Wrong Fuel Pump?

[Replenish]

This is probably an easy question to answer.
Original pump is on the left, new one on the right.
IMG_1268.jpg

For some context in the process of getting my 1999 540i Touring on the road I went ahead and bought a new filter and pump from FCPEuro in an effort to solve my long cranking starts. After installing the pump the car ran once but not great. Due to the crappy weather for the last couple of weekends I just got around to watching the pressure on the fuel rail. When the pump is getting 12 volts it gets to just barely 50psi, and when powered off the fuel rail looses all pressure within seconds. This was the light bulb moment, so I put the old original crappy sounding pump back in and the car fired up. Couldn't believe I didn't check that at the start of this whole mess.

Obviously they are different and that stood out to me when I got the pump, the only reason I didn't pause there was I saw the same pump pictured on ECS for my car so I thought maybe they changed designs for some reason (Stupid assumption it would appear). Checking the box last night I saw there are two Pierburg part numbers on the box. 707795170 which matches the green pump and 722013020 which matches what the old pump looks like, and the number that was on the page on FCPEuro. I just checked my order and the link to the pump doesn't work anymore.

IMG_1400.jpgIMG_1401.jpg

Did I get sent the wrong fuel pump?

[Chedley]

Yes,
you should order and get the fuel pump specified by its parts # on realoem, not by its looks...!!

[cnn]

Go to ebay and search for Pierburg fuel pump for your car.
About $150 or so.

[mattmar1]

got my pierburg last year from fcpeuro, was under $100

[geargrinder]

Go to ebay and search for Pierburg fuel pump for your car.
About $150 or so.

At least he went FCP, no questions warranty, send that thing back, get your dough back. The fact it disappeared I suspect is because of problems with them.

Sadly OE only lists the whole massive assembly most of which is fine, which is why you really want to find a drop in pump.

A quick look suggests that the little Pierburg IS their current replacement for this application (other sites have it listed for 540i) so theres a few possibilities:
1. Some mis-config on installation like there's a trick to how to fit those (whats with that green "T" on top? Instead of a single port? Whats the other nipple supposed to go to?)
2. There's a high DOA rate on those pumps
3. That pump is just purely inadequately / improperly spec'd for the application

I could see it being any of those things. Who knows. BTW I wouldn't be purely put off by size, definitely fuel pumps have gotten smaller for the same flow over the last 20yrs and the OEM pierburg is a huge ass oldskool type pump. But the fact FCP disappeared it seems like something is wrong (and indeed maybe its just that there's some adaptation trick that most people have missed but they didn't want to deal with all the complaints...)

Options:
1. Definitely eBay has loads of the old-style pump. I'd be inclined to suspect they are Chinese copies honestly (which is true of Bosch and Walbro pumps on eBay all the time) because otherwise I'd expect FCP and ECS and those kind of guys to have them listed.
2. ECS has a "HuCo" pump for $33. Ha! Can't get cheaper than that. Can't say I'd expect it to be much good but who knows.
3. ECS lists a Pierburg for the M5 that "looks right". https://www.ecstuning.com/b-pierburg...146752369~pie/ Possible an "upgrade" not that its going to make any difference on any M62TU ever.
4. Other than that, plenty of guys have put in standard "generic" fuel pumps into 540/M5's. Bosch, Aeromotive, Walbro, Deatschwerks, AEM, etc. etc. But will prob require some level of custom fitting, depending on how carefully you shop and match the pump diameter and inlet orientation and outlet setup and wiring etc...

[ECSTuning]

The ~33 bucks is a limited quantity sale price (inventory clearing), normal price is $74.95 which once the units allocated to the sale sell it'll go back to. As for Huco, I've run them in a few cars (including my current E30) never with any issues.

-James

[Jason5driver]

WTF ?!!!???!!!
The OEM pump is now $430 ....!!!!
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...39-16146752368

Completely outrageous !

[geargrinder]

Weird. When I looked yesterday, FCP didn't list the Pierburg, now its there. (maybe they heard us bitching...) Basically a hundo.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mp-16146752368

[JimLev]

That $33 pump would be a good pump for transferring fluids, using it to pump injector cleaner thru old injectors on your bench, etc.

[Jason5driver]

Weird. When I looked yesterday, FCP didn't list the Pierburg, now its there. (maybe they heard us bitching...) Basically a hundo.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mp-16146752368

I bought that same Pierburg fuel pump a few months back from FCP, which I have yet to install.

I haven't opened it up yet to see if it has the weird plastic around it.

- - - Updated - - -

That $33 pump would be a good pump for transferring fluids, using it to pump injector cleaner thru old injectors on your bench, etc.

I am tempted to get it just for a backup pump.

[JimLev]

I am tempted to get it just for a backup pump.

Me too, I'm still on my original 19 year old pump which seems to be fine. My FP gauge is still reading the correct pressure.
Just changed the batteries in both fobs, they were original too.

[Ed CT]

Me too, I'm still on my original 19 year old pump which seems to be fine. My FP gauge is still reading the correct pressure.
Just changed the batteries in both fobs, they were original too.

Same here - original fuel pump from 1997 build date.

I have a new OEM pump in a box in the trunk. I'm waiting for the perfect trifecta to change it out (good weather + low fuel level + high motivation). At this point, it may not be until late spring, or road trip breakdown, whichever comes first.

[geargrinder]

I am tempted to get it just for a backup pump.

That's not a terrible idea actually. My backup pump is actually a low mis M5 pump so that'd be a backup to a backup I guess.

[atobe]

Both of my fuel pump got replaced. They both just died one day, no warnings.