It is the 01 code you need to fix. I says relay but it is not really the relay it is the fuel pump. I would like to go on and explain but I have 100s of times for this exact problem. Do a search and you will see that code is always a failed fuel pump or wiring going to it. The symptoms you will read about are mostly the same as yours. Considering how long your OEM fuel pump lasted I would get one of them but you will see there are other choices. Good luck but you need a tow if you are not home.

 

Perfect, I really appreciate your rapid response. I did have to get towed home and now I can get started putting the new pump in. I’d normally have done the research first but was hoping it was a quick fix like the relay.

Cheers!

 

You got lucky the first time, I was just finishing some work on line, and clicked the site when done that work. Seems to be my habit because just finished some work and look where I am. I should have included this link,

DIY: - Suddenly stranded? Testing your fuel tank levels...

Hi all, So tonight my car suddenly no longer started up. It had literally been driven within 5 minutes and suddenly no longer started, yet it cranked healthy. No problems, no lights, etc. Thus, I suspected fuel system related since our lovely beasts seem to have several known failure points...

www.m5board.com

No matter how you tested, do these tests the way they are explained in case one of your details is not the same. There are some minor details that could be different and turn out not to be the pump, but they are very rare. Maybe 1%, it is pretty reliable (99%) that if you get code 01 your pump is bad.
I leave my first post vague on purpose, so that others that may not post much might see it as an opportune time to post more and explain the details.
We had the conversation on Delphi fuel pumps being OE, you should find the thread IIRC those terms are in the title and it was in the last year so should be easy to find. My memory is not great but I think the OE claim was not true really. The claim was being made because Borg Warner bought them and they also own the actual OEM supplier or something like that. I think the general feeling was it was a reasonable risk no matter the vague not so true claim because Delphi products have improved so much over the years.
My opinion does not really count because I get a dealer discount at my BMW dealer, I have used them for many years and got that because I had one at the main dealer which was the headquarters for Ontario until that changed. I already pay about 1/2, so generally I buy from them, but I also buy tons of other stuff at my local Parts Source store with more discount and good warranty but only things they stock. For me it is about buying local if I can but convenience mainly, if I have to change a part twice and not pay for the second part I don't really care, my Parts Source store upgrades the second part if the first fails so I never have to do it 3 times.

 

You got lucky the first time, I was just finishing some work on line, and clicked the site when done that work. Seems to be my habit because just finished some work and look where I am. I should have included this link,

DIY: - Suddenly stranded? Testing your fuel tank levels...

Hi all, So tonight my car suddenly no longer started up. It had literally been driven within 5 minutes and suddenly no longer started, yet it cranked healthy. No problems, no lights, etc. Thus, I suspected fuel system related since our lovely beasts seem to have several known failure points...

www.m5board.com

No matter how you tested, do these tests the way they are explained in case one of your details is not the same. There are some minor details that could be different and turn out not to be the pump, but they are very rare. Maybe 1%, it is pretty reliable (99%) that if you get code 01 your pump is bad.
I leave my first post vague on purpose, so that others that may not post much might see it as an opportune time to post more and explain the details.
We had the conversation on Delphi fuel pumps being OE, you should find the thread IIRC those terms are in the title and it was in the last year so should be easy to find. My memory is not great but I think the OE claim was not true really. The claim was being made because Borg Warner bought them and they also own the actual OEM supplier or something like that. I think the general feeling was it was a reasonable risk no matter the vague not so true claim because Delphi products have improved so much over the years.
My opinion does not really count because I get a dealer discount at my BMW dealer, I have used them for many years and got that because I had one at the main dealer which was the headquarters for Ontario until that changed. I already pay about 1/2, so generally I buy from them, but I also buy tons of other stuff at my local Parts Source store with more discount and good warranty but only things they stock. For me it is about buying local if I can but convenience mainly, if I have to change a part twice and not pay for the second part I don't really care, my Parts Source store upgrades the second part if the first fails so I never have to do it 3 times.

I couldn’t get the secret menu screen but did get it on the display. Test 6 shows 31.2 / 0/ 31.2 liters of fuel. Does that indicate that the siphon is not moving fuel to the right tank?

 

I know it has been said already but it sounds like a bad fuel pump. I have an E53 X5 4.8IS that experienced the same symptoms and left me stranded on the freeway. After getting a tow home, the car started up! but then later sputtered and died again. I have saddle tanks with the fuel transfer set up as well and had suspected the transfer pump was not working. I took the old pump out and it bare ran and then locked up for good. I then put a new fuel pump in and has been fine for 3yrs now. Has your fuel pump ever been changed?

