E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

[jackmok]

Hi all,

I just bought an E46 (Year 2000) and just got my car yest. Driving from Redhill to CTE is normal, once it reaches TPE, I accelerate a bit more to overtake a vehicle and suddenly, the car loss power and the RPM is shooting up and down between 2000 and 3000, the car is jerking like mad, feels like u r stepping acc and release and step and release... I pulled over under at the road shoulder to chk it out. I tried cranking again, the car seems got battery but not fuel. But my fuel shows 1/4 tank. Momentarily it started, the rpm shoots up and down again, and stall again. After that I can't start it anymore. My frd came down to jump start, also cannot. Tow truck came, the uncle told me sounds like fuel pump is not pumping fuel into the engine... Any bro and sis encounter such problem to your E46 so similar?

I was about to enjoy the car but haizzz... this is the 2nd time I collect the car and broke down aledi. 1st time collect the car, the fan belt and serpentine belt broke, haha! the seller sent to his workshop.

 

[wt_know]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

go look for Rod from R2D. he is the da man for E46 perculiar problem

 

[jackmok]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

go look for Rod from R2D. he is the da man for E46 perculiar problem

Thanks! Too bad my car is towed to my usual workshop and my mechanic specialise with EURO diesel engine, haha! Hope he can solve this problem for first. I cant go to R2D becos have to pay for one more towing fee leh...

 

[davidtch]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

Hi all,

I just bought an E46 (Year 2000) and just got my car yest. Driving from Redhill to CTE is normal, once it reaches TPE, I accelerate a bit more to overtake a vehicle and suddenly, the car loss power and the RPM is shooting up and down between 2000 and 3000, the car is jerking like mad, feels like u r stepping acc and release and step and release... I pulled over under at the road shoulder to chk it out. I tried cranking again, the car seems got battery but not fuel. But my fuel shows 1/4 tank. Momentarily it started, the rpm shoots up and down again, and stall again. After that I can't start it anymore. My frd came down to jump start, also cannot. Tow truck came, the uncle told me sounds like fuel pump is not pumping fuel into the engine... Any bro and sis encounter such problem to your E46 so similar?

I was about to enjoy the car but haizzz... this is the 2nd time I collect the car and broke down aledi. 1st time collect the car, the fan belt and serpentine belt broke, haha! the seller sent to his workshop.

Sounds like fuel pump failure. I had the problem b4 on my E39. As it is 10 yr old, these wear & tear problems are within expectation. Juz change whatever that need to be change & enjoy the ride.

 

[R2D]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

fuel pumps have been known to konk out after 5-8years. The problem is made worse when you continually run the tank dry (i.e. run till he warning light comes on) Fuel pumps are designed to use fuel as a means of lubrication. So then the tank is rather empty and you take a nice corner, there is a split second where the pump runs dry and this accelerates the brass bearing failure and after a while, the pump jams up. Thereafter its game over.

usually, when you start the car, the pump is able to get a little movement before the shafts seize up and this creates enough pressure to start up and run the engine for 2-5 sec. Thereafter the engine dies off.

Good luck

 

[wt_know]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

hmm, this means i should pump when the fuel gauge reach 1/4 tank?
i like to pump when the fuel tank is almost empty at 55L-57L

 

[detach8]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

R2D, thanks for the info! I didn't know the fuel pump would be damaged when we run the fuel low. I am quite certain most of us drive up MSCP. It will certainly aggravate the situation. I think I'll pump at the 1/8 mark (usually 100km left to travel) in future.

 

[R2D]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

yes, good practice, dun try and squeeze every last drop out of the tank, that will protect your fuel pump.

 

[davidtch]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

fuel pumps have been known to konk out after 5-8years. The problem is made worse when you continually run the tank dry (i.e. run till he warning light comes on) Fuel pumps are designed to use fuel as a means of lubrication. So then the tank is rather empty and you take a nice corner, there is a split second where the pump runs dry and this accelerates the brass bearing failure and after a while, the pump jams up. Thereafter its game over.

usually, when you start the car, the pump is able to get a little movement before the shafts seize up and this creates enough pressure to start up and run the engine for 2-5 sec. Thereafter the engine dies off.

Good luck

Rod, why does BMW car fuel pumps konk around 5 yrs whereby Jap don't have this problem?

 

[R2D]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

its our stupid fuel tank. it straddles the drive shaft. The fuel pump is behind the driver while the fuel return goes behind the passenger. There is a link line that allows the fuel to flow back to the pump side but that takes time to flow back. So when you are running low on fuel, sometimes the pump runs dry for a second or 2 especially during conering.

 

[jackmok]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

Seems to b reali fuel pump prob... Wonder hw much it cost? Shld I pay or shod the seller of this car pay? The transfer is not complete yet...

 

[detach8]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

first day collect got problem? seller pay ;P

 

[davidtch]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

its our stupid fuel tank. it straddles the drive shaft. The fuel pump is behind the driver while the fuel return goes behind the passenger. There is a link line that allows the fuel to flow back to the pump side but that takes time to flow back. So when you are running low on fuel, sometimes the pump runs dry for a second or 2 especially during conering.

