Fuel Gauge - Inaccurate Fuel Tank Level
Group 62Instructions
Bulletin Number
62 12 91 (3421)
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
June 1992
Product Engineering
This Service Information Bulletin replaces (Orange) S.I. 62 12 91 (3421) Dated Nov. 1991. It incorporates additional information and refers to another S.I. concerning a related complaint.
Please remove and discard (Orange) S.1 62 12 91 (3421) dated Nov. 1991 from your S.I. Binder.
SUBJECT:
Fuel Gauge Displays Inaccurate Fuel Tank Level
MODELS:
3 Series (E36) - Vehicles Produced Before 8/91
Situation:
Two separate, but related complaints may be encountered:
A) The fuel gauge displays an incorrect level; for example, the gauge appears to stick at approximately 1/2.
B) The fuel gauge does not show maximum level when the tank is filled.
Causes:
Two causes may exist for these complaints:
A) Left-hand side fuel level sender (P/N 16 14 1 180 517) sticking (causes gauge to appear to stick at approximately 1/2).
B) Pump nozzle shuts off prematurely when filling fuel tank, creating the incorrect impression that the fuel tank is full, and the fuel gauge does not show the maximum level.
Correction:
E36 vehicles produced prior to 08/91 and exhibiting complaint "A" as described above should have an improved left-hand side fuel level sender (P/N 16 14 1 180 517) installed. The improved fuel level sender bears a blue date code stamp of "9.91" or later.
Any vehicle exhibiting complaint "A" should be checked for proper alignment of the fuel level senders (refer to sections 16/12-3 and 16/12-4 of the repair manual).
E36 vehicles exhibiting complaint "B" as described above should have the breather line inspected for restriction and position. Refer to Service Information Bulletin 16 01 92 (3553) for this procedure.
Notes:
1) The Parts Department only stocks P/N 16 14 1 180 517 bearing blue date code stamps of "9.91" or later.
2) These complaints cannot be corrected by replacement of the instrument cluster; therefore, warranty will not cover instrument cluster replacement for these reasons.
Warranty Information:
Parts and labor for replacing the left-hand side fuel lever sender are reimbursable under the BMW New Car Limited Warranty of 4 Years/50,000 Miles.
Defect Code:
16 14 00 12 00
Main Work Associated Work
Labor Operation:
1612001 1614520
Labor Allowance:
14 FRU 12 FRU
NOTE:
The following explanations will spell out the correct use of the work times.
Main Work:
Use this time when the only repair performed is the listed warranty repair.
Associated Work:
Use this time when other repairs or services are performed along with the listed warranty repair.
Under no circumstances should both work times be claimed. Attempts to claim both times will result in an unnecessary delay in claim processing and payment.