M51 BMW 325TDS starting problems, bubbles, P38

Hi all.

I bought a 1997 BMW 325 tds a couple of weeks ago and it has problems starting from cold. As it shares an engine with the p38 I'm hoping someone here can help as I don't know where to begin.



Bubbles are appearing in the clear tube above. In fact the tube often has no fuel in it at all. I noticed today that turning the ignition without cranking makes fuel start pumping round it, and provding I wait for most the bubbles to disappear it fires up first time.

The car seems to get worse the longer it is left, would I be foolish to leave it at air port parking for a week.

I've checked all the pipes and not found any cracks, where specifically should I look?

Thanks in advance.

try asking on a beemer forum

are the bubble coming from the direction of the tank or the direction of the engine?

if from tank i would say it leaking air in from either pipe or joint or possibly the tank pickup pipe or connections!

if from engine side(dont think this would happen) but it is gonna be the leak off pipes i think!

bear in mind the pump will suck and push, fuel will come out on the push side and air in on suck side!

Yeah,

I'd follow Gavbriggs advice, start with replacing the leak off pipes as this is one of the most common causes of air ingress and is easy and cheap.
If that doesn't work you need to start looking at every joint in the fuel line.
Does the beemer have a sender pump?
In the P38 the pipes coming out of the sender pump have been known to corrode and crack.

Hope this helps.