Another two 15 amp fire hazards........

[Andyboy]

Saw two today, a 1988 316i and a 1993 316i Touring. Just had to check out the fuel pump fuses............



......... blue 15a both! I felt duty bound to inform the owners that a horrible fiery doom awaited them.

I would have added this to the previous thread, but of course it was f*cking locked just as it was getting interesting.

[capri_rob]

Barry in the slammer. Again

[DanThe]

I think somebody has a short fuse....

[Brianmoooore]

I thank you for carrying on my mission, Andrew. The original thread will be unlocked in due course.

[daimlerman]

Perhaps I should point out that I had no imput into the original thread,but STILL got slagged off by Barryboy!

Both of my E30's carry 7.5 amp fuses for the fuel pump.

[Andyboy]

I thank you for carrying on my mission, Andrew. The original thread will be unlocked in due course.

Okay. When it's reopened, perhaps you could lock this thread? Despite my sarcasm, it's certainly food for thought. Why do so many have the fatter fuse?

Regarding E34 pumps, the owners handbook says 15a, mine has a 15a yet according to the wiring diagram in the manual, it's 7.5.

[Brianmoooore]

I've always assumed that the 15A fuses have been fitted to E30s as a 'cure' for blowing 7.5A ones caused by sticking fuel pumps, but it appears that there may an error, or failure to update, in later ETMs, so perhaps some have been placed there by BMW techs. Something's definitely wrong with BMW literature somewhere since the owner's handbook contradicts the ETM, and my electrical engineering knowledge and experience tells me it's the handbook that's correct.
I've noticed that the E30s I've bought that are low owner , always garaged and professionally serviced are much more likely to have a 7.5A fuse 11 than any of the more 'ebay' type, though.
The run current of a healthy in tank E30 pump is around 4.5A, so well within the rating of a 7.5A fuse. Note that "7.5A" is the maximum current that it is designed to constantly carry, not the current at which it blows.
Pull out the fuel pump fuse on your E34 and connect the probes of your meter on its 10A range into the fuse socket, start the car, and see what the run current is. Anything up to about 6A and a 7.5A fuse will be fine.

[Ranchero]

Out of curiosity I checked my fusebox earlier. Blue 15A in slot 11.
Car is a 1990 318is running on LPG for the last 10 years.

[Brianmoooore]

Out of curiosity I checked my fusebox earlier. Blue 15A in slot 11.
Car is a 1990 318is running on LPG for the last 10 years.

That's the set up that will cook the wiring if the fuel pump jams!

[Jhonno]

Perhaps I should point out that I had no imput into the original thread,but STILL got slagged off by Barryboy!

Both of my E30's carry 7.5 amp fuses for the fuel pump.

Aren't you a good boy. Have a sweetie.

He hardly slagged you off.. I am sure you'd have come along in due course to stick your oar in..

[Ranchero]

Out of curiosity I checked my fusebox earlier. Blue 15A in slot 11.
Car is a 1990 318is running on LPG for the last 10 years.

That's the set up that will cook the wiring if the fuel pump jams!

No harm in changing it I suppose.
Due to a leak in the fuel-tank I can't get more than a tenner's worth in before it pisses out on an incline.

Can't be good for the pump.

[Jhonno]

Barry in the slammer. Again

and the mod who came along and stirred the pot got.....?

[d6dph]

Perhaps I should point out that I had no imput into the original thread,but STILL got slagged off by Barryboy!

Both of my E30's carry 7.5 amp fuses for the fuel pump.

Aren't you a good boy. Have a sweetie.

He hardly slagged you off.. I am sure you'd have come along in due course to stick your oar in..

Do you have to Daniel. Play nicely or I'll bring out the foam at the next bbb meet

[Dezzy]

Perhaps I should point out that I had no imput into the original thread,but STILL got slagged off by Barryboy!

You had the high ground there for a couple of hours Malc.
Didnt take long to blow it though

[fixedwheelnut]

Are these cars with higher rated fuses with M50/52 conversions? if so are they running larger fuel pumps?

