BMW X3 Stalling & Fuel Gauge Issues, Help Needed

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my '11 BMW X5 last year. The symptoms matched yours exactly, stuck fuel gauge, CEL, and unusual stalling. Initially thought it was just the fuel sensor, but turned out the entire fuel pump module was failing. The fuse was perfectly fine in my case. The stalling at idle is what really gives it away, it's typically a fuel delivery problem rather than just a sensor issue. The fuel pump module controls both the sensor and the fuel pressure, so when it starts to fail, you get both the gauge problems and the engine performance issues. It's definitely not something to ignore, in my case, the car eventually refused to start completely. Had it fixed at a shop that specializes in European cars. It's a fairly involved repair since they need to drop the fuel tank to replace the module. Just make sure you find a reputable BMW specialist, this isn't really a job for a general mechanic. Oh, and don't drive it too long with these symptoms, as you could end up stranded somewhere when the pump finally gives out.

Thanks for sharing your experience! This definitely sounds like what I'm dealing with. Makes sense about the fuel pump module being the culprit rather than just the sensor. Would you mind telling me how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also curious if you've had any other fuel system issues since getting it fixed? I've been babying the car and keeping the tank at least half full just to be safe, but yeah, really need to get this sorted before I end up stuck somewhere!

Hey again! Good news, I actually had my issue resolved, but it turned out to be different from what I initially thought! After taking it to the mechanic, it was just the fuel level sensor that needed fixing, not the entire fuel pump module like in my original guess. What a relief for my wallet! The repair was surprisingly straightforward, they found and replaced a blown fuse that was causing the sensor to malfunction. Total cost came to 52€, which was much better than the fuel pump module replacement I was worried about! Since the repair, everything's been running perfectly, no more stuck fuel gauge, no stalling, and the check engine light's stayed off. Zero fuel system problems in the past months. The car's running like a charm now. You're smart to keep the tank half full just in case, but definitely get it checked soon. Based on my experience, it might be something simple like mine turned out to be, rather than the worst-case scenario I originally thought. Just make sure you get a good mechanic to look at it. Keep us posted on what they find!

Just wanted to update everyone on what happened with my BMW! Finally got it checked out and you won't believe it, my issue was completely different! Turned out to be a faulty wiring harness connected to the fuel pump. The mechanic I found was actually great, super thorough with the diagnosis. The repair took about three hours and cost me around €400 including parts and labor. The funny part? The mechanic showed me the old wiring, and it was totally corroded. I guess that's why my gauges were going crazy and the engine kept stalling. Been driving it for a couple weeks now and everything's working perfectly. The fuel gauge is working properly, no more stalling, and the check engine light has stayed off. Such a relief to have it fixed! Thanks everyone for the advice, really helped me understand what I was dealing with, even though my problem ended up being different. Now I've finally got a reliable mechanic I can trust, which is honestly worth just as much as getting the car fixed. No more stressing about where to take it when something goes wrong!