[madmonkey]

Hey Guys,
I did a quick search and only found one old thread with this problem, but I didn't see a definite answer.

What happens is when I go to start my car in the morning, my fuel gauge ticks rapidly...looks like it's alternating between empty and beyond empty. After I drive it for a few minutes, it returns to normal and then won't do it for the rest of the day. This only happens when the temperature drops overnight

Has anyone experienced this issue? If so, how was it fixed and what was the explanation for the cause?

I've taken this to the dealer about 4 months before for this issue, but was told everything seemed normal but the battery was low, so they charged it. Of course it didn't happen all summer long

Any help is much appreciated.

[campbelly]

This isn't even an "issue" at all...the ticking you hear/see on the fuel gauge is just the car priming the engine with fuel so it will ensure an instant start in colder weather or if your car has been sitting for a while...I'm kind of surprised the dealer wouldn't know/tell you this at least one of the times you asked about it...hope that helps tho

[madmonkey]

I thought the fuel pump priming was the humming noise that you get when you unlock the car.

I have witnessed the ticking going on for hours. If it is truly the fuel pump priming, why would it do that continuously over long periods - possibly days? Also, why would it manifest itself as a nervous tick on the fuel gauge?

[MMachines]

Never seen this on my car of same model. Did you manage to show it to the dealer? If not, take a video.

[madmonkey]

Originally Posted by MovinUp

Never seen this on my car of same model. Did you manage to show it to the dealer? If not, take a video.

Good idea. I will take a video. I'm guessing that because this is so rare and because it doesn't throw a code, that it's hard to diagnose.

[campbelly]

Originally Posted by madmonkey

I thought the fuel pump priming was the humming noise that you get when you unlock the car.

I have witnessed the ticking going on for hours. If it is truly the fuel pump priming, why would it do that continuously over long periods - possibly days? Also, why would it manifest itself as a nervous tick on the fuel gauge?

That is just what I have read and have been told by the people I deal with at BMW...it definitely should not be doing it all the time/for more than 30 seconds and prob should not continue after the car is already on I would imagine...Mine only does it for a few seconds when I put my key in the ignition but don't start it...if it is constantly "ticking" then I would do as the other members suggested and take a video and show ur dealer

[madmonkey]

Ok...well I've booked my appointment for Wednesday, so we'll see if the techs can figure it out. I will post update on what they did.

Mini Update:
I brought it in today and described my issue to a senior tech and showed him the vid I took. He's never seen anything like it and seemed genuinely excited about the challenge of getting it repaired. Will see if they can get it done in a couple of days. Until then I have to put up with a loaner 323...I really miss my 330's extra 50 horses.

[madmonkey]

So I got a call from the dealership. They have replaced the entire cluster and are holding it for one more day to make sure that the issue is fixed. I love getting new parts.

[madmonkey]

So guys...I let my car sit over the weekend and have not seen a return of the problem. One cool side effect of getting the instrument cluster replaced is that they must have done some programming and now I get the Radio Data System stuff...the station ID and song title and artist. I never got that before .

[garnin]

Hey all, I'm not from Canada, but I'm somehow dealing with the same issue here in sunny California (in the U.S.) on a 2006 e90 325i.

I have a video of what my car is doing here, in case y'all are curious:

I took the car in last year (in the winter) with this problem and they came back at me and said they were unable to reproduce it, but charged me a $150 diagnostic fee.

I also took it in a week or two ago and they again were not able to reproduce it and sent me on my way, even after I showed them the video. Luckily, I was not charged a diagnostic fee this time, although it may have been useful because my battery died with a bad cell about a week later.

I don't know if it has anything to do with this problem or if it was already on its way out, but installing a brand new $400 battery definitely does not alleviate this problem. I have already seen the problem occur twice in the past two days. I'm trying to figure out what I should do about this (different dealership? try to communicate with BMW NA?) and I'll let you know if anything comes of it.

[330iMagnum]

Hey, same thing happens in my '06 330i. Ever find out what the issue was? I can actually drive with the gauges not working, then they eventually kick on.

[jz1219]

after you change the cluster its fine??

i have the same problem for awhile for my 2008 bmw 335i

[madmonkey]

Yes, after the dealership changed the cluster, the problem never came back. Not even in this super cold winter we just had.

[shadowx360]

Originally Posted by madmonkey

Yes, after the dealership changed the cluster, the problem never came back. Not even in this super cold winter we just had.

I really hate to revive this thread, but has anyone found out how to fix this without replacing the entire cluster? My '06 330i is out of warranty and I've been getting this issue during the cold mornings. It's been 45-50 degrees in the morning which isn't that cold relative to the north but it's been do the exact same thing as the video that was posted. Tach and fuel gauge are acting weird.

