My E46 2000 330i broke down in France

[wahman]

Hi... I have had my E46 330SE auto for approaching 2 years and it has never missed a beat... I took the car with me to France and it broke down in the middle of the countryside!! Not speaking any french and my insurance not including european breakdown cover I was at the mercy of a local garage who took the car away on their truck.

The car would start, but after firing up the revs would just die, and the car would stop. So we were stuck.

Whilst waiting for them Google said the problem might be the Idle Control Valve... when he was taking the car away he did say something about a valve.

He has contacted me and from what I can make out he says it is the fuel pump. He has said he has ordered the part and its 550 euro, I really hope that includes the towing!

Anyone had any experience with their BMW starting up and then within 10 seconds losing revs and dying?

Thanks

[Sohlman]

Could be a fuel pump relay. I had this fail on an old Audi ur Quattro. Engine would turn over and start, and immediately die.

Could be a blocked fuel filter

Could be a fuel pump.

If it's the pump, on my e30 and e24 they were located in the tank and where not cheap so I suspect a similar location on e46.

Hope this helps and hope you get it fixed

J

[wahman]

Sohlman said:

Could be a fuel pump relay. I had this fail on an old Audi ur Quattro. Engine would turn over and start, and immediately die.

Could be a blocked fuel filter

Could be a fuel pump.

If it's the pump, on my e30 and e24 they were located in the tank and where not cheap so I suspect a similar location on e46.

Hope this helps and hope you get it fixed

J

thanks mate that put my mind at rest a bit.... with what little french i know he said something about a fuel pump... and it being 550 eur to fix. i sincerely hope that includes the towing of the car also!!

[clabcon]

You will want to get the fuel filter changed at the same time. How many miles on the original pump?

[wahman]

clabcon said:

You will want to get the fuel filter changed at the same time. How many miles on the original pump?

i am guessing its the original pump? so 90k miles... the work has been done and finished now, so i am guessing it is too late hopefully the filter changed also. i will ask.

thanks for the advice. great forum!