BMW Diesel Stalling: Fuel Sensor or Something Worse?

Hi there! I've got some experience with BMWs and had a similar issue with my 2003 BMW 3 Series diesel. My 320d was showing exactly these symptoms, stuck fuel gauge, check engine light, and unusual stalling. Super annoying! Took it to my regular workshop and turns out it was just a blown fuse for the fuel pump circuit. Pretty simple fix actually, cost me 52 Euro including labor. They also checked the fuel level sensor just to be safe, but the fuse was the culprit. Been running smooth since then. Before jumping to conclusions about the fuel sensor, can you tell us: Does the fuel pump make any noise when you turn the key? Which error code came up in the scan? How long has this been happening? Might help narrow down if you're dealing with the same issue I had.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! My car has about 80764 KM on the clock and was last serviced 3 months ago. Just checked, my fuel pump makes a weird buzzing sound when I turn the key. Got error code P0460 which points to the fuel level sensor circuit. Been dealing with this for about 2 weeks now. Really hoping it's just a fuse like in your case! That would be way better than replacing the whole sensor unit. Did you notice any weird sounds from your fuel pump before fixing the fuse? Just trying to figure out if I'm dealing with the same thing here. Thanks for the help!

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your BMW. Yeah, I remember when mine started acting up, that buzzing sound from the fuel pump is definitely familiar! In my case, the pump was making more of a whining noise before it got fixed, not really a buzz like you're describing. That's actually making me think your issue might be a bit different from what I dealt with. With your error code P0460 and that buzzing sound, I'm starting to suspect it could be more than just a blown fuse like I had. Since you've got that specific fuel level sensor circuit code, might be worth checking the wiring connections to the sensor first. When my mechanic was poking around with my car, he mentioned these symptoms can pop up from corroded or loose connections too. Been driving my BMW for years now, and these fuel system quirks can be tricky to diagnose. Would definitely suggest getting someone to check those wiring connections before replacing any parts. Could save you some cash if it turns out to be just a loose wire or corroded connector. Keep us posted on what you find out! Always interesting to hear how these things turn out, especially since these BMWs can be a bit finicky with their fuel systems.

Thanks for the detailed follow-up! That's really helpful to know about the different sound your pump was making. You've got me a bit concerned now that my buzzing noise might indicate a bigger problem. I just called my mechanic and booked it in for tomorrow morning, definitely going to have them check those wiring connections first before jumping into replacing the whole sensor unit. Just hoping it's not going to turn into a major repair job. I love this car but these fuel system issues are making me nervous. I'll definitely update once I find out what's actually causing the problem. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and suggestions, it's given me a much better idea of what to discuss with my mechanic. Thanks again for all your help with this!