Hi Everyone

Just got down to 23kms of fuel left on the trip computer, my 545 felt like it went into "get back to base" mode - ie no power, early change down, low revs etc.

Haven't checked the manual as back at work now, once I filled up and the auto in sport - it took off sweetly - so no problem....

Am I dreaming?

Cheers
stu

2004 545i

 

Why did you let it get so low? Based on what you described, it cannot be good for the motor.

I start thinking about filling it when I have half a tank and almost never let it go below a quarter (granted, I didn?t fill it en route to Bremerhaven and let it get down to 40 km or so but it was about to get onto a ship at that point for its journey across the pond so...)

 

I think you're dreaming...there isn't a limp mode for a low fuel condition.

Even though I feel like Jonathan is going to yell at me, I'll admit that I often let my car go down to single digit miles to go (and a few times I've gone down to "-----" which basically is when the car says "I'm out, you're on your own pal!"

Keep in mind that letting the car get down to minimum fuel is probably not the smartest thing to do -- for one thing, the fuel pump is immersed in the tank and is cooled by the gas surrounding it.

This was discussed not too long ago in the following thread:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=44699

 

My 5 has gotten down to ---- miles to empty before and still zooms like a charm. Never experienced limp mode!

 

More likely that you have picked up some water in the bottom of the tank.

Top up soon, it is never a good idea to get down to the dregs of the tank where all the debris hides.

 

Becareful when letting your fuel level drop so low. At that point you will be pulling all kinds of sediment and debris from the bottom of the fuel tank through your injectors. May cause damage to the motor itself.

 

The fuel pickup point doesn't change as the tank empties so I'm not sure the debris/sediment/water vapor argument applies...

 

[quote name='Rudy' date='Feb 11 2008, 06:06 AM' post='529849']
I think you're dreaming...there isn't a limp mode for a low fuel condition.

Even though I feel like Jonathan is going to yell at me, I'll admit that I often let my car go down to single digit miles to go (and a few times I've gone down to "-----" which basically is when the car says "I'm out, you're on your own pal!"

I know the "----" feeling well. My current car (E60 530d) has done over 30 miles on "----" in the past (in rural France, on a Sunday afternoon, when all the gas stations were shut). It's stressful when you think you could run out any second, but still nice to know that BMW built some error margin in.

 

I think in car industry lingo thats what's technically known as "idiot margin".
The American car equivalent was when the "Check Engine Soon" light would go on when your Buick was billowing smoke for a solid 2 weeks.


I'm grateful for it and actually do wish there was a "crawl home mode".
I was driving my friend home in his Quatroporte Maserati (He was very sad and VERY drunk). As soon as a the gage hit the letter E, the car sputtered and died. I coasted to within 3 blocks of a gas station. (Not my car, I never do, so I never assumed he was running so close to empty) The car never beeped or blinked at me or anything.

 

+1