Stranded. Please help.

You can get the clamps at Autozone. Also, go ahead and grab a fuel pump relay form BMA.

Autozone or what every your local auto parts store has.

Once your BMA part order is stamped, do not be surprised if it is not on your door step the next day!

So my parts should be in tomorrow!

I'm thinking about taking pictures and posting a step by step "how to" but I'm hesitant because I think quite a few exist already...

people make diagnosing a fuel pump harder than it is. Put a test light to the connector on the fuel pump. Have someone turn the key. If the test light goes on you are getting power to the pump and all the relays are fine. If the light goes on and you don't hear the pump prime its a bad fuel pump. If it doesn't light you aren't getting power to the pump. I just used standard hose clamps not the BMW crimp clamp. Just don't tighten it to much u risk breaking the plastic on the fuel pump that the fuel line goes on.

Had the same problem in parking lot, stranded. It was the fuel pump the whole way. I replaced the filter/hoses/pump.

Nvm.

Originally Posted by NJFF26

people make diagnosing a fuel pump harder than it is. Put a test light to the connector on the fuel pump. Have someone turn the key. If the test light goes on you are getting power to the pump and all the relays are fine. If the light goes on and you don't hear the pump prime its a bad fuel pump. If it doesn't light you aren't getting power to the pump. I just used standard hose clamps not the BMW crimp clamp. Just don't tighten it to much u risk breaking the plastic on the fuel pump that the fuel line goes on.

Test light sounds like a good troubleshooting tool... Where do you get one?

Originally Posted by Blueandwhite85

Nvm.

Why the nevermind?

Originally Posted by UDM-E46 Enthusiast

Had the same problem in parking lot, stranded. It was the fuel pump the whole way. I replaced the filter/hoses/pump.

That will be me tomorrow! Hope all goes well...

Originally Posted by jpbutler1983

Why the nevermind?

I responded to someone's post and decided against it afterwards.

Lots of people think fuel pump when they are just flooded. Its very easy to flood these engines if you don't let the car warm up at before you shut it off.

Originally Posted by DHK

Lots of people think fuel pump when they are just flooded. Its very easy to flood these engines if you don't let the car warm up at before you shut it off.

True, especially when outside temps are near or below freezing.

To clear a flooded engine on almost all modern fuel injected engines, before you turn the key to crank the engine, push accelerator to the floor and hold it to the floor while cranking the engine.

This puts the engine into "clear flood mode" fuel injectors do not spray fuel while accelerator is floored.

Once engine comes to life, quickly remove or reduce throttle angle and keep engine at fast idle (1500 RPM) for about 30 seconds to stabilize engine idle.

Originally Posted by jpbutler1983

Test light sounds like a good troubleshooting tool... Where do you get one?

Test lights are actually very useful tools and most tool boxes should have one.

Any auto parts store should have them typically for under $10.

Here is an example - http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Desig...rds=test+light

The BMW is alive!

Originally Posted by jpbutler1983

The BMW is alive!

EXCELLENT BUD!! Nice pics as well.

Edit: I will add a couple too:

Old OE VDO Pump:



New OEM VDO Pump

Originally Posted by jpbutler1983

The BMW is alive!

Great news. Glad we were all able to help!

I could NOT have competed this task as completely, confidently, or as quickly without all of your input...

So kudos to you all! Fantastic install that was quite fun.

The biggest pain was putting the retainer ring back on... But that was my own fault.

I want to add something here...

The "bad" pump still ran when I plugged it in while it was out of the tank, so I guess it just wasn't supplying adequate pressure.

Another note, I can't hear the new pump running... So it's not as loud as suggested.

I'm pretty sure it was the original pump... So it lasted 167K miles! Not bad.

Lastly, I think this pump did a slow fail because my rpms are more stable now and it just drives better!

Originally Posted by jpbutler1983

I could NOT have competed this task as completely, confidently, or a quickly without all of your input...

So kudos to you all! Fantastic install that was quite fun.

The biggest pain was putting the retainer ring back on... But that was my own fault.

I wasn't to add something here...

The "bad"pump still ran when I plugged it in while it was out of the tank, so I guess it just wasn't supplying adequate pressure.

Another note, I can't hear the new pump running... So it's not as loud as suggested.

I'm pretty sure it was the original pump... So it lasted 167K miles! Not bad.

You can't hear it running from the inside or the outside of the car?

Originally Posted by jpbutler1983

Another note, I can't hear the new pump running... So it's not as loud as suggested.

I second that notion. I was expecting it to hum loudly like I read all over the forums. I even watched a DIY on youtube and their new one was pretty loud. Mine is almost completely silent even without the sound deading material and seat still off.

Originally Posted by DHK

Lots of people think fuel pump when they are just flooded. Its very easy to flood these engines if you don't let the car warm up at before you shut it off.

I tried all of the "flooded"protocols with no avail.