low fuel warning

[gcorky]

as title do all models have this as my 325 touring has never illuminated it???

[Grantley]

I thought my fuel warning light was broke but the needle has to go in and out of the red (In my case a fair bit out of the red) before the light comes on. To be honest I thought the light didnt work and I'd run out of petrol but it came on after much sweating and driving nervously past petrol stations !

[E30BeemerLad]

same here, well past the red onto the bottom white line before it came on, i never even knew E30's had a fuel light until I saw it posted on here. Be brave and see if it comes on, but maybe have a 5ltr can in the boot just incase

[gcorky]

bin pretty low ,will try

[dobbie82]

If you are going to run it low, be prepared for crap performance for a while after, it will send the cr*p from the tank through the system.

The touring ran like a sack of sh*t after it almost ran out of petrol.



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edited for spelling!

[stevo]

my light comes on before the needle gets into the red! i think it varies car to car
for some reason when i ran out of fuel the engine still ran but in 1st gear the engine revved but the car didnt move and didnt stall

[Brianmoooore]

If you are going to run it low, be prepared for crap performance for a while after, it will send the cr*p from the tank through the system.

The touring ran like a sack of sh*t after it almost ran out of petrol.

Can't see any reason why running low on fuel should make the pump pick up dirt in the tank, and even if it did the fuel filter will trap it.
Theres a perfectly good drain plug an an E30 tank, if you think there may be dirt in the tank.

[WARLOCKM42]

Fuel pump has its owm filter if its located in ur tank. Its relatevely easy to get to it if its a late model. U have to remove the back seat under it u will see a metal plate it has three screws on it. remove the battery unscrew them and ull see two fuel lines one is the come back normally it should be the thin one.Remove them remove the three wire socket and plase somthing between the two metal hoses to turn the pump anticlockwise. Be carefull not to cut or bend them. Remove the pump and fuel level sender unit its filled with fuel so be carefull . Empty it an the tank and let it dry. Reconect the battery and the 3 wire socket and turn the sender upside down turn on the ignition switch and check ur instrument pannel it sould tell u its full of fuel.While looking on the instrument turn the sender upwards again it should tell empty and the light must glow.This is the best way to check if ur sender unit moves the instrument the correct way plus its a good oportunity to clean the pump filter too.After u finish change the o ring located on the sender not to have a fuel leak while drifting.refit is reverse of removal

[Brianmoooore]

Fuel pump has its owm filter if is located in ur reservoir. Its relatevely easy to get to it if its a late model u have to remove the back seat under it u will see a metal plate it has three screws on it. remove the battery unscrew them and ull see two fuel lines one is the come back normally it should be the thin one.Remove them remove the three wire socket and plase somthing between the two metal hoses to turn the pump anticlockwise. Be carefull not to cut or bend them. Remove the pump and fuel level sender unit its filled with fuel so be carefull . Empty it an the tank and let it dry. Reconect the battery and the 3 wire socket and turn the sender upside down turn on the ignition switch and check ur instrument pannel it sould tell u its full of fuel.While looking on the instrument turn the sender upwards again it should tell empty and the light must glow.This is the best way to check if ur sender unit moves the instrument the correct way plus its a good oportunity to clean the pump filter too.After u finish change the o ring located on the sender not to have a fuel leak while drifting.refit is reverse of removal

Yes, I was forgetting about that filter as well, although quite often it will have been damaged by rubbing against the sump.
Not quite clear from warlockM42's post, but the level sender has to be removed from the pump, before the pump is lifted out of the tank, otherwise it will not pass through the hole.

[herman]

Done 40 miles on the light in the 325, must be 6L in there when it comes on. The M3 got aux tank, takes over Ԛ£50.

[Brianmoooore]

Done 40 miles on the light in the 325, must be 6L in there when it comes on. The M3 got aux tank, takes over Ԛ£50.

Six litres is what BMW specify.

[herman]

Thanks m8, there with facts as usual.