540i fuel gauge and RPI questions
#12
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 531
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From: Los Angeles, CA
My Ride: 2000 540i/6: Silver
Model Year: 2000
my cousin had this same problem in his 740 same generation, never got it fixed, but i will say its pretty freaky not knowing how much gas is in your car...when you know its low, but dont know how low, and your on the freeway at night with no gas stations in sight lol...
#13
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 295
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From: Chester County PA
My Ride: 2007 550i, Mystic Blue over Auburn, 6-Manual, Sports, Premium, Cold Weather, Logic 7, Nav, Sirius, MTec Front & Sides with M5 rear apron, VIS Penta carbon fiber vented hood, OEM M166s, (or Style 101M with winter 19 Blizzaks), BMW Blue Calipers, Custom Quad Exhaust and M5 side grills, trunk finisher and spoiler. Rogue Octane SSK/WSR and Zeckhausen CDV, BMW illuminated shift knob, Delivered 4/26/06 - Ordered 3/18/06 from Otto's (the Best) BMW Dealership.
Just to keep this post going- today the fuel gauge (2000-528is) went to empty and the indicator light came on as I filled the car with premium. When I returned home (2 miles) I could smell gas. After a while I noticed it was leaking gas in the driveway- got nervous...
Pulled the seat and opened both access hatches- driver's side looked perfect, Guess what I found on the passenger side? A huge mound of nesting materials, acorn shells, lots of dung and a general mess. I couldn't even see the tank, the electrical connections, fuel hoses and such it was that packed. I cleaned that out (it filled a grocery store plastic bag!) and worst of all, the insulator on all the sensor wires including the heavy gauge one was chewed through and one of the wires was broken - which I guess is why the gauge suddenly failed.
I'm glad it did because there was gas on top of the tank and can you imagine if those wires crossed and sparked? Kaboom!
I cleaned everything really well and spliced and reinsulated all the wires. Tightened the 6" ring nut just to be sure but it only moved maybe an inch clockwise. The clamp (BMW factory) on the fuel line looked and felt perfect so it's still a mystery where the gas came from unless the overflow line was also clogged when I topped it off?
After putting it all back together everything is great- gauge works, no leaks after 20 miles of driving, quiet and dry as a bone. I'd love to know where the gas came from so I'll obviously watch this closely but any ideas are appreciated.
Keep those damn mice away!
Pulled the seat and opened both access hatches- driver's side looked perfect, Guess what I found on the passenger side? A huge mound of nesting materials, acorn shells, lots of dung and a general mess. I couldn't even see the tank, the electrical connections, fuel hoses and such it was that packed. I cleaned that out (it filled a grocery store plastic bag!) and worst of all, the insulator on all the sensor wires including the heavy gauge one was chewed through and one of the wires was broken - which I guess is why the gauge suddenly failed.
I'm glad it did because there was gas on top of the tank and can you imagine if those wires crossed and sparked? Kaboom!
I cleaned everything really well and spliced and reinsulated all the wires. Tightened the 6" ring nut just to be sure but it only moved maybe an inch clockwise. The clamp (BMW factory) on the fuel line looked and felt perfect so it's still a mystery where the gas came from unless the overflow line was also clogged when I topped it off?
After putting it all back together everything is great- gauge works, no leaks after 20 miles of driving, quiet and dry as a bone. I'd love to know where the gas came from so I'll obviously watch this closely but any ideas are appreciated.
Keep those damn mice away!
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