How to Fix a Faulty Fuel Gauge/Clean the Fuel Level Sensor - BMW E34 & E32

[@kennethparker5556]

I had a similar problem with my LHD e34. I appreciate your having made and posted the video, but in ,carefully, following your method, I encountered a problem that made the job much harder than I expected. At the 4:00 minute point on your video, with the sending unit removed from the tank and the plastic housing partially disassembled and turned upside down, you say, "To get this apart, get a very small screwdriver, and I pushed on this in here (the video showing the lower end of the shaft that the float travels on) and it started to pop apart." I did just that. I pushed and pushed with a small screwdriver, a smaller screwdriver, a larger screwdriver, a small punch, etc. I kept pushing, figuring that I wasn't pushing hard enough. Before pushing, I should have looked carefully at the end of the shaft because I would have noticed that -on my e34, anyway- there was not a "screw" on the end of the shaft, but rather a slotted round nut threaded onto the bottom of the shaft, securing it. Had I looked more carefully before pushing on the end, I would have notice the slotted nut and would have simply loosened it. In my haste, my prolonged screwdriver pushing efforts resulted in my marring the end of the shaft to a degree that it took me a very long time to remove the chewed up nut from the end of the chewed up shaft. My guess, since all you had to do was push on the end of the screw (actually the shaft), that the slotted round nut should have been threaded onto in you e34, was that the nut had come off and was, and probably still is, somewhere in your gas tank. I am not faulting you, Samuel, I really appreciate the video. I should have looked at the end more carefully before pushing on it and making much more work for myself. My search for the slotted round nut led me to McMaster Carr (So. Cal, USA), part # 562-692-5911.

[@SamuelVella1995]

Thanks for the write up! Sorry for misleading you, I was more or less figuring it out as I went as well so it's good to know.

[@SamuelVella1995]

Hey everyone. So, it's been a long time since I did this, and to be honest my 'fix' didn't actually fix anything properly! My fuel gauge still plays up. Anyway, I left the video up because I thought the tutorial on how to remove the fuel sender would be useful to someone. It's been years, but I still have my E34. I never finished the videos I planned on making, but I did a LOT of things to my E34. I successfully manual swapped it to a 5 speed, with a lightened flywheel. I also installed a performance chip. Lately Eve has been pretty unused. My brake master booster and power steering lines (all connected) shat themselves and so it took me a good while to rebuild everything. Right now I'm waiting to get my power steering box back (it's getting rebuilt), I'm getting an alternator rebuilt, I'm removing the 5% tint, and I'm replacing the caster arms. Soon she'll be back on the road, and I'd like to make a video showing my new setup and maybe a POV drive. I'd also like to make some videos for my daily, which is a robust and reliable old Volvo 240 sedan, built in 1989. That thing is a fucking tank. Anyway, hope you are all well and that my crappy juvenile videos from 3 years ago actually helped someone.

[@itsRunner1]

So you haven't fixed it yet? Damn. Was hoping this will solve my issue.

[@cyperbone1202]

I love your videos, it really helps my bmw E34 DIY, sincerely hope you can continue to film more E34 videos.

[@yourusernamesstupidandmine5434]

Fellow e34 guy here, we hope to get more videos please!

[@raphaelrichard92]

Bought an 540i E34 3 months ago , your videos are a huge help !

[@morm608]

It helped me. In this case you also have to clean the plastic part that covers the buoy mech, wich in my case was full of small bits of some kind of matter that interfered with the circuit.

[@Colombo5218]

Thank you. This is a superb video by a very gifted communicator and teacher. Word perfect! You should do a video on the E34 on board computer to provide the same clarity, which is a gift you have. It has taken me hours to work out the OCB because no one explained the steps logically as you would!

[@ertuncvural3919]

You explained everything very well.. better than a pro!! Thanks so much. I have the same problem. I'll go and fix it too😀

[@swagrbob6237]

very good work . some times there will be a small crack at the buttom of the fuel sender .that make the gauge play up& down when turn to left or right at driving

[@joelg4849]

7 years later and I've got mine out of my tank after the PO let the car sit and the fuel turn to this sticky varnish mess. I'll pull it apart properly and give it a good clean whilst I'm waiting for my new fuel pump to arrive. Cheers

[@gerryreggea]

How did you know all this!! Wow, I would have just looked for another fuel gauge or drive with a 5 litre of fuel in the boot. PS Your video has also helped me to remembered I removed the screws while cleaning the car and forgot where they came from, hehe. As usual hats off man. Cheers.

[@SamuelVella1995]

Glad I could help Gerry! I got most of this off of forums or those websites I linked in the description ;) Cheers

[@gerryreggea]

ok thanks man.

[@timothycook3909]

Gerry Reggea acome fuckme

[@leslieldridz1731]

thank you very much for this video ... Greetings from Serbia

[@SamuelVella1995]

+lesli Eldridz No problemo and greetings back!

[@XW0RKS]

Since I removed whole dash board and did my own aluminium dash I had to use custom fuel gauge... it was pain in the ass searching for forums and info of how to make it work, but I've managed and it's great. I'll make video after I fix the starter, cause I literally can't drive my car now. Too cold and starter failed. Also need to register my car and yet there isn't much free time so I could devote my self to filming anything.

[@SamuelVella1995]

+Xw0rkS Man, props to you for making your own dash haha! How did you get it to work? I know it's based on resistance between and max and min value.

