[ultrae90]

Hi, everyone

So last night, when I tried to start my car, i had to crank it a bit long to start the engine. After driving for a few miles, I parked my car then went to do some business that I had to take care of.
When I came back and started the car, it had a very long crank then the "Power Reduction Sign" poped on my screen. Also, the rpm meter was going up and down, then the car went off. As scared as I was, I started the car again, but the same thing occured. So, I towed the car to the dealership thinking that it would be the fuel pump.

The dealership called me today, telling me that they will look at it tomorrow morning. He also added that the car has no fuel (however, if I remember correctly, I am sure I saw the reading that said the car can go another 20 miles or so).

Did I make a huge mistake by assuming it's a fuel pump problem without checking gas?? If it is, I would be so ashamed to go back to the dealership

[Kosmo]

Just have your wife or girlfriend go pick it up. Or sneak in and cut your own fuel line...

[alex2112]

I would still guess its the fuel pump. If the car said it could go another ~20 miles with the current fuel in the tank, then it wouldn't cause the excessively long cranks and the limp mode (aka power reduction).

[ultrae90]

Originally Posted by Kosmo

Just have your wife or girlfriend go pick it up. Or sneak in and cut your own fuel line...

LOL i was thinking too, but noone can drive a manual tranny

now i hope it's a fuel pump failure

[Crimson92]

low fuel wouldnt cause a limp

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

Originally Posted by Crimson92

low fuel wouldnt cause a limp

+1

[scollins]

Probably wouldn't cause a limp, but the question I have, WHY let the tank get so dang low?!?! I know tons of people do it, but I don't know why. I try to never let it go below 1/4 tank on any of my vehicles. Of course, the wife likes to drive until the fumes are gone too, but that is another conversation.......

[MPoWeRMAN]

that same thing happened to me with my 2005 X3, it said it had fuel, but wouldnt start, had it towed, and they said it was out of fuel, they replaced the fuel level sensor and gave me a tank of gas!

[stickypaws]

It's not fatal, you'll live. Remember when you first threw up in grade school? You got over that embarrassment. I hope.

[E90330iS]

lol how about taking a shit in the pants in middle school...

[BimmerRat]

Originally Posted by ultrae90

Hi, everyone

So last night, when I tried to start my car, i had to crank it a bit long to start the engine. After driving for a few miles, I parked my car then went to do some business that I had to take care of.
When I came back and started the car, it had a very long crank then the "Power Reduction Sign" poped on my screen. Also, the rpm meter was going up and down, then the car went off. As scared as I was, I started the car again, but the same thing occured. So, I towed the car to the dealership thinking that it would be the fuel pump.

The dealership called me today, telling me that they will look at it tomorrow morning. He also added that the car has no fuel (however, if I remember correctly, I am sure I saw the reading that said the car can go another 20 miles or so).

Did I make a huge mistake by assuming it's a fuel pump problem without checking gas?? If it is, I would be so ashamed to go back to the dealership

same symptoms i had when my HPFP blew out, and my gas was at normal levels too.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by scollins

Probably wouldn't cause a limp, but the question I have, WHY let the tank get so dang low?!?! I know tons of people do it, but I don't know why. I try to never let it go below 1/4 tank on any of my vehicles. Of course, the wife likes to drive until the fumes are gone too, but that is another conversation.......

Same question applies to you -- why 1/4 tank when you can still comfortably drive another (at least) 80-100 miles?

[scollins]

Originally Posted by dr325i

Same question applies to you -- why 1/4 tank when you can still comfortably drive another (at least) 80-100 miles?

Below 1/4 tank you increase the risks of:
Fuel starvation from lateral g-loading due to low level of fuel in tank.

Fuel pump is located in the tank, and is "cooled" by the fuel. At lower levels, that leaves the possibility of insuffient pump cooling, possibly causing earlier failure


Running out of gas! How many times have you wondered if you'll make it to the station because you let the tank get so low?


But hey, it's your car, do what you want. Does it help to fill up at 1/4 tank? Maybe. Does it hurt? Most certainly not. But I also know that I won't be stuck on the side of the road wondering if my HPFP died, or if I ran out of gas (assuming the gauge is correct.)

[dxb335d]

You can run your car so it says 0 miles safely. BMW expect plonkers to run em low and wouldnt risk failures through negligence.

[ultrae90]

well guys it was the HPFP failure ....

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by scollins

Below 1/4 tank you increase the risks of:
Fuel starvation from lateral g-loading due to low level of fuel in tank.

Fuel pump is located in the tank, and is "cooled" by the fuel. At lower levels, that leaves the possibility of insuffient pump cooling, possibly causing earlier failure


Running out of gas! How many times have you wondered if you'll make it to the station because you let the tank get so low?


But hey, it's your car, do what you want. Does it help to fill up at 1/4 tank? Maybe. Does it hurt? Most certainly not. But I also know that I won't be stuck on the side of the road wondering if my HPFP died, or if I ran out of gas (assuming the gauge is correct.)

First one -- not a reality at all, theoretically possible though. Give us a single example whe it happened with 4 gal of fuel still in the tank...

Unless you live in the Dakotas or Alaska, or...what is the chance that there is no gas station within 80 miles of your position...

The fuel pump cooling thing is a nonsence...or the design is a complete flaw...

[CyberGypsy]

Blame it on kids the stole you gas.

[scollins]

Originally Posted by dr325i

First one -- not a reality at all, theoretically possible though. Give us a single example whe it happened with 4 gal of fuel still in the tank...

Not exactly the scenario I described, but....
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...fuel+pump+info

BMW said a workaround was not to go below 1/3 tank.

Unless you live in the Dakotas or Alaska, or...what is the chance that there is no gas station within 80 miles of your position...

Two winters ago we had a massive ice storm that knocked out power in many areas for 7 days. No power meant gas stations couldn't pump gas. Those stations that had power were constantly running out of gas because they were drawing consumers from a much wider area. Long lines and limited supply. This was in the greater Seattle Area.......

The fuel pump cooling thing is a nonsence...or the design is a complete flaw...

Okay.......

[hanmaas]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

You can run your car so it says 0 miles safely. BMW expect plonkers to run em low and wouldnt risk failures through negligence.

as far as i remember it clearly states somewhere in the manual not to let gas run below a certain level. i think it was 1/4.

[scollins]

Originally Posted by hanmaas

as far as i remember it clearly states somewhere in the manual not to let gas run below a certain level. i think it was 1/4.

Page 62 says:

Refuel as soon as possible once your cruising range falls below 30 miles/50 km, otherwise engine functions are not ensured and damage can occur.

It has the same warning on page 63 and 113.

So if your car averages 20 MPG, 30 miles to go is roughly 1.5 gallons. 1.5/15.9 gallon tank = 1/10th of a tank.

If you average 15 MPG (I hope not!!), then you are looking at 1/8th of tank.

[Hoothout]

Originally Posted by Kosmo

Just have your wife or girlfriend go pick it up. Or sneak in and cut your own fuel line...

haha that would be epic to sneak into the dealership garage and cut it without being noticed...try it

[darkphantom]

Damn, what a misleading title...I saw fatal and thought someone died/was about to die in this thread!