350i FHC Fuel gauge

[PV7998]

The fuel gauge on this car isn't working.

First thing I did was to connect the gauge up independently - the needle moves just off the bottom when I do that.

Next I joined the two wires to the sender unit together - the theory being that it should tell the gauge that there's no resistance and it should register full - no luck, the needle stays just off the bottom.

Although I would have put money on the problem being with the sender, it looks like it's the gauge itself, unless anyone else has any ideas?

The gauge is a VDO 301.292/4/2 12V with the additional markings: 20/372 2.85

The car itself is the twin tank version, here's some pics of the setup:


I

and this is the sender:




It seems that this gauge isn't available from VDO any more.......does anyone have any ideas about an equivalent part?

If it is the sender, does anyone know what make/type of sender these tanks use?

While I was down there.......I wire brushed some bits of flaking powdercoat and sploshed some Hammerite on - I know it's only staving off the inevitable but it's better than nothing





Any ideas about the gauge and sender?