[turbodan]

BMW will never make a HPP that is failure proof. Its impossible. The new part numbers coming out are supposed to "remanufactured", which is what BMW uses on vehicles that have been retailed and driven. I dont even know if the new pumps are of a new design. I'm sure they went through this before they launched the car. If it were a simple change that would fix the problem I'm sure they would have done it before they started selling the car. The only problem they really had with them was the supply issue. By the nature of the part its likelyhood of failure is slightly higher than many other components. I dont doubt we'll be seeing failures on these pumps for the forseeable future. The good news is that they have a ton of them in stock and can ship them out next day.

Perhaps at some point BMW will be able to make a revision and address the common failure point in the pump, but since we all know nothing about how they fail, its hard to say anything. All we know is that when they go, the car runs like ass. If its a problem with the material a certain component is made out of or an inherent design weakness its apparently not just so easy to solve the problem.

All things considered, with the warranty and everything, it doesnt seem to be a big deal to me. At this point you can get your car fixed for free in a timely manner. If you can spare the time to get your car serviced, its not the problem it was a few months ago.

[wahoo]

M3 FTW..

[wahoo]

Define timely manner...you obviously haven't read the fuel pump 'supply' issues..

[turbodan]

I dont think you know how intimately I've been involved with that situation.

Right now, BMW has over a thousand replacement HPP's in stock. The supply issues have been resolved. If you need one today, theres no reason you cant have one tomorrow.

[mrbrett]

Originally Posted by turbodan

BMW will never make a HPP that is failure proof. Its impossible. The new part numbers coming out are supposed to "remanufactured", which is what BMW uses on vehicles that have been retailed and driven. I dont even know if the new pumps are of a new design. I'm sure they went through this before they launched the car. If it were a simple change that would fix the problem I'm sure they would have done it before they started selling the car. The only problem they really had with them was the supply issue. By the nature of the part its likelyhood of failure is slightly higher than many other components. I dont doubt we'll be seeing failures on these pumps for the forseeable future. The good news is that they have a ton of them in stock and can ship them out next day.

Perhaps at some point BMW will be able to make a revision and address the common failure point in the pump, but since we all know nothing about how they fail, its hard to say anything. All we know is that when they go, the car runs like ass. If its a problem with the material a certain component is made out of or an inherent design weakness its apparently not just so easy to solve the problem.

All things considered, with the warranty and everything, it doesnt seem to be a big deal to me. At this point you can get your car fixed for free in a timely manner. If you can spare the time to get your car serviced, its not the problem it was a few months ago.

I agree that any part they make can not be 100% fail proof, that goes without saying.

No offense, but I don't know why you think BMW would go to a market with a part they knew was bad. It would be stupid on BMW's part, for these reasons:

1. It is more costly for them to fix and deal with the problem now, then just re-engineer and test new pump designs.

2. Second, it's made by another supplier. If they knew the parts were faulty, they would change suppliers or tell the supplier to change their design.

3. You know how many cars they have probably had to lemon for this problem? Alot. In most states if the car has a major failure, due to the same problem three times. Lemon. If it cannot be fixed in 30 days. Lemon.

I don't what your talking about this part being slightly higher of a probablity of failure. Tons of people on this board have had the problem. My SA, said they've replaced over a hundred... This is a major problem for BMW.

I think eventually this will be a recall, because the nature of failure, it can be dangerous if these pumps fail while driving on the freeway for example. I think BMW hasn't either figured out a better design that doesn't fail, or they are waiting until they have a large supply of pumps stockpiled so they can handle a recall. This is pure speculation though on my part. I think if they don't handle this problem appropriately, eventually they will be looking at potential law suits.

While I agree it's an easy fix now, replacing the part out of warranty is an expensive job, or so I hear. Many of us who drive high mileage will be out of warranty and driving around with a car that has a part that is prone to failure in a couple of years. I think BMW will eventually address this problem in a correct manner. When though? I don't know.

[getInline]

Dang, and I thought I was going to be in the clear with a September '08 build. Looks like I'll have to wait and see just like everyone else. At least it seems BMW has their supply problem solved....lots of spare fuel pumps for everyone!

[RMRC]

One more bit of info that may or may not help someone determine what's happening. My work order stated that the acceptable pressure range is 50-200 bar. My pump measured 45 bar when they tested it.

[Wicked_SVT]

I feel for you. My pump went on my July 07 build with just 2500 miles on the odometer.

[turbodan]

What I mean when I say "slightly higher probability of failure" is that the pump itself is a tough part to design. On direct injected diesels, the fuel itself is used to lubricate the moving parts in the pump itself. Gasoline DI engines need a very fancy HPP.

I agree that they dicked up the launch on these cars. They certainly knew what was going on with the HPP, but for whatever reason they went to market anyway. Bad call. Even then its hard to say without knowing how exactly these things are failing.

I dont think its a dangerous problem, however. The majority of these fail gradually, with long cranks or check engine lights. I havent heard of anybody going down the road and just conking out or bursting into flames.

My local dealer has only done five HPP's. They've sold tons of N54 equipped cars. 335's, 535's. Hundreds. The odds are pretty good around here. It just sucked for the couple guys that were down when the backorder situation was going on. If this were a huge problem these cars would be piling up on dealer lots. At least around here, they're really not.

[DrDomer]

It does seem the colder weather results in more HPFP reports... Maybe people are just inside to post more.

[e92phreak]

Check this out. My SA just told me that I got the new pump, but the description on my invoice says RMFD PUMP *sigh*...