[@dexonthe-immortal3000]

300,000km on the dash and that thing still sounds beautiful.

[@shudavtryedrdaskool4632]

it helped me as i forgot which way round rubber seal went on cheers

[@thewedge8823]

great video. my gauge is stuck on E, even when I fill up the tank to full. do I have the same problem? also, I have heard of some people of saying to gently tap the fuel tank from below, and it will set loose the float sensor. should I try that first before I get inside and take it apart?

[@aminetlili1374]

same problem!

[@thewedge8823]

@@aminetlili1374 ok let me know if u fix it

[@morm608]

Also remember to clean te plastic pipe where the buoy mechanism is installed, debris inside can cause the same problem

[@mohammed.n.m6028]

Thanks very much I have the same problem and i fix it today 🌷

[@lukepeterson8348]

Absolutely smashing tutorial.

[@elvio21]

You are the man!!..nice fix!!! ...abraços from Brazil

[@SamuelVella1995]

+elvio21 Cheers mate!

[@Colombo5218]

Thank you very much for this superb tutorial.

[@augustasmieliauskas597]

Hi, I noticed the fault on your dashboard. Check control. Did you find the problem for it ?

[@onofresegurabeltran7227]

Oleeeeeeee... buen video gracias. Saludos desde mallorca. (España). Hermano bimmer

[@cypriotbee8366]

Is this in the same place for a e46

[@alawishes1733]

Man if I could buy you a Pizza I would.

[@SamuelVella1995]

+carl moore Sweet could I have a cheese pizza without the cheese?

[@dadabaimusic]

great work mate, helped me it big time mate, thanks

[@paulgray2387]

Did you put a ground on before working on the fuel system?

[@jefferytaylor3113]

Great videos!! Have you had to replace the drivers door rubber seal on your vehicle? Were would I find one not so expensive? Also looking for a 94 530it power steering reservoir. The vehicle has a two in one pump for power steering and for the self leveling suspension system.

[@EnriqueLopez-hb5jn]

Awesome information👌👆👍👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@mrjaybennett80]

So... I did this exactly as you said and now my fuel gauge reads empty when it's full and full when it's empty. But only on Sundays. Is my fuel pump Korean? Or is this some sort of cryptic message from the Divine? I suppose I can adjust.

[@BLACKDEVIL11111]

Is the process same for E34 525TDS?

[@carslover3509]

Love your work

[@SamuelVella1995]

+CARS LOVER Love this comment

[@drtmelayu4436]

Alhamdulillah terima kasih tuan sudi kongsikan ilmu yg bermanfaat in

[@aimansahaja5981]

hey there...how it does in the long run? does the problem came back or just go away..i got a cluster from an E32 and use my code to it but the fuel problem is still there..so im guessing its the same problem...but will the problem go away for a long time? cheers!

[@unlishemadev]

You can turn the key on for about 5 seconds and then off and repeat this about 5 times 2 repressurize the fuel system in most cases.

[@sterlingwitherspoon5709]

Hello sir. I have a 2001 x5 I have a issue when I run out of gas at 1/4 tank. It will not go lower. I have a new pump & sending unit. What could he the problem?

[@courtneystewart2600]

Thanks heaps bro worked like a charm

[@SamuelVella1995]

+Kortz Stewart Glad it worked mate

[@ashleybudgen740]

Are you on the west side of Brisbane, I've a feeling I've seen that 540i around

[@SamuelVella1995]

+Ashley Budgen South East at the moment, but I used to live in St Lucia?

[@ashleybudgen740]

Yea that must have been it, it definitely looks familiar. I'm about to have to do this and the cluster repair on sister's red '90 525i M20 so thanks for the video it helps a lot

[@dapezent]

Lol you are an Aussie like me as your final swear word demonstrates. Great vid, thanks. I fixed my issue now too.

[@edwiniraheta4759]

Is it the same for a bmw x5

[@rahhalrider6054]

Comment ouvrire le tube interieur de la gauge

[@muddersbach]

Great to know!

[@audunjemtland8287]

Did it fix it completely for you? :D I have a needle that DOESN'T go all the way up when the tank is full. It doesn't indicate full tank.

[@XW0RKS]

I want that M60 so much !!!

[@SamuelVella1995]

+Xw0rkS It's good fun :D

[@techorny]

@Samuel Vella - first of all you should release fuel line pressure. Do this first starting car, then removing fuel pump relay, this uses up all fuel in the lines.. check this : kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHm5aYB-gdl6ncU

[@jokoenterprise]

I wish I could find out where the chube is

[@N1SMO32]

hahaha fuck, you made me laugh at the end! Time to fix my erratic fuel gauge in my 540i. thx

[@SamuelVella1995]

+V-SPEC It's not the first and certainly won't be the last time I swear at my car! Hope it helps mate

[@N1SMO32]

After cleaning mine it seems to have had no effect what so ever. :( Have you done the heater resistor replacement yet?

[@DJNEDROY]

thx bro

[@eddoejones965]

How to fix a faulty fuel gauge on a BMW X3 2005

[@ozbe8567]

First Step disconnect battery

[@babyborisova]

r u kiwi or aussie?

[@JuanCastillo-ll7jz]

Don’t be cheap guys. You have a BMW not a Honda. Buy a new sensor in Amazon. Is a big possibility that you break something if you try to fix it