Loud fuel pump?

syd53 · 04-14-2011, 09:10 AM

I just bought a new Z4 30i. I have a loud humming coming from the rear; you can hear it from the outside as well. Sometimes it stops and starts quickly and becomes really annoying like listening to Morse code. The dealer's service manager says it is normal or perhaps a little louder than normal and I should get used to it. (He did say that the next time someone from BMW visits I could bring the car over and see if they will approve replacing the pump.) However it is really annoying. I don't recall ever hearing an electric fuel pump in any of my other cars. Can any of you hear the fuel pump in your cars?

tranquility · 04-14-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syd53

I just bought a new Z4 30i. I have a loud humming coming from the rear; you can hear it from the outside as well. Sometimes it stops and starts quickly and becomes really annoying like listening to Morse code. The dealer's service manager says it is normal or perhaps a little louder than normal and I should get used to it. (He did say that the next time someone from BMW visits I could bring the car over and see if they will approve replacing the pump.) However it is really annoying. I don't recall ever hearing an electric fuel pump in any of my other cars. Can any of you hear the fuel pump in your cars?

Just speaking from personal experience, I bought new as well and I had this prb also. It is a slight humming, you can definitely hear it when there's no competing noise, but if you turned on the stereo at a normal volume, it's not loud enough to be hear over that. For me, the sound came and went but eventually disappeared, I dunno, about 4,000kms give or take? For me, it was just a break-in issue, luckily nothing to do w/ any pump issues (knock on wood).

So, I think you should just make sure it's not a major issue and, if it's not, maybe give it some time to work itself out. Definitely don't let those monkeys at the dealership take it for joyride 'testing' to locate the noise and not doing anything about it.

zEdP · 04-14-2011, 01:50 PM

I had the same problem. The humming sound was loud and very noticeable when driving the car. BMW replaced my low pressure fuel pump. But that was 1,5 years ago. At the moment I can still hear soft noise of the pump, but only when the fuel tank is almost empty.

HpDellNestle · 04-14-2011, 01:58 PM

I never let the fuel gauge dip below half. From what I gather, that can make fuel pump very out spoken, and may be irreversible. Mine does not have any noticeable humming from there even with stereo off. Why do you have to "get used to it" with a 60,000 car? Is that the new motto for BMW? "get used to it"?

GeneticX · 04-14-2011, 02:03 PM

Yep! defenitely... but I only hear it when standing still.
In belgium we have 95RON fuel and super 98RON fuel.
I only have the sound when I'm using 95RON and it seems louder when the tank is full.
I still have to talk to the dealer about this.
If they will tell me I have to live with it...hmm... do i have to live with al the rattles and squeeks it produces also?? bullsh*t!

Mr. ///M3 RD · 04-14-2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneticX

Yep! defenitely... but I only hear it when standing still.
In belgium we have 95RON fuel and super 98RON fuel.
I only have the sound when I'm using 95RON and it seems louder when the tank is full.
I still have to talk to the dealer about this.
If they will tell me I have to live with it...hmm... do i have to live with al the rattles and squeeks it produces also?? bullsh*t!

I think it is your fuel pump (HPFP) and you don't have to get used to it. It may even be a problem with the LPFP the pump that is in the fuel tank and feeds the HPFP. In any case go to a larger dealer (if you can) and insist the pump to be changed out.

The noises and rattles you and others might hear come from the retractable roof mechanism (linkages etc) it is quite normal with a convertible. The other option is to trade it in like I did, I did not put up any longer with it, from a high end car I expected more.

BMWZ4 · 04-14-2011, 02:57 PM

I thought the 3.0 z's didn't have a HPFP....only the turbos.
Dave

HpDellNestle · 04-14-2011, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Marien

I thought the 3.0 z's didn't have a HPFP....only the turbos.
Dave

Correct!

GeneticX · 04-14-2011, 03:06 PM

It's coming from the rear, left side... so it will be LPFP.

It's not only the rooof that squeeks. The center console around the airco-buttons also make a lot of noise, it even squeeks when you push it. I hope they can fix this by installing a new center-console trim.

To be honest I love the car but the overall quality is just rubbish and a rip-off for a car in this price-range.
If they can't fix the rattles i will trade it in for something with decent build quality... but i hope they can do something about it!

