HPFP replaced on 2011 z4 35i

[Chuck Tung]

Last night the engine warning showed up, saying that my engine is now in reduced power mode. Took it to the dealer this morning, and as suspected, it's the HPFP.

The car is only 4 months from the factory, so I asked the SA what he replaced it with. The SA said they replaced it with a #446, which was the same model that was already in the car. He also mentioned that the pump itself seemed fine, but the electronics supporting the pump were indicating a fault. So they replaced the whole thing anyway.

I know that the 2009 models got a free 10 year warranty for their HPFP issues. So I asked him if that was true of the 2011 models as well. He said no, but he also claimed this was the first time they had seen the #446 fail.

On the upside, my first service experience at Tulley BMW NH was good. I called in the problem this morning at 7:30 AM, got an appointment at 8:40 AM and drove home with the car by 11:00 AM. Once they diagnosed the issue, they told me the repair would take 1.5 hours, and even offered me a rental. I declined and just waited. So kudos to Tulley.

I forgot to ask if they had to reprogram the ECU, but since the repair took only 1.5 hours, I assume no.

[HerrK]

Originally Posted by Chuck Tung

Last night the engine warning showed up, saying that my engine is now in reduced power mode. Took it to the dealer this morning, and as suspected, it's the HPFP.

The car is only 4 months from the factory, so I asked the SA what he replaced it with. The SA said they replaced it with a #446, which was the same model that was already in the car. He also mentioned that the pump itself seemed fine, but the electronics supporting the pump were indicating a fault. So they replaced the whole thing anyway.

I know that the 2009 models got a free 10 year warranty for their HPFP issues. So I asked him if that was true of the 2011 models as well. He said no, but he also claimed this was the first time they had seen the #446 fail.

On the upside, my first service experience at Tulley BMW NH was good. I called in the problem this morning at 7:30 AM, got an appointment at 8:40 AM and drove home with the car by 11:00 AM. Once they diagnosed the issue, they told me the repair would take 1.5 hours, and even offered me a rental. I declined and just waited. So kudos to Tulley.

I forgot to ask if they had to reprogram the ECU, but since the repair took only 1.5 hours, I assume no.

Any component (in this case electro mechanical) will eventually fail. Hopefully BMW has gotten the MTBF (mean time between failure) rate for the new pumps to a more statistically extremely low 3 sigma standard deviation (99.7% operate properly over their expected life span). The daily pump failure horror stories have thankfully ceased. Hopefully yours is merely, and unfortunate for you, the rare exception.

[Wraith.]

First '11 I've heard of...

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by HerrK

Any component (in this case electro mechanical) will eventually fail. Hopefully BMW has gotten the MTBF (mean time between failure) rate for the new pumps to a more statistically extremely low 3 sigma standard deviation (99.7% operate properly over their expected life span). The daily pump failure horror stories have thankfully ceased. Hopefully yours is merely, and unfortunate for you, the rare exception.

I would agree with you on this issue.

All the manufactures that use the HPFP have reported failures, but didn't have the failure rate of the '09 and '10 MY N54 engines. MTBF is one aspect but there's also "infant mortality", which is a term used predominantly in the computer industry but could also be apply here. Certain components just die early which is a fact in any of the manufacturing industries, regardless of what sector you look at.

IMO, the difference is that early pumps needed a redesign, and there appears to be some connection with the pump speed software as well as the tank level indicators.

Sounds like BMW may have this issue behind them.

[Michael5155]

Newbie here.

What is "HPFP"? I have a 2009 with 14K miles. Is the likelihood of having this problem behind me or in front of me?

[toplessrydr]

Originally Posted by Michael5155

Newbie here.

What is "HPFP"? I have a 2009 with 14K miles. Is the likelihood of having this problem behind me or in front of me?

High Pressure Fuel Pump

[Wraith.]

Newbie or not, the fact that you don't know what it is is in itself a good sign.

[Michael5155]

Is there a certain mileage where this go bad? Or is a crap shoot?

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by Michael5155

Is there a certain mileage where this go bad? Or is a crap shoot?

Certainly,they don't all go bad, but Z4's of your year had a higher than normal failure rate. That's why BMW extended the warranty to 100k miles and 6 years. You can't get the new, improved one installed unless you have a problem, but if that happens, the one you get will be good for the long haul. Unfortunately, you'll just have to wait and hope nothing happens.

[BMWZ4]

Actually, I see you're driving a 3.0, e.g. non-turbo - so if I'm not mistaken, your z doesn't have the HPFP......could be wrong. I have the 3.0l as well and I don't have this pump.

Dave

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by Dave Marien

Actually, I see you're driving a 3.0, e.g. non-turbo - so if I'm not mistaken, your z doesn't have the HPFP......could be wrong. I have the 3.0l as well and I don't have this pump.

Dave

You're quite right Dave. No HPFP in the 3.0i

[135iUSN]

agree, thougt it was the twin turbo guys...

my HPFP is still 100% - 22k+ miles and holding strong

[135iUSN]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

You're quite right Dave. No HPFP in the 3.0i

Then what dealer is he working with to call out the HPFP issue?

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by 135iUSN

Then what dealer is he working with to call out the HPFP issue?

I dont' believe there was a dealer involved in Michael155's question. He was just asking what to expect.

[135iUSN]

Oh, I see..

[BMWZ4]

I think I see the confusion 135iUSN.....the OP has a twin turbo model (35i), so it was his dealership that had mentioned a failing HPFP (which is weird, because that is apparently the first '11 with a failed pump #446), whereas Michael was just making a general enquiry about the HPFP.

In any case, I thought that when they replaced the fuel pumps that they also did a software update....thought I read that in one of the many posts on this topic.

Dave

[silverstone_ttlz4]

If the HPFP on my car dies, would I need to remove the JB4 I just installed on it?

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by silverstone_ttlz4

If the HPFP on my car dies, would I need to remove the JB4 I just installed on it?

Depends on how strict your dealership is. Some don't care what you have in the car (as long as they don't feel it caused the problem) and some play by the book. Regardless, even if you remove the JB4, they can still tell if you had software installed by reading the RPM log of the turbos. You can't hide!

[az34]

i have an 09 and i gone have the pump replace somewhere in spring, the fact that the latest version still fail really scare me.

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by az34

i have an 09 and i gone have the pump replace somewhere in spring, the fact that the latest version still fail really scare me.

Why do you say that the latest version of the pump still fails? No one is complaining of HPFP failures anymore.

[az34]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

Why do you say that the latest version of the pump still fails? No one is complaining of HPFP failures anymore.

did'nt Chuck tung op says he had hpfp failure whit is 2011 Z?

[Michael5155]

Originally Posted by Dave Marien

Michael was just making a general enquiry about the HPFP.

Dave

Thanks for the clarification about the HPFP issue, everyone. Sorry about not knowing this was only a turbo problem.