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[brosiss]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

took R2D advice to fill up tank when 1/4 or before the fuel low warning light after the fuel pump kaput...

now no problem..

BTW, have been using the dixcel maybe 1 year already, an additional lubricant added to fuel.. not sure if can help to lub the fuel pump too..

 

[jackmok]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

Finally I got my car back from my mechanic and now she's home wif me for the first time.

It's embarassing to share wif u wat happens to my Bimmer... Me n my wife waited at my mechanic's workshop to Q for our turn to have our car fixed. after abt 4hrs of wait, finally its my turn. To my shock, fuel pump is ok, its my tank empty... but the fuel gauge shows 1/4...We tot it's gauge spoil. Another shocking discovery,the fuel guage is not spoilt, it was the prev owner installed a "fuel switch" for you knw...... wah lao eh... wasted my whole day at workshop loh! I billed the prev owner anyway...

However it is good to knw tat our fuel pump hav to pump b4 1/4 mark to prolong its life...

This car a bit scary, seems like anytime will kaput... feeels weird... very diff frm my honda stream... may need a shifu to do a thorough chk for me c wat needs to b done to revive its original performance...

 

[ac323]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

Finally I got my car back from my mechanic and now she's home wif me for the first time.

It's embarassing to share wif u wat happens to my Bimmer... Me n my wife waited at my mechanic's workshop to Q for our turn to have our car fixed. after abt 4hrs of wait, finally its my turn. To my shock, fuel pump is ok, its my tank empty... but the fuel gauge shows 1/4...We tot it's gauge spoil. Another shocking discovery,the fuel guage is not spoilt, it was the prev owner installed a "fuel switch" for you knw...... wah lao eh... wasted my whole day at workshop loh! I billed the prev owner anyway...

However it is good to knw tat our fuel pump hav to pump b4 1/4 mark to prolong its life...

This car a bit scary, seems like anytime will kaput... feeels weird... very diff frm my honda stream... may need a shifu to do a thorough chk for me c wat needs to b done to revive its original performance...

Hi Jack,

is good to hear that your ride is finally home..........
bring it down to R2D for a check-up ya......


cheers

 

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

Finally I got my car back from my mechanic and now she's home wif me for the first time.

It's embarassing to share wif u wat happens to my Bimmer... Me n my wife waited at my mechanic's workshop to Q for our turn to have our car fixed. after abt 4hrs of wait, finally its my turn. To my shock, fuel pump is ok, its my tank empty... but the fuel gauge shows 1/4...We tot it's gauge spoil. Another shocking discovery,the fuel guage is not spoilt, it was the prev owner installed a "fuel switch" for you knw...... wah lao eh... wasted my whole day at workshop loh! I billed the prev owner anyway...

However it is good to knw tat our fuel pump hav to pump b4 1/4 mark to prolong its life...

This car a bit scary, seems like anytime will kaput... feeels weird... very diff frm my honda stream... may need a shifu to do a thorough chk for me c wat needs to b done to revive its original performance...

Take it easy ...................

 

[wt_know]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

1/4 mark fuel gauge FTW !!! hahaha

 

[pbear1973]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

Finally I got my car back from my mechanic and now she's home wif me for the first time.

It's embarassing to share wif u wat happens to my Bimmer... Me n my wife waited at my mechanic's workshop to Q for our turn to have our car fixed. after abt 4hrs of wait, finally its my turn. To my shock, fuel pump is ok, its my tank empty... but the fuel gauge shows 1/4...We tot it's gauge spoil. Another shocking discovery,the fuel guage is not spoilt, it was the prev owner installed a "fuel switch" for you knw...... wah lao eh... wasted my whole day at workshop loh! I billed the prev owner anyway...

However it is good to knw tat our fuel pump hav to pump b4 1/4 mark to prolong its life...

This car a bit scary, seems like anytime will kaput... feeels weird... very diff frm my honda stream... may need a shifu to do a thorough chk for me c wat needs to b done to revive its original performance...

Well at least it generated one of the most informative threads! Rod's posting is really useful.. I'll never run my tank till the warning light comes on again... >.< My previous JDM had 150,000+km with just a fan-belt wearing out. Hope to achieve that with my bimmer.

1/4 mark fuel gauge FTW !!! hahaha

+10000000000!!!

 

[davidtch]

Re: E46 RPM unstable and stalls...

This car a bit scary, seems like anytime will kaput... feeels weird... very diff frm my honda stream... may need a shifu to do a thorough chk for me c wat needs to b done to revive its original performance...

Well, it depends on how well the car is taken care of. Been thru it. Looking back, it teaches me what to look out for in future.

Well at least it generated one of the most informative threads! Rod's posting is really useful.. I'll never run my tank till the warning light comes on again... >.< My previous JDM had 150,000+km with just a fan-belt wearing out. Hope to achieve that with my bimmer.

Unlikely. At 100k km mark, most of the cooling parts has to be replaced. In addition, shocks & suspension also need to be replaced.