Your BMW’s fuel pump should last 100,000 miles or more. If the fuel pump starts to go out, you will have problems with your BMW’s performance. In fact, it may become difficult if not impossible to get the Beemer started because there is not enough fuel in the engine. The engine relies on the fuel pump for its constant supply of fuel to generate engine combustion.
Performance Trouble
Difficulty starting the BMW is just one sign that the fuel pump is going bad. You will also have problems with the engine misfiring and sputtering while you are driving and sitting at an idle. In fact, the idle will be noticeably rough and your BMW may even stall if there is not enough fuel in the cylinders to sustain engine combustion. Bring your BMW to our shop if you are having engine performance trouble.
Poor Fuel Economy
Unfortunately, the sputtering performance that you will get out of the BMW’s engine is also going to affect the fuel economy. You may already know this, but when an engine is performing inefficiently, it actually consumes more fuel. As such, you will not get the fuel mileage that you normally get out of your BMW. Consequently, you will be spending more money on gasoline.
Reduced Fuel Pressure
Another problem that occurs with the faulty fuel pump is a reduction in the BMW’s fuel pressure. If you bring your Beemer to our shop, we can test the fuel pressure to see if it is within the normal range. If the fuel pressure is low, this suggests that the fuel pump is going bad. As such, we will test the fuel pump and replace it if it is no longer functioning properly.
Overheating Engine
Your BMW’s engine may also overheat if the fuel pump is malfunctioning. The engine uses coolant to keep cool; the fuel pump uses fuel to keep cool. If the fuel pump is not drawing enough gasoline out of the tank to reduce the motor’s temperature, the motor will overheat. Consequently, this excess heat will transfer to the engine and overheat the engine.
Whining in the Tank
Finally, you may hear whining in your BMW’s fuel tank if the fuel pump is going out. In some cases, the pump may also squeal. This is a sign that the fuel pump motor is starting to fail. In other words, the pump may stop working and you will end up stranded with a dead engine.
We are European automobile experts, so call our shop to schedule an appointment for your BMW today if you are having any of the problems listed in this blog post.