E30's are the only ones that use 7.5amps for the fuel pumps. almost evrything else since then uses 15 amps, even some American spec E30's use 15 amp.
Confused I am

[mrLEE30]

If peoples intention on this thread is to continiue where BSS left off (by openly criticising/offending people and not their ideas) then please continue and accept the consequences.

NO ONE wil take offence if you wish to disagree with the idea of having a 15A fuse in slot 11, you may discuss this until your car sets on fire or rusts away.

BUT as per our zone rules you MAY NOT make offensive remarks about other zoners, an I am not saying anyone has done so, but if they do then see my first remark.

Clear?

[Dezzy]

Crystal

[daimlerman]

Been looking at Bentley and Haynes this morning.

Bentley states 15a fuse for 11 for '84-'87 and 7.5a for '88-90....

Haynes suggests that the owner's handbook gives fuse values in the 4 pot book.In the earlier,E21 based manual with the E30 suppliment,the diagram showing the fuse box shows a 15a fuse in slot 11...

So what do we do/believe?

We know that the injection system pump is common across the range,so therefore BMW must have changed the rating with the facelift introduction for reasons that Brian has hinted toward.

There may well be a case to be made for running an early car with the larger fuse,if said car is repeatedly 'popping' a 7.5 fuse and no other fault can be detected.

My understanding of electrics is limited to the usual enthusiast's type of knowledge,I am capable of tracing and fixing faults,wiring in additional equipment etc.Further to this,I installed an electrical system using solar power into my boat and I am capable of adding power outlets to the ring main in my home and adding lighting points as well,I installed a ring main and lighting into my garage/workshop when that was built(by me!)some 25 years ago.

If Brian indicates that a 7.5amp fuse is up to the job of protecting the fuel delivery circuit on my cars,I for one are quite prepared to accept this as correct.

If this makes me the 'team lapdog',that's fine by me.

Woofwoof,licklick!

[magpie]

Clear?

as mud

[mrLEE30]

Clear?

as mud

you are all welcome to try and take the P out of me as I will soon be in Spain drinking Coronita in an apartment overlooking a pool and Nikki Beach, with a nice relaxing golf course a few strides to the rear, thus i will not really care.....but be warned anyway, please lets keep it civil folks

[capri_rob]

Checked the handbook that came with the car ( Silver book dated 1987 ) Covers facelift & 325i touring models - states that Fuse 11 should be 7.5a

Checked the car - fuse 11 is 7.5a

My 2p's worth

I can't honestly see genuine BMW Tech's replacing this fuse with a 15a version to "cure" a blowing fuse issue.

Anybody with even the most rudimentary knowledge of electrics ( even me ! ) knows that the cure for a blowing fuse is not simply to fit a bigger one - and at the prices BMW charge for servicing/repairs their Techs should know that better than anyone.

Why would any BMW dealer "fix" a blowing fuel pump fuse in this way when they could make much more money by charging for a new pump ?
The potential for comeback and potential legal issues on any BMW dealer who's fitting of a higher rated fuse to cure a problem which subseqently did cause a fire is too great.


IMO Any cars which don't have the correct fuse fitted to tally with the handbook that came with the car are far more likely to have been changed/bodged by amateur mechanics than BMW dealers.

As for why "so many" cars have the wrong fuse fitted thats anyones guess - the fact that most of these turds are well over 20 Years old with multiple amatuer mechanic owners under their belts surely says something ! ( and is the handful of cars at the pod vs the number of E30's in daily use really a fair sample to look at - bearing in mind the cars at the Pod are pretty much ALL owned by home mechanics of varying ability ? )

If you have an unmodified car and are in any doubt go with what the handbook that came with the car tells you.

As for the mud-slinging not really a fan of the bad vibes the last couple of days - I've been given solid, accurate advice by Barry, Brian, Willnz and loads of other zoners countless times over the past few years - why is it so hard for all these people that love the E30 to get along
Banter is great fun. Personal attacks are not.

[B7]

Been looking at Bentley and Haynes this morning.

Bentley states 15a fuse for 11 for '84-'87 and 7.5a for '88-90....