[Terry335]

Originally Posted by e92phreak

Check this out. My SA just told me that I got the new pump, but the description on my invoice says RMFD PUMP *sigh*...

Wow, bummer.

[radgator1]

Originally Posted by turbodan

BMW will never make a HPP that is failure proof. Its impossible. The new part numbers coming out are supposed to "remanufactured", which is what BMW uses on vehicles that have been retailed and driven. I dont even know if the new pumps are of a new design. I'm sure they went through this before they launched the car. If it were a simple change that would fix the problem I'm sure they would have done it before they started selling the car. The only problem they really had with them was the supply issue. By the nature of the part its likelyhood of failure is slightly higher than many other components. I dont doubt we'll be seeing failures on these pumps for the forseeable future. The good news is that they have a ton of them in stock and can ship them out next day.

Perhaps at some point BMW will be able to make a revision and address the common failure point in the pump, but since we all know nothing about how they fail, its hard to say anything. All we know is that when they go, the car runs like ass. If its a problem with the material a certain component is made out of or an inherent design weakness its apparently not just so easy to solve the problem.

All things considered, with the warranty and everything, it doesnt seem to be a big deal to me. At this point you can get your car fixed for free in a timely manner. If you can spare the time to get your car serviced, its not the problem it was a few months ago.

But how about when the car has 55K on it and the FP goes out, and they want 2500 to give you a new one? If it is going to be an ongoing problem with the solution being swaping out the bad ones for the rebuilt "new" ones then they should extend the warranty at least on this and related parts like they did in the e46 M3 that had the connector rod bearing recall.

[turbodan]

They also extended the warranty on the e46 m3 MAF sensors. If this continues to be a problem in the long run I bet they'll step it up the same way.

If you brought your car in and it got a new motor, it would get a remanufactured motor too. Same goes for the tranny, diff, steering rack, radio, etc. Cars that have been sold and driven get remanufactured parts. These parts are just as good as new parts. We're not talking about Autozone remanufactured. In no way are the remanned pumps somehow inferior to a new pump. Theres nothing to worry about there.

I think the chain auto parts stores created the stigma around the term "remanufactured". Its a whole different thing with BMW.

[stressdoc]

Originally Posted by turbodan

They also extended the warranty on the e46 m3 MAF sensors. If this continues to be a problem in the long run I bet they'll step it up the same way.

If you brought your car in and it got a new motor, it would get a remanufactured motor too. Same goes for the tranny, diff, steering rack, radio, etc. Cars that have been sold and driven get remanufactured parts. These parts are just as good as new parts. We're not talking about Autozone remanufactured. In no way are the remanned pumps somehow inferior to a new pump. Theres nothing to worry about there.

I think the chain auto parts stores created the stigma around the term "remanufactured". Its a whole different thing with BMW.

+1

[catdog]

Guess what!
My car has been in the garage since Saturday with a bad fuel pump; they ordered wrong part and now supposed to be done today. Car acted up 1 month ago and i told them it may fuel paump since I got a fuel pump warning in the info/idrive and they said car was running fine when it got to them and could not reproduce it. I hope this solves the problem, they gave me a Saturn to drive...(nice 3.5l great torque, Krap o/w)

[iatacs19]

At least you got it fixed the same day, I was among the suckers that had to wait 30+ days to get this fixed.

[SCCAForums.com]

Bummer! I have an Oct '07 Build as well... and was hoping I was safe! Looks like no one is!
Dave

[turbodan]

The way you guys talk about it would make me think these cars were spontaneously combusting or something.

I wish we had some hard statistics on how many cars were really affected. Locally, speaking from my own experience, it was a small percentage.

I wouldnt let it keep me from enjoying the car. You guys act so scared yet you have so little information. Needless stress...

[mrbrett]

Originally Posted by turbodan

The way you guys talk about it would make me think these cars were spontaneously combusting or something.

I wish we had some hard statistics on how many cars were really affected. Locally, speaking from my own experience, it was a small percentage.

I wouldnt let it keep me from enjoying the car. You guys act so scared yet you have so little information. Needless stress...

It's not a small percentage, when dealers keep a part like that in stock. If it wasn't a common problem, Service Advisors wouldn't immediately know what's wrong with your car when you describe the problem. My dealer said they had tons of people a few months ago waiting on Fuel Pumps. That is a signfigant problem.

I think everyones main concern is that this is an expensive part that keeps failing, and after the warranty is up, the consumer should not be responsible for paying for a known defective part that has to keep getting replaced on your car.

[radgator1]

Originally Posted by mrbrett

It's not a small percentage, when dealers keep a part like that in stock. If it wasn't a common problem, Service Advisors wouldn't immediately know what's wrong with your car when you describe the problem. My dealer said they had tons of people a few months ago waiting on Fuel Pumps. That is a signfigant problem.

I think everyones main concern is that this is an expensive part that keeps failing, and after the warranty is up, the consumer should not be responsible for paying for a known defective part that has to keep getting replaced on your car.

+1

I don't think a lot of folks are losing sleep or wringing their hands in worry over this, we just don't want to get fuked if we keep the car past 4 yrs/50K and end up with a dead HPFP. It has been a major issue on the 335i that EVERYONE knows about and BMW should be up-front about it and announce an extended warranty on that part now.

[BMW335icDDS]

Hey guys, I wrote to https://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/email.cfm and had them take a look at this problem. Hopefully if enough of us write to them BMW will issue a recall so we can get this fixed before the pump fails.