# 1991 bmw 320sei

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1991-bmw-320sei/70340>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [January 8, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1991-bmw-320sei/70340 "2012-01-08T21:43:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![redarmy990](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@redarmy990](https://community.cartalk.com/u/redarmy990)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1991-bmw-320sei/70340/1 "2012-01-08T21:43:08Z")

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hi my bmw started fine.then as i was driving it cut out. it took 5 minutes to get it started.  
now it fires up for 30 seconds or so then cuts out.

today it wouldnt start at all and i cant hear the fuel pump priming when i turn rhe ignition on

please help.

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**Author:** ![Manolito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/manolito/32/3070_2.png) [@Manolito](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Manolito)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1991-bmw-320sei/70340/2 "2012-01-08T21:55:01Z")

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I suggest checking the fuel pump relay as shown here:  
[http://www.unitedbimmer.com/forums/bmw-oem-parts-department-diys-faqs/8287-e36-fuel-pump-diagnosis-replacement.html](http://www.unitedbimmer.com/forums/bmw-oem-parts-department-diys-faqs/8287-e36-fuel-pump-diagnosis-replacement.html)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![redarmy990](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@redarmy990](https://community.cartalk.com/u/redarmy990)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1991-bmw-320sei/70340/3 "2012-01-08T21:56:37Z")

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hi mate i should have put the relay is clicking on when key is turned and the fuse for the fuel pump is fine too

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**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1991-bmw-320sei/70340/4 "2012-01-09T18:28:41Z")

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CLICKING IS HALF THE STORY…when you hear that click…there are two contact points that are trying to carry a current…if those points are burned or corroded they cant let the “juice” flow to the pump…you can swap a similar relay in…or just pop the cover off of yours and use a match pack striker to gently buff the points…instead of emery cloth…which you prob dont have.

You can also pull the relay and put a wire into the holes where terminals 87 and 30 went in…this would be YOU making the connection to the FP and not the relay…Grab a multimeter if you really want the whole story also… You should also have a matching relay in your fuse box…swap them…

You can also have an assistant KICK your fuel tank upon key on… sometimes “jogs” a lazy FP in the tank…and then it remembers to run again…

All good things Grasshopper…all good things

Blackbird