Already bee said Malcolm. On the other post.

[KimH]

I, for one, am grateful for any advice that helps me keep my Touring going.

And in response to these threads I have replaced my 15A fuse 11with a 7.5A one on the grounds that it cannot do any harm.

Thank you to all who contribute to this forum.

[George]

My silver handbook from 1986 states:

11 = 15A Fuel pump, fuel supply pump.

[nickso]

I, for one, am grateful for any advice that helps me keep my Touring going.

And in response to these threads I have replaced my 15A fuse 11with a 7.5A one on the grounds that it cannot do any harm.

so have I on the basis that if the smaller fuse blows constantly then some investigation of the pump etc is required, if you leave the larger fuse in then you obviously have a higher chance of a loom threatening problem.

i hope to test the shit out of my 7.5a fuse at a trackday next week. .......sadly i suspect the fuse/loom will be the last thing on fire.

[Andyboy]

The cars I've seen with 15 amp fuses have been original, lowish mileage and unmessed with examples. There are too many of them for it to be a common bodge.
E36's use a 15a fuse without an issue and the (single) pump is nothing special at all.

A short circuit will blow a 15a fuse instantly anyway, and I doubt there's any difference in the fuel pump relay or the pump wire thickness. If you used a 30a fuse designed to handle the current used to power a sunroof or window motor, then you'd have a problem, maybe.

[Simon13]

Why are people so happy about knowing this? There is clearly no issue, but people are making it one.

i haven't changed mine and i won't be, maybe me and my e30 will blow up 2moro or maybe it will plod on with the 15amp that its had since 92 and 180,000 miles.

[Felix79]

What is an EMT?

[gnrsoul]

i went to check mine today and it had a 15amp fuse in it so changed it to the 7.5amp as you have said and guess what the car ran like crap for about 5 sec and then cut out, i went to check the fusebox to see the the 7.5amp had blowin put the 15 in and back to normal

[Kos]

What is an EMT?

emergency medical technician

[gnrsoul]

so after reading this my 1993 facelift might have had a 15amp in the slot 11 when it come out the factory then?

[Blitz]

7.5amp fuse 1987 high comp 325i. Who cares whether it has a 15amp or 7.5amp, never been a problem.

[Felix79]

What is an EMT?

emergency medical technician

Made me chuckle

[E30Gheko]

Checked the handbook that came with the car ( Silver book dated 1987 ) Covers facelift & 325i touring models - states that Fuse 11 should be 7.5a

Checked the car - fuse 11 is 7.5a

My 2p's worth

I can't honestly see genuine BMW Tech's replacing this fuse with a 15a version to "cure" a blowing fuse issue.

Anybody with even the most rudimentary knowledge of electrics ( even me ! ) knows that the cure for a blowing fuse is not simply to fit a bigger one - and at the prices BMW charge for servicing/repairs their Techs should know that better than anyone.

Why would any BMW dealer "fix" a blowing fuel pump fuse in this way when they could make much more money by charging for a new pump ?
The potential for comeback and potential legal issues on any BMW dealer who's fitting of a higher rated fuse to cure a problem which subseqently did cause a fire is too great.


IMO Any cars which don't have the correct fuse fitted to tally with the handbook that came with the car are far more likely to have been changed/bodged by amateur mechanics than BMW dealers.

As for why "so many" cars have the wrong fuse fitted thats anyones guess - the fact that most of these turds are well over 20 Years old with multiple amatuer mechanic owners under their belts surely says something ! ( and is the handful of cars at the pod vs the number of E30's in daily use really a fair sample to look at - bearing in mind the cars at the Pod are pretty much ALL owned by home mechanics of varying ability ? )

If you have an unmodified car and are in any doubt go with what the handbook that came with the car tells you.

As for the mud-slinging not really a fan of the bad vibes the last couple of days - I've been given solid, accurate advice by Barry, Brian, Willnz and loads of other zoners countless times over the past few years - why is it so hard for all these people that love the E30 to get along
Banter is great fun. Personal attacks are not.

great post!! couldn't agree more.

[baptie0]