E30 Zone

I have always got around 29-30 mpg out of my 325i chromie, but after fitting a new lift pump in the tank I am struggling to get 25 mpg on the same regular commuting journey.

The car has always given off a slight fuel smell when being driven (noticeable with the windows or sunroof open but not inside the car) and I thought I had fixed it by remaking the breather hose connection to the filler pipe which had rotted off, but it appears not) but I don't think that it's related anyway as it has always been like this and I have never been able to trace where the smell comes from.

The connections to the new pump are good, no smell of fuel under the seat and no dampness on top of the sender unit or tank.
I suppose the prime candidate is the pipe that runs from the lift pump to the external pump as before it was being used like a straw (the lift pump was not runnig at all) whereas now I suppose it would have a low pressure generated by the lift pump...

Any other suggestions before I drop the prop / tank to inspect the pipes ?

Can't help with your query I'm afraid, but out of interest where did you get a new lift pump from, and what did you pay for it? My cabby needs one too: a new one would be ideal, but they seem pricy and good used ones seem harder to come across than for the 'single pump' system.

Sorry to hijack the thread so early!

Cheers,

Tim

Don't worry about the hijack... you're the only one to reply !!!

Unfortunately it seems that the only place to get them is BMW. I got very very lucky because on the very day I discovered mine wasn't working someone on the Spanish version of the zone put one up for sale (he had bought it from the dealer thinking his 320 needed one and it didn't). He sold it to me for 120€ and it came with a receipt from the stealer for 190€

How about that there are no leaks etc and your car CO mixture has been set to accommodate to a lean supply of fuel? And now with it being full of guts it's running rich which uses more fuel and gives off a fuel smell from the exhaust? Just a opinion... But possibly worth considering...

The petrol smell has always been there, and it hasn't got worse since the pump was replaced.

The car definately runs better since the pump was replaced, so I suppose it could be running richer, I'll check the plugs... but to increase consumption by almost 17% seems excessive, and probably beyond what the CO regulation on the AFM could compensate.

Anyone know what sort of pressure the petrol in transfer pipe could be running at ?

Having asked the question about where to find a new lift pump, this evening I found a new VDO one for £95 posted from a parts vendor in Istanbul of all places! 100% feedback and nearly 1000 happy customers worldwide, so hopefully I've done OK! It did take me quite a while and a lot of research before I plucked up the courage to hit 'purchase' though!

Good luck with your fuel issue...

Cheers,

Tim