Mr. ///M3 RD · 04-14-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Marien

I thought the 3.0 z's didn't have a HPFP....only the turbos.
Dave

You are right Dave, thanks for pointing out my oversight (was thinking of my former Z4 35i) my bad

must be his LPFP then.

flpnout · 04-15-2011, 12:06 AM

Here is the Low Pressure Fuel Pump thread:
http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthre...sure+fuel+pump

syd53 · 04-15-2011, 01:02 PM

Thank you very much for bringing this thread to my attention.

tranquility · 04-16-2011, 11:48 AM

I think I jinxed myself as the hum came back during my last drive after maybe 5,000km of silence (albeit more slight than b4). Will report later in that other thread.

04-14-2011, 09:10 AM	#1
syd53 Private 9 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2011 128i coupe Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: central IL iTrader: (1)	Loud fuel pump? I just bought a new Z4 30i. I have a loud humming coming from the rear; you can hear it from the outside as well. Sometimes it stops and starts quickly and becomes really annoying like listening to Morse code. The dealer's service manager says it is normal or perhaps a little louder than normal and I should get used to it. (He did say that the next time someone from BMW visits I could bring the car over and see if they will approve replacing the pump.) However it is really annoying. I don't recall ever hearing an electric fuel pump in any of my other cars. Can any of you hear the fuel pump in your cars?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

04-14-2011, 01:50 PM	#3
zEdP Ed 18 Rep 298 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive30i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	I had the same problem. The humming sound was loud and very noticeable when driving the car. BMW replaced my low pressure fuel pump. But that was 1,5 years ago. At the moment I can still hear soft noise of the pump, but only when the fuel tank is almost empty.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-14-2011, 01:58 PM	#4
HpDellNestle Private First Class 1 Rep 141 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: US iTrader: (0)	I never let the fuel gauge dip below half. From what I gather, that can make fuel pump very out spoken, and may be irreversible. Mine does not have any noticeable humming from there even with stereo off. Why do you have to "get used to it" with a 60,000 car? Is that the new motto for BMW? "get used to it"?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-14-2011, 02:03 PM	#5
GeneticX Private First Class 42 Rep 188 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	Yep! defenitely... but I only hear it when standing still. In belgium we have 95RON fuel and super 98RON fuel. I only have the sound when I'm using 95RON and it seems louder when the tank is full. I still have to talk to the dealer about this. If they will tell me I have to live with it...hmm... do i have to live with al the rattles and squeeks it produces also?? bullsh*t!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-14-2011, 02:57 PM	#7
BMWZ4 Major General 1908 Rep 5,102 Posts Drives: '23 X1/'23 Allroad Progressiv Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	I thought the 3.0 z's didn't have a HPFP....only the turbos. Dave __________________ '11 Z4 30i (retired);'11 X3 28i (retired); '15 M235i Stage 1 Dinan (recalled & crushed); '16 M235i Stage 3 Dinan (retired); '15 X3 28i (retired); '14 328i (retired), 2019 X3M40i (retired); Loaded '18 X1 (retired); Loaded '20 X3MC DG, Black/Tan Merino (retired); Loaded '23 X1 Cape York green and Red/Black interior; '23 Audi A4 Allroad Progressiv
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-14-2011, 03:06 PM	#9
GeneticX Private First Class 42 Rep 188 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	It's coming from the rear, left side... so it will be LPFP. It's not only the rooof that squeeks. The center console around the airco-buttons also make a lot of noise, it even squeeks when you push it. I hope they can fix this by installing a new center-console trim. To be honest I love the car but the overall quality is just rubbish and a rip-off for a car in this price-range. If they can't fix the rattles i will trade it in for something with decent build quality... but i hope they can do something about it!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-15-2011, 12:06 AM	#11
flpnout Major 81 Rep 1,264 Posts Drives: 2010 Dinan S3 Z4-35i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (8) Garage List 2010 E89 Z4 [7.83]	Here is the Low Pressure Fuel Pump thread: http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthre...sure+fuel+pump __________________ 2015 BMW i3 REX
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-15-2011, 01:02 PM	#12
syd53 Private 9 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2011 128i coupe Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: central IL iTrader: (1)	Thank you very much for bringing this thread to my attention.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-16-2011, 11:48 AM	#13
tranquility sportscars only 3236 Rep 3,194 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	I think I jinxed myself as the hum came back during my last drive after maybe 5,000km of silence (albeit more slight than b4). Will report later in that other thread.
	Appreciate 0 Quote