ignition coil
Water Pump
Coolant hose
Trans fluid
alternator
starter
etc.

owe the owner?????

Granted, given the purchase price point of many of the rode hard and put away wet run out E53s, many people don't have the budget for such an aggressive PM schedule.

So that's how it goes, the old parts will fail on their schedule and not yours or if you are blessed enough to have a budget to replace before failure then you get to choose the time and place of your downtime for these items.

I am able to choose the latter and yield significant operating reliability and up time with my vehicles.

If you own one of these low acquisition cost high mileage specimens and would rather not be on the side of the road when a critical part decides to die, then consider replacing the things that keep the engine running: fuel, spark and air processing components.

:dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

Mike

More like get a free tow to the nearest Walmart parking lot (road side service with insurance). I've done similar with Cam position sensor. Wife's X5 died on the freeway. I got a tow to a Walmart where I could leave overnight. Got a ride home stole my CPS from my X5, borrowed a car from a friend and drove back to Walmart about an hour away to swap in CPS. Got wife's X5 running and drove home, ordered a new OE CPS from Amazon and put in my X5 a few days later. Does help to have a clone X5 for such cases.


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I'm sure rules are different regionally. We got pirates out here for the only authorized tow facility if you break down on the highway. Otherwise, it's a bit more reasonable if you get a tow on anything that is not on the highway

Ah just do the preventive maintenance thing and change the fuel pump before you go. Your pushing your luck. Give yourself some piece of mind comfort!!!!

More good info
 

I've always carried extra belts, fuses, bulbs, & supplies.


I don't see myself carrying a hammer and screw driver to replace a fuel pump.


I will get a CPS though

Could always seek the Unicorn Hitch, install and roll around like this

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...act=mrc&uact=8