Fuel level reading not correct, what's up?

[87e30]

Damn this is confusing, I'm getting lost.

I can tell you that before my swap my early model m20 car, with early model cluster and fuel gauged worked fine but the light didn't work.

With the m52 I put in a late model cluster and the gauge didn't work, it was at 1/2 when it was empty.

I put my early model gauge into the late model cluster and now it reads over 1/2 when it's full.

I've given up messing with it, and I fill up every 150 or so miles.

[Jean]

Here's another thing I found. I pulled my buddies 89 cluster apart to look at the fuel gauge part # and it's different then the other 2 gagues I tried.


This one reads:

9 3030 150 80

1 374 822


The other 2 gauges have this same part #1 381 366


So it looks like I have the wrong part number fuel gauge? According to realoem, I'm suppose to have # 1 381 366

You are getting close. Did the cluster you tried work 100% in another m42 car? (89 M42 ??)

[91 318is]

Damn this is confusing, I'm getting lost.

I can tell you that before my swap my early model m20 car, with early model cluster and fuel gauged worked fine but the light didn't work.

With the m52 I put in a late model cluster and the gauge didn't work, it was at 1/2 when it was empty.

I put my early model gauge into the late model cluster and now it reads over 1/2 when it's full.

I've given up messing with it, and I fill up every 150 or so miles.

Damn dude, why did you change the cluster so much?

You are getting close. Did the cluster you tried work 100% in another m42 car? (89 M42 ??)

Yeah it was 100% working in my buddies car.

I'm almost 100% it's the fuel gauge now. But I don't understand why this gauge works, when it's not the correct gauge for my car.

I wonder if my original cluster is a early model cluster?

[Jean]

Gauge will work if it's the wrong one, that's normal. Early cluster = no coding plug in the front.

What is the color of the back of the cluster is it blue or white? If it's blue it's late model.

[bernzpeed]

i Have the same problem with this guys. I did an engine swap from an 87 325i to an 89 325i. I used the same cluster and si board from the 87 to the 89. Now it's reading the full tank at half tank. When I reach empty, I put gas in and tank will stop 5 gallons after. Is it the fuel sender or the gauge?

I don't know how to use a multimeter but I do have one so I can check the ohm reading if someone teaches me how to do it, please.

Thanks! On the good side, I will never run out of gas since I always have to pump fuel every 5 gallons...lol.

[lookitsranday]

sorry to bring old thread to life. i just got a 84, and the PO swapped cluster to i cluster because he also did m20b25 swap. now my fuel gauge is reading 1/2 as empty. i read somewhere that if i leave old ETA cluster but swap out the tach gauge it should be fine? (since i motor 7k rev.)

[jlevie]

You have a cluster with a fuel gauge meant for a late tank with two level sensors in a car who's fuel tank only has one sensor. Pull the cluster and replace the fuel gauge with one meant for an early car.

[Jean]

^ yep, amazing how often this comes up.

[bigdrick323]

I have a '88 325i and my gauge only goes to halfway even when full and drops to 0 when it has "who knows" amount of gas. Ideas?

[jlevie]

My suspicion is that one of the level sensors is bad.

[bigdrick323]

What do I need to purchase or do?

I am away from my computer, being lazy!