E30 fuel sender problems!!

[jimmy3645]

Hi guys im new to this forum what a great website!! I have an e30 325i 1986 and it has a fuel sender in the tank drivers side but does not have a transfer pump, i have had fuel delivery problems with the car for a while and have replaced the external fuel pump but it hasnt helped once i get below half a tank she starts to mi and konk out it also stutters i you boot it which i think is not enough fuel my fuel gage doesnt work and the fuel sender is damaged i am guessing its sucking up air too, having reasearched the internet all i can find is transfer pumps in the tank or main pumps but no information whatsoever about fuel sender units in the tank which dont have a pump on them. Ha anyone got any advice or info on this, a new genuine part from bmw is expensive and i wonder if a transfer pump sender unit would fit in my tank? Thanks. Any help much apprechiated james.

[Grrrmachine]

Depending on your body style (saloon vs touring) you will have single or double fuel level senders for your fuel gauge. More info here:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... el_Senders

As to the other issues; how do you know your problem is with fuel delivery? If your sender is broken and your pumps not sucking fuel properly, it wouldn't surprise me if you either a) had a big dent in the bottom of your tank or b) someone had tried removing the pump without removing the built-in sensor first, therefore damaging both.

[jimmy3645]

Hi thanks for your speedy reply! My 325 is a tech 1 sport and has a single fuel senser float with no fuel pump, so its only a fuel sender float with fuel pipes running inside it i understand the single external fuel pump sucks all of the fuel from the tank on its own, americans i have spoken to say this is not good and all their cars have a transfer pump inside the tank or a single main pump in the tank, i believe this is my problem because my external fuel pump started makig a loud noise an i believed it was because it had been sucking up air ive replaced it and now its ok also when my fuel tank is half empty i loose power or when turning sharply i loose power i have taken my fuel sender out and its damaged inside which also makes me think its the in tank sender unit i have also replaced allfuel lines and the fuel filter. I dont understand why my car doesnt have a fuel pump in the tank thanks