 

Yeah fuel pump is likely. Mine went at 160k


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

You mean the top of the tank? Should not be possible as the tanks seek the same level when sitting short of some odd blockage in the lines that connect. But still the divider does not go to the top. If you had pressure trapped and a completely full tank then I could see it overflow. Open the gas cap to make sure you are not pressurized. Did you disconnect the fuel lines first?

 

I did not disconnect the fuel lines, just the line going into the top of the sender.

 

I found a list of diag codes here: (3) OBC; Test 14; Fault Code List....? | BMW M5 Forum and M6 Forums (m5board.com)

According to the list posted on that thread, Diag 1 posts a D7 error which reads "Fuel tank sensor 2 (without fuel pump) "
Diag 3 posts a C7 error which reads: "Fuel tank sensor 1 (fuel pump side) "

 

I will have to read the stuff again, just don't remember any details, but likely all of those can be ignored. For sure all the ones that say 000 after can but the c7 that has 055 is pretty close to expiring, it says it has happened but a fairly long time ago. I have notes some where on the number each code starts at, there are only 3 or maybe 4. Every time you start the car the counter goes down one the smallest start number is still well over 100 IIRC but lets just say it is 99 and you are at 55, so the car has been started 44 times without it occurring. Most of those level sensor codes are from fill ups or being parked on a steep hill or side hill.
Besides all that it explains little, no matter what the level sensor says you have something happening that defies the laws of physics. Lets try again undo the line and disconnect the electrics and remove the ring then lift out the assemble. I can't even think of a way for that to happen on a partly full tank. My only thought is you had some pressure trapped in the line that somehow was released when you moved the pump and squirted up.
Here is an excellent video

It was first posted in this thread,
DIY: Video: BMW M5 E39 Fuel Pump
Another DIY thread,

Complete Fuel Pump DIY with pics!

I just replaced my fuel pump over the weekend and wanted to give a little something back to the board by putting together one thread that should capture everything necessary for this DIY project. Searching the forum led to some other very helpful threads and useful info but it was somewhat...

www.m5board.com

No idea what is going on nor can I even imagine a condition for it to happen, so I am assuming it is something you are doing but follow those threads.

 

I will have to read the stuff again, just don't remember any details, but likely all of those can be ignored. For sure all the ones that say 000 after can but the c7 that has 055 is pretty close to expiring, it says it has happened but a fairly long time ago. I have notes some where on the number each code starts at, there are only 3 or maybe 4. Every time you start the car the counter goes down one the smallest start number is still well over 100 IIRC but lets just say it is 99 and you are at 55, so the car has been started 44 times without it occurring. Most of those level sensor codes are from fill ups or being parked on a steep hill or side hill.
Besides all that it explains little, no matter what the level sensor says you have something happening that defies the laws of physics. Lets try again undo the line and disconnect the electrics and remove the ring then lift out the assemble. I can't even think of a way for that to happen on a partly full tank. My only thought is you had some pressure trapped in the line that somehow was released when you moved the pump and squirted up.
Here is an excellent video

It was first posted in this thread,
DIY: Video: BMW M5 E39 Fuel Pump
Another DIY thread,

Complete Fuel Pump DIY with pics!

I just replaced my fuel pump over the weekend and wanted to give a little something back to the board by putting together one thread that should capture everything necessary for this DIY project. Searching the forum led to some other very helpful threads and useful info but it was somewhat...

www.m5board.com

No idea what is going on nor can I even imagine a condition for it to happen, so I am assuming it is something you are doing but follow those threads.

OK boys and girls, the latest in the saga! I drained the fuel, removed the sender and unclipped the pump. It doesn't want to come out. Before I start yanking on it I want to ask if I missed something.

It always looks so simple in the YouTube video!

I tried to capture the struggle: iCloud

 

The same applies to install, actually more mess that up. Look at that black part very closely on how it works and make sure those retaining tabs are in the at rest position completely when the new pump goes in. They also have had to go in before they go out. Some have not pushed the pump down for that to have happened. Others don't want to push to hard so get one side to clip but not the other. Then the most fun is getting the level sender in, watch lots of videos for that. All E39s have the same tank, except for diesels I believe so watch E39 videos not just M5 videos.

 

New OEM pump came today - success! Thought the pump was the problem when I pulled the old one out and it was brown not silver on the bottom third.

Had a heck of a time putting the sender back on the tank until I figured out that unlike the video where they put the new rubber gasket on the sender, it’s much easier to put the gasket on the tank and then the sender slides right in.

Many thanks to everyone who contributed their thoughts, especially Sailor24!

 

Glad you were successful. Don't forget to change the filter next week and the best way to evaluate the level senders and siphon pump is just watch the secret menu read out on both tanks for a couple of weeks during normal driving, I doubt you are having an issue with either but until you look you may not know.

 

Will do, thanks for the reminder.