[S4NoMore]

Bumping this thread because I just picked up a 2006 E90 and although it's in generally great shape, I get this same issue when I park the car outside overnight and the temperatures drop below freezing. I can't find an E90 cluster repair service online, aside from in the UK. I'm tempted to pull the cluster out myself and look for obvious problems, but I'd rather leave it to a pro.

[shadowx360]

Originally Posted by S4NoMore

Bumping this thread because I just picked up a 2006 E90 and although it's in generally great shape, I get this same issue when I park the car outside overnight and the temperatures drop below freezing. I can't find an E90 cluster repair service online, aside from in the UK. I'm tempted to pull the cluster out myself and look for obvious problems, but I'd rather leave it to a pro.

I've searched for this issue for years now. There are only two conclusions on the internet:
1) In an E46, this can possibly be one of the two fuel gauge sensors going bad
2) Replace the instrument cluster

#1 was anecdotal and every single thread online that actually fixed the issue has said #2. Used cluster needs some extra work besides basic coding, new cluster needs basic coding. I opted to save myself the money and just ignore the problem for the first few minutes of driving. It fixes itself after a few minutes so just learn to shift base on engine sound and drive the same speed as those around you.

[S4NoMore]

Originally Posted by shadowx360

I've searched for this issue for years now. There are only two conclusions on the internet:
1) In an E46, this can possibly be one of the two fuel gauge sensors going bad
2) Replace the instrument cluster

#1 was anecdotal and every single thread online that actually fixed the issue has said #2. Used cluster needs some extra work besides basic coding, new cluster needs basic coding. I opted to save myself the money and just ignore the problem for the first few minutes of driving. It fixes itself after a few minutes so just learn to shift base on engine sound and drive the same speed as those around you.

Thank you for the insight. Do you live in an area with cold winters, is your problem isolated to first start in cold conditions?

Mine returns to normal after the first few seconds - I suppose I could probably live with it if, like you, over the years it only grows marginally longer to the point of being a couple minutes. If there was a service offering to repair the original cluster, I'd definitely pay a couple hundred bucks to prevent a total loss of instruments. I have a hard time coughing up 4 figures for a brand new cluster to correct a seemingly small issue though. A used cluster I have to believe carries the same risk.

Edit: I realize I'm in the Canada forum now, so you must experience some serious cold. But in any case, does it still occur in warmer situations?

[shadowx360]

Originally Posted by S4NoMore

Thank you for the insight. Do you live in an area with cold winters, is your problem isolated to first start in cold conditions?

Mine returns to normal after the first few seconds - I suppose I could probably live with it if, like you, over the years it only grows marginally longer to the point of being a couple minutes. If there was a service offering to repair the original cluster, I'd definitely pay a couple hundred bucks to prevent a total loss of instruments. I have a hard time coughing up 4 figures for a brand new cluster to correct a seemingly small issue though. A used cluster I have to believe carries the same risk.

Edit: I realize I'm in the Canada forum now, so you must experience some serious cold. But in any case, does it still occur in warmer situations?

I'm in Florida. It happens almost every time the temperature drops below 60 degrees - maybe a dozen times/year. No one knows what's actually the problem in the cluster though, so you'd have to pay someone to figure out what's exactly causing the problem - something no one has been able to do so far. It's rare enough for most indy shops to have never seen it. Dealer will make you replace the whole panel. Doesn't seem like a cheap fix either way.

[S4NoMore]

Originally Posted by shadowx360

I'm in Florida. It happens almost every time the temperature drops below 60 degrees - maybe a dozen times/year. No one knows what's actually the problem in the cluster though, so you'd have to pay someone to figure out what's exactly causing the problem - something no one has been able to do so far. It's rare enough for most indy shops to have never seen it. Dealer will make you replace the whole panel. Doesn't seem like a cheap fix either way.

Hmm well that's a bummer. Best cluster price I've seen is $700...

I'll keep digging around and report back if I find anything good.

[madmonkey]

So I can say that after the replacement of the cluster, this issue never came back up in the 6 years that I owned my e90. Based on that, I would have to say that an upgraded unit is the only permanent fix for this issue.

Realoem shows that this part was superceded by updates multiple time for the duration of production.

You may have luck pulling a cluster from a junked e90...that way you'd only need to get it coded to your car.

[thatpolygon]

I have the exact same problem with my car during the winter up here in the North.

I've learned to live with it.

[850CSi]

Just tagging this thread for future reference because I've got the same problem in my 06. Almost never takes longer than a few minutes to resolve after I start driving.