How big is the reserve tank in an E30?

[Smoove1]

I was just wondering how long you could go with the gas light on.

[DanGillan]

i think it's 1.8 gallons of reserve. 16 gallon tank, light comes on at 14.2

[Kruzen]

16 gallon tank? oh geez.. silly me, i've been driving around thinking i have a 14 gallon tank looks like i can get some more mileage out of me car :)

[DanGillan]

i did the same thing.... i didnt know i even had a low gas light until a couple months ago... but trust me, it's there.

[latinobimmer]

anyone know what size tank an e28 535i has?

[TimmyBigHands]

i think it's 1.8 gallons of reserve. 16 gallon tank, light comes on at 14.2

@ roughly an average of 19-20mpg you should get about 36 miiles before you are DEAD :) I wouldnt push it too hard.

[clutterbucker]

I'd recommend never going below 1/4 of a tank of gas.....keep the bitch full. If not to impress the ladies or avoid problems, at least do it for your fuel pump.

[Rob]

what does tank capacity have to do with the fuel pump? let me guess, the old 'if it gets low, debris gets in the fuel pump' wives' tale?

[Ryan Stewart]

The leaves in the tank thing is a wives tale but there is a truth...

The in-tank fuel pumps (of you have one) are cooled by the fuel, they use the fuel as a giant heat-sink. If the pump isnt fully submerged it can heat up causing premature wear on it. Not enough to start a fire or anything but it CAN wear it out a little faster. Plus think about how stupid you would look on the side of the highway.

Now that said that....

I have managed to go over 50 miles with the light on in my Eta and when I pulled onto the street where I was going to buy gas the OBC just changed from 10mi to ---. :oops:

[bimmerlover]

anyone know what size tank an e28 535i has?

16

[nando]

I drive my car to the light every time.. I've also driven 50-60 miles with the light on several times. only ran out of gas once (and it didn't hurt anything).

[Mystikal]

I have managed to go over 50 miles with the light on in my Eta and when I pulled onto the street where I was going to buy gas the OBC just changed from 10mi to ---. :oops:

I've seen that --- many a time. I've driven many miles after the fact, too. ;)

[Stu]

I drive my car to the light every time.. I've also driven 50-60 miles with the light on several times. only ran out of gas once (and it didn't hurt anything).

:D Same for me. I've run out of gas 3x in the 318, fortunately 2 of the times I was within coasting distance of the gas station! The reserve, as mentioned, is somewhere around 2 gallons. After that is almost up, you'll be able to sputter the car a few miles. ;)

[bkelsey86]

I went down all the way on my mpg gauge on the obc the last number it gave me was 6 miles left then it went to flashing lines and i went a lil ways wiht it like that to get gas

[randomtask37]

we have gas lights?!?!?!

my car defintally didnt have one (or never worked)

cuz ive gotten very low on fuel before and never had a light come on.