M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: PartsCar on March 30, 2008, 07:31:42 AM
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Hey guys.
i was running low on gas, and now my car wont start. ive been meaning to change my fuel filter for a while now and yesterday i went under the car to the driver's side rear wheel well, i found and empty spot for the filter and little pump above it.
After some searching, i see that there are two possible places for the fuel filter. according to my research, it is supposed to be near the steering column, but i didnt see it and gave up as i was in the streets of crackheads.
can anybody help me by giving me a better detailed description of where the fuel fitler is on the m42?
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i believe there is one under the car about where the driver sits
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on my m42, its on the driver side right in front of the rear wheel. I just did mine yesterday. The other location in is the engine bacy by the steering column, but mine only had the fuel lines there. Back to the location under the rear of the car, there is bracker also for a fuel pump. But these cars only came with 1 pump, the one in the fuel tank.
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nice. i love this parts car!
i went underneath the car yesterday. to find out that there is no filter on this damn thing.
i added a new filter to the car, but had to jimmy rig it with good ol' zip ties - since the bracket is broken and missing. (of course)
i didnt get a chance to crank it yesterday as i need a jump now after all the empty cranking.
I put another gallon of gas since its parked on a slight angle, with the driver side at the higher end. even though this would probably make it better for the pump to pick up the fuel, no?
im scared that with the car not having a fuel filter for an unknown amount of time what other problems could this cause for my car not to start or in general?
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bracket might be ok. the filter is held with 2 large hose clamps to the bracket. Let me know if you need pictures.
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ah, yes. i know what you are talking about.
i might need a picture anyway, because it looks like the line coming from the fuel tank has a harsh bend that doesnt seem to flow well with how the filter should be set up.
ill take a picture after work.
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i also noticed that i dont have a second fuel sender on the other side.
this car keeps getting shadier and shadier.
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mine has the hard bend, but i just got a little longer fuel cable to make a smoother bend. the etk doesnt really have a part for that, just 8x13mm hose. let me know if you need my picture.
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(http://e-owned.com/albums/userpics/10037/fuelFilter.jpg)
this what is under the car now. i had to trim off some hose i used to connect my evap to the throttle body. anyhow, its held up by zipties- which is fine for now.
I still can't get the damn thing to start.
yesterday i got it cranking, and it sounded like it wanted to turn over, but didnt.
anybody got suggestions on what to get this thing on the road again? would a push start help?
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that filter looks huge, maybe its the angle. I see the bracket behind it. You just need to get the 2 large oem hose clamps. The filter rests against the curved part of the bracket and clamps to it. I will take a picture and post it.
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I still can't get the damn thing to start.
yesterday i got it cranking, and it sounded like it wanted to turn over, but didnt
did you do a fuel pressure test? maybe the fuel pump is dead? check if you have a proper spark as well
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I had the issue of not starting after I did the rear sub-frame bushings. I had the car raised in the back for a week. Then when I lowered it, the engine would only turn. I changed the spark plugs and nothing. So then I took out fuel pump and it seemed ok. I then tapped it a few times an put it back in. It then started. I know my pump buzzes really loud so its going to go soon. Maybe it was stuck from being raised and low on gas.
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well, i changed the spark plugs already and the pump seems to be working fine. i can feel it when i put the key to the ON position. im going to try cranking it again after work.
did you do a fuel pressure test? maybe the fuel pump is dead? check if you have a proper spark as well
what do i need to do a fuel pressure test?
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its basically a tool available at auto parts store that you fit in your fuel system, near the fuel rail. it will present the readings on a gauge just like for a compression test. if the fuel pump is shot but not dead you would still hear it but it wouldnt pump anything to the engine. like monty23psk said, try tapping it a few times.
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here is a pic of mine, the curved bracket is behind to which the clamps connect to....
If you need to get german oem filter let me know. I can get the Mahle at $10 plus tax and shipping or local pickup. Not sure what you paid.
(http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w276/monty23psk/318is/DSC03547.jpg)
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i paid an arm and a leg for my fuel filter. oh well.
i still couldnt get the damn car to start. it would crank really fast and at one point it sounded like it was about to turn over... But didnt. I would also try tapping the fuel pump and around it with a rubber mallet. nothing.
also, when i put my hand over the fuel pump, i can feel some air moving and a slight vibration from the valves going to the rubber fuel lines. the lines feel stiff and seem to hold pressure. Should I hear it make a noise or feel something more than a slight vibration from the top?
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you should hear it buzzing, from the top and from the bottom. You can remove the fuel hose before or after filter and try to catch the gas and see. How fill is your tank?
Have you checked to see if you are getting spark?
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i got spark. its the fuel pump. its VERY weak. it almost got going again today. it was chugging and was about to idle, but died. anyhow. right now i have to source a pump.
i was looking on fleabay and found this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FUEL-PUMP-BMW-E30-E36-E46-318-320i-325-325i-M3-255LPH_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33555QQihZ006QQitemZ160224839805QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
whats the deal? is this thing junk?
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not sure if its junk, but that seems to be an external pump like the older e30s or e28s. We have an in tank pump, so not sure if you want add this to you system or replace the intank.
I see you are looking for a used one. I know at U-pick junkyard, there are 3 e30s, but not sure if they have the pumps. Its only $1 to go in and might be $10-15 for it. But if you decide on a new one, I can get it for $220 plus tax. It's expensive but at least it will work. Its Siemens / VDO brand.
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go for the oem one
i went through 2 fuel pumps (carter jobber) before buying a real oem with the complete harness after recommendations of George Moutafis (TC Automotive)
i went with a bavauto.com fuel pump and its still running great
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Since on the subject of OEM fuel pumps for the 318's - just curious, what is the factory pump's flow rating? Has anyone installed a pump that is any better or larger than the factory supplied pump?
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Holy heck... I thought the fuel filter was on the passenger side rear! At least, I think that's where I changed it. I'm going to have to look, now. Did I swap something else out or something? Or maybe that was my e21 (which I know is rear right/passenger)...
Anyway, I 've never seen a fuel filter all black like that. I have seen a charcoal canister like that, though. The fuel filters I've seen are the silver one shown by monty with arrows noting flow direction.
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Since on the subject of OEM fuel pumps for the 318's - just curious, what is the factory pump's flow rating? Has anyone installed a pump that is any better or larger than the factory supplied pump?
Id like to know if the 325i pump is larger/flows more than the m42 pump. I had the original m42 pump from my swap car(91 318i) die, and I replaced it with the brand new pump out of my 91 325i vert. The vert's pump was physically larger, but it fit right into the m42's pump assembly/holder thing. Had to swap just the pumps because the vert had no return line on it. The car seems to run better than before(before the pump died) though, so Im happy.
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Anyway, I 've never seen a fuel filter all black like that. I have seen a charcoal canister like that, though. The fuel filters I've seen are the silver one shown by monty with arrows noting flow direction.
that filter i purchased from Napa. It fits, sorta. and it works much better than what i had before.