whelp.... now fuel pump is dying

[doctorx69]

I almost didnt get home today... external fuel pump buzzing very loud. I am assuming it is going out. I am going to replace the in-tank one while i am at it. I am damned confused on brands though.... but i dont want to spend 300 just for the in tank one... I can pick up one from rock auto for 100 or less. Mine is 6/87 build date.

Opinions?

Choices are Spectra Premium, Bosch, uro, carter. SP seems to be a decent price, but cannot get reviews of it.

[95BMWIC]

I bought a cheap one from Rock Auto - lasted 3 months - same warning sign - buzzing, then death. .


Early 87 - I would go with a Bosch - for under the tank (16141179232) external fuel pump.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...81#16141179232

The other "pump" is a pre supply pump like this (16141179415) - and those can get real expensive.. not sure I would replace this.. Bosch or VDO are good brands - Avoid all those others.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=16_0046
.

[doctorx69]

oh.. forgot to add... it would not respond to gas pedal... I ended up pulling over a few times and idleing and once shut it off and restarted and made it home.

[shawnkhanobi]

Kind of depends on how much risk youre willing to take on the cheap aftermarket pumps. I used the cheap ebay stuff when my pumps got weak the way yours did, ive been using them for two years or so now, the pumps never gave me problems. inline pump was like $20 and the whole intake assembly was like $50. That car isnt running right now, but its not because of the pumps because of a compression loss.

Its normal for it not to respond to the gas pedal when the fuel is not properly being fed. I had the exact same problem with my volvo 240, it also uses a 2 pump system the same as the e30s.

[doctorx69]

i am running short of funds... so i need to try to get it on the road for now. I went in to get tires balanced and found out all 4 were dry rotted and one was way out of balance.... so i spend $410 already today on new tires.... *sigh* I have trying to get this up and running as a daily driver so we can have 3 cars.... it was fun while it was running... I just thought of something. It did seem to be a little weak on accel at times. This car sat for several years in my parents garage and they got it running enough to move. It sat outside at their new home for 3+ years before they gave it to me. I have been trying to fix it up since. I did drain the gas tank and put fresh gas in. I didnt seem much of any sediment come out when i drained it.

Wife is pissed that my free car has cost so much money.

[shawnkhanobi]

yea man, if youre just trying to get that car back on the road, ebay it. it wont cost you more than $100 for both pumps combined.

[superj]

yup.

[eseeling]

when did you last replace your fuel filter?

[doctorx69]

2 weeks ago same time i drained the tank of the old fuel.

[URO Parts]

Our pump 16 14 1 179 232 is about $40 at Rock Auto, and has a two-year warranty. We sell several hundred annually and haven't heard of any issues.

We don't sell the pre supply pump, but do recommend also replacing it (or at least testing it for adequate pressure) at the same time as the main pump. If the pre supply pump is weak, the main pump will be overworked and won't last long, so better to replace both instead of replacing the main pump multiple times.

[superj]

rock auto has the best prices, to me

[doctorx69]

i ordered a pair from amazon... was actually a little cheaper than rockauto.... especially for the pre-pump.

i have had to do a lot of electrical work... most of the fuses and several relays were blown. Plus half the lights. I guess it is conceivable that the pumps may have been damaged as well. I am just going to blame the circuit city moron that butchered the wiring installing a radio for my parents many years ago. They may have drove it 6000 miles total.

[msservices]

Yeah, but rock auto has better commercials

[doctorx69]

dat is true

[doctorx69]

i got the exterior pump replaced and noticed i installed the filter backwards. I just bought another new one because i didnt want to chance crap getting to the injectors. I am still waiting on the in tank pump to arrive. Just for giggles, i jumpered the fuel pump relay and it was buzzing loud also. I heard bubbles in the fuel line in the engine bay. Sounds like it may be cavitating which sounds like to me the intank pump went out and took out the exterior pump. I think there is some rust in the tank. I took off the s-pipe joining the two sides of the tank and it was clogged almost shut. I cleaned it out and put compressed air in both ports. One side would not blow and the other side did... fixed that. (note to self, face mask next time). At this point, i am glad i went cheap route on the pumps. They may die because they are cheap or crap in tank. If they die again, i will attempt replacing the tank. After reading up on it, it does not sound fun.

[superj]

dang, that sucks

[msservices]

If you clean the tanks out, you may not need new pumps. It sounds like they were just starving for fuel because the in tank strainer could be clogging with sediment/debris. Either way it would be pointless to put new pumps in if you don’t drop the tanks and evacuate them as much as possible

[doctorx69]

what is odd though..i drained the tank 3 times and got not much at all out of the tank.... just a little bit of flakes here ant there. I will know more once i pull the pump.

[doctorx69]

i may have screwed up in ordering in tank pump assembly. Ill have to verify when it gets delivered, but it looks like the one i bought does not have a lock ring integrated to it. ugh... do they sell lock rings separately or do i have to buy a different one?


This is the one i ordered: https://www.amazon.com/Fuel-Hanger-A...omotive&sr=1-1

never shop for parts tired apparently. Is there comparable pumps? that does not cost and arm and leg and couple of toes?

[doctorx69]

is it possible to just replace the pump reusing the same carrier? 16141179415 is what i am supposed to replace with.

[msservices]

I would remove the pump that’s in the tank and see if the strainer is clogged on it or see if you can shine a flashlight down in the tank and get a Birdseye of what’s going on in there

[doctorx69]

well.. there is rust at the bottom of the tank.. but that isnt what killed the pump . wire is missing and the pump has varnish all through it. pump is swollen too. screen was not really clogged. but got the wrong pump. looks like it needs a lock ring.. just going to return it. trying to decide if i salvage the carrier.

[doctorx69]

ugh... time for new tank. I got a really good look at the inside... almost an inch of rust. Going to get a different pump/carrier. I cleaned up the old carrier, but not convinced that it is in the best shape.

is there a good write up on tank changeout? My exhaust is apparently just 3 pieces (headers, from headers to muffler, then muffler.) This isnt going to be fun. Another question... Mine is 6/87. If I am going through with this, what does everyone do? Replace with oem specd? or install newer tank? If so, what pump matches?

[msservices]

You may be able to leave the exhaust connected at the motor and just disconnect the muffler/axle/transmission hangers, thus allowing it to swing down enough to gain clearance.
I have also heard that you can have a tank coated on the inside?
https://www.google.com/search?q=coat+fuel+tank&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

[superj]

dang, I wish I had read your reply yesterday. I loaded up my parts car and had to drill holes in the gas tank to turn it in for crushing. the tanks where really clean

- - - Updated - - -

if you don't have the larger tank, get a tank from a newer e30. it holds a few more gallons