Fuel Pump or Possible Water in the Gas Tank?

Dingle · 10-04-2011, 10:34 PM

Hello everyone. Long time lurker for 5+ years. I've got a 2007 328i with 63k that has lately been having some type of fuel problem. It first started after the car was parked at the airport for 4 days. I came back to my car and hit the start button and the car would crank and would not start. I first thought it was a battery issue but then realized it almost felt like I was out of fuel. I had a quarter tank and so continued to try and start the car. To get it to start it required me to get on the throttle almost like the engine had no gas in it while it was cranking. After the car is running for a while it starts fine. Over the last week it seems to only have problems when the car has sat for about 6-10 hours. I know its fuel related but I wasn't sure if the filter was clogged or perhaps the fuel pump is on its way out. I know the 335i have had lots of problem with the HPFP but to the best of my knowledge this car does not contain one and doesn't seem to have any issues with fuel pumps going bad.

I had a friend recommend checking to see if the gas tank may contain some water in it. He thinks it would makes sense because overnight while the car sits all the water would settle in the bottom of the tank since it is heavier. Since the original problem I've filled the car up to 3/4 full with premium shell fuel and continue to have problems after letting the car sit overnight.

Sometime I get errors messages and check engine lights, sometimes I don't. The car has gone into limp mode twice some mornings after the car probably get a slew of error codes that it has no idea how to handle.

Does anyone have any clue about what this could be?

Dingle · 10-04-2011, 11:35 PM

Here is a video of my car starting this morning. I felt like this was a decent start compared to other mornings. The car starts but has problems idling and then ends up stalling by itself. The next time I give it gas and then everything is fine with no errors or check engine lights afterwards.

Express · 10-04-2011, 11:38 PM

coil packs?

wins76 · 10-05-2011, 12:17 AM

I don't think is water in your gas tank. Engine light will be on with mis-fired and shaking if that's the case. Since u where able to drive your car back from airport & able to tell your friend about it I suspect otherwise. Buy dry gas from auto zone if u want to make sure.

nferber · 10-05-2011, 10:24 AM

Could be VANOS solenoids? When mine went out it did something similar.

Oh, and it's not water in your tank.

10-04-2011, 10:34 PM	#1
Dingle Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Fuel Pump or Possible Water in the Gas Tank? Hello everyone. Long time lurker for 5+ years. I've got a 2007 328i with 63k that has lately been having some type of fuel problem. It first started after the car was parked at the airport for 4 days. I came back to my car and hit the start button and the car would crank and would not start. I first thought it was a battery issue but then realized it almost felt like I was out of fuel. I had a quarter tank and so continued to try and start the car. To get it to start it required me to get on the throttle almost like the engine had no gas in it while it was cranking. After the car is running for a while it starts fine. Over the last week it seems to only have problems when the car has sat for about 6-10 hours. I know its fuel related but I wasn't sure if the filter was clogged or perhaps the fuel pump is on its way out. I know the 335i have had lots of problem with the HPFP but to the best of my knowledge this car does not contain one and doesn't seem to have any issues with fuel pumps going bad. I had a friend recommend checking to see if the gas tank may contain some water in it. He thinks it would makes sense because overnight while the car sits all the water would settle in the bottom of the tank since it is heavier. Since the original problem I've filled the car up to 3/4 full with premium shell fuel and continue to have problems after letting the car sit overnight. Sometime I get errors messages and check engine lights, sometimes I don't. The car has gone into limp mode twice some mornings after the car probably get a slew of error codes that it has no idea how to handle. Does anyone have any clue about what this could be?
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10-04-2011, 11:35 PM	#2
Dingle Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Here is a video of my car starting this morning. I felt like this was a decent start compared to other mornings. The car starts but has problems idling and then ends up stalling by itself. The next time I give it gas and then everything is fine with no errors or check engine lights afterwards.
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10-04-2011, 11:38 PM	#3
Express Major General 369 Rep 8,693 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Promise Land iTrader: (17) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.30]	coil packs?
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10-05-2011, 12:17 AM	#4
wins76 Private First Class 27 Rep 172 Posts Drives: BMW 335 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	I don't think is water in your gas tank. Engine light will be on with mis-fired and shaking if that's the case. Since u where able to drive your car back from airport & able to tell your friend about it I suspect otherwise. Buy dry gas from auto zone if u want to make sure.
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10-05-2011, 10:24 AM	#5
nferber Private First Class 4 Rep 130 Posts Drives: '09 E92 335xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MN iTrader: (0)	Could be VANOS solenoids? When mine went out it did something similar. Oh, and it's not water in your tank.
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