Two fuel system questions

[Engine]

I have a 1986 325e. [Get that out of the way right up front.]

Thanks to Pelican, I've managed to fix several of the more persistent problems it has - no speedometer, clogged fuel filter - and now it's time to work on two more. First, my fuel gauge doesn't register, or more specifically, registers intermittently. I've been in the dash - several times now - and I don't think I need to resolder the PCB, which leaves the fuel level sender. Now, I'd assumed that it was under the rear seat, but when I pulled up the rear seat...well, I didn't see it. Anyone know /exactly/ where it is on the '86?

The other problem is a little more strange. One day I was getting fuel, and I'd left the car on, but not running, so as to listen to the stereo. Since then, any time I'm pumping gas, if I pump it any slower than a trickle, fuel pours from under the wheel well insert. I've tried getting in there to see where it might be leaking, but by the time I'm anywhere I can take the wheel well insert out, the fuel has evaporated. Any ideas, beyond taking it apart right there at the BP station?

[84325e]

I don't know how old you forum is, but if your still having difficulty with the pump here it is:

* the underseat (in tank) fuel pump is under the back seat, located on the passenger side. It will be easier to access from behind the drivers seat. Peel back the gray padding seal under the seat bottom and you should see a panel removable with 3 phillips (standard size) screws. under this is the pump.
* when you remove the pump make sure to have something available to block fuel from pouring out of the hose closest to the drivers side of the car.
* remove the four hex bolts holding in the sending guage( it will be impossible to remove the pump with this in)
* also, be careful if you are removing the original pump, the pump from my 84 325e cracked in half coming out and almost fell into the tank
*the best bets for the breakage are corrosion from wet fuel (add fuel stabalizer into the top of the tank ) or overheating from running the tank too low.
* the cheapest place to order a new bosch pump is bmpd.com, it is almost half the price of intown stores with next day shipping included (june/06 it was 126.85, also the oring is included, dont waste 3 dollars for a second one like i did)
*if that does not correct you problem check the pump relays (email djda5@comcast.net if you need help with those) or there is a second fuel pump on the drivers side, where the door stops. This pump is underneath the car and is the site of the fuel filter as well, if you replace both pumps and have no hose leaks it should be impossible to have a fuel delivery problem
*lastly, the Robert Bentley repair manual (red) is absolutely indespinsable in working with the E30, and it is cheapest at amazon for 30 bucks

happy motoring

[kurtE30]

In terms of the gasoline foot bath, I've got the same problem with my '89 ix. at least in my case it's the vapor tube which inexplicably runs along the wheel well, scrape away the mud, and there was the rusted missing tube.

I've had no luck finding a replacement, and someday hope to replace it with a non-rusting piece of hose. Until then I try to avoid driving in the rain, and always keep the dry gas in stock.

[Engine]

Originally posted by 84325e
[B]I don't know how old you forum is, but if your still having difficulty with the pump here it is:

[/QUOTE]
Well, the pump seems okay. [Although my fuel pressure is unnaturally low, so it may have to come out sometime.] The problem is the fuel level sender. My understanding is that there should be one on each side, one for the fuel gauge - which doesn't work - and one for the low fuel warning light - which, thankfully, does. My question is where the senders are, and which one is which?

[Engine]

Originally posted by kurtE30
In terms of the gasoline foot bath, I've got the same problem with my '89 ix. at least in my case it's the vapor tube which inexplicably runs along the wheel well, scrape away the mud, and there was the rusted missing tube.

I've had no luck finding a replacement, and someday hope to replace it with a non-rusting piece of hose. Until then I try to avoid driving in the rain, and always keep the dry gas in stock.

See, I wonder about that. All that vapor recovery stuff is up in the wheel well, and any of it could be leaking. The leak seems, from below, to come from the filling tube, but I can't really watch while I'm pumping. I need to just take the shroud out of the wheel well and watch while someone else pumps the fuel in. Maybe I can spot where the leak starts.