I was lazy too. Both of my e34's had the same symptom. I picked up two fuel pump assemblies for $50 each to replace the old ones. That did the job.
I know there was a thread on this but I can't find it because I am lazy. what did you guys do, clean the pickup or was it in the dash? I hate this fly by wire guessing how many miles to empty and will fix whatever if I know where to aim my technologies LOL.
Thanks in advance.
95 E34 530I V2.37
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Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy
I was lazy too. Both of my e34's had the same symptom. I picked up two fuel pump assemblies for $50 each to replace the old ones. That did the job.
'01 540it, 6/01
'03 325i 5 speed, 9/02
'10 535ix. 9/09
'10 mini 6 speed
'15 mini countryman 6 speed
This the thread you were thinking of? http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41748
I still haven't properly diagnosed it. Started to pull the sender out of the tank to give it a look see & cleaning but figured I should get new gaskets before I do that and had to order a set. Haven't had a chance to give it another go yet.
Cosmos Black/Black 1995 540iA M-Sport
BMW Individual Exclusive Edition, 1 of 65 total, 9/25/95 Build
Hey, Jeff!!
Poke a stick down the filler hole. If it comes out wet, you have gas. Dry and you are running on fumes.
If you want to get really technical you can even mark the stick with E - 1/4 - 1/3.. I know you never full it up further than a few bucks so any greater graduations are irrelevant.
Laterz..........
1997 e39 523SEi touring.
When I fixed mine I found that I had to change the sender, wiggle the connector @ the pump/sender unit after reinstalling and make sure that the wiring behind the dash was properly inserted to get it to work 100%!
CD43,Style 21s,K&N Insert,White blinkers,LED 3rd brakelight,HIDs,front Monroe sportsshocks/Weitec 35 springs,540 Calipers, Zimmermann Discs and Textar pads.
I had been having problems with my fuel gage and ended up taking out the pickup assembly to have a look. Didn't see anything obvious and the float seemed to be free and the guide wire appeared varnish free. When I put it all back together the gage worked fine for one week. Then no fuel gage again.
Frustrated one morning I got out and just wapped hard on top of the sender assembly and when I got back in the car the gage was working again.
That night I took the connector off of the assembly, used a small pick file and cleaned out the female connectors on the plug and sprayed contact cleaner and file on the male prongs. Since then, approx two months the gage has performed flawlessly. Hopefully the same will work for you.
94 E34 525i M50, Manual, 200,000 Miles
02 E39 530i M54, Auto, 85,000 Miles