HPFP (High Pressure Fuel Pump) Replaced (35i)

[davidmbell]

Not sure if most of the Euro/UK folk on here are aware of the HPFP issue that plagues the N54 Twin Turbo engine as fitted to the 35i and iS.

Anyway, my car for some time has been taking longer than I would deem quite normal to fire when starting. It's not 'significantly' long (to the extent that anyone else wouldn't think it not normal) but longer than you'd imagine a £50K car to take.

I'd read about long crank times in connection with the HPFP issue but didn't think my cranks were that long... Deep in the back of my mind I had thoughts of the HPFP issues that have been voiced in the US, and the impending expiry of my BMW warranty next May...

So I lived with it...

Then in August on the way to work, after quite a spirited drive, I came to a traffic jam and BONG... :

Car now feels lumpy, and as if it wasn't running on all cylinders. So I limp to work and shut if off. Restart it again and all is well again. No error, engine running fine...

So I contact the garage (Sandal BMW in Wakefield) and it goes in next day. I mentioned the HPFP and they say they're not aware of anything, and US cars are different to UK cars (yahdiyah!)

So they run diagnostics, come back with nothing other than 'a minor issue with the fuel pump', they reset everything and I'm on my way.

I have a 2 week holiday with the car not used, and then last week, again on the way to work after a very spirited thrashing, come to a slow for traffic, same error!

This time car feels much more lumpy, and cooling fan is running at full tilt! Its that powerful when I step outside I can feel the air being drawn in, and am surprised that a couple of small children haven't been sucked into it!!

So, again, shut it off, restart and error goes away and all is well.

So, again, it goes back to Sandal, this time with a more insistant comment about them looking at the HPFP issue.

That afternoon, I get a call that all is ready and they have replaced the HPFP.

Funny that they JUST HAPPEN to have one in stock... for an issue they're 'not really aware of'....

Anyway, now it starts immediately, no hesitation at all.

Its also noticeable quicker to drive (in Normal) its as if Normal is what Sport was prior to the new HPFP.

I'd thought it had 'off days' where it just didn't feel quite as silly quick as normal, but I lived with it. Now that I have a new HPFP its a like a whole new car. Scarily quick, even in normal, and super responsive in Sport.

I'm happy again, and happy that this has happened now and not in May when my warranty runs out.

SO, just watch for slightly longer cranking when the car starts... it might be the first signs of your HPFP going.

BTW loads of info here on this :

http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=475485

BMW being sued over HPFP and poor Turbo performance:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/17233560/Bmw-Law-Suit-Hpfp

I can't say I've heard of anyone else (maybe apart from one guy on Pistonheads) that's had this issue outside the US.

Regards

David
PS 2009 launch car, with now approx 27,000 miles.

 

[JBBY]

Hi

Thanks for this info.

I've been experiencing long crank times for nearly a year now and received a similar response as you from BMW.

Mines a lease car so probably less concerned than you were.

It would be interesting to hear from all who do and don't have this symptom.

Jason

 

[Maniac]

Mine was replaced when I bought it as it failed on the test drive!!

Still takes a few turns to start when warm and is instant when cold.

I have a years warranty remaining so not worried if there's still an issue as I'll have it replaced again (some reports in the US are that they've been replaced several times eek!)

 

[davidmbell]

I'm sure I'd read that newly replaced hpfps are a different part no to the original? Hope so and that it's not just buying time...

Once mk4 MX-5 comes out I'll probably go back to Mazda (having had 3 already).

David

 

[Z4 Beemer]

Glad you got this fixed, and that the car feels like a different beast! I think I've read that loads of 335i owners have also had theirs replaced, but definitely not just restricted to US cars.

 

[Jezzac]

So, resurrecting this issue - HPFP on Z4 35i....
I've just bought a second-hand 35i (1st reg May 2009, 30000 miles).
Fantastic looking car in my opinion which makes an even more fantastic noise...
..but anyway, during my first real drive in it, when zipping away from some lights, the engine "bonged" into 'get you home' fault mode. Once I'd got home I stopped it and started it and the fault had cleared and all has been well since (3 days later). BUT I have also noticed that it always takes what I consider to be an eternity to fire up. Not a cool sound in a cool car.
Am I jumping to conclusions in assuming it's the HPFP on the way out? If not, I'd be interested in opinions - or better experience - on how long I've got 'til complete failure - if that's not a 'how long is a piece of string' question.
Since the car came with a 2 year approved-used BMW warranty, I'm not too concerned about cost, but I would be interested in whether performance degrades as the pump slowly fails or is it a digital thing - one moment it works fine, the next it's gone, perhaps with a few resets in between before complete failure....?
I am probably going to contact the dealer and request a replacement HPFP on the basis that there's a safety issue if it fails at some critical point - mid-overtake for example. not sure how that'll go down since it seems to be working OK at present.