E30 320 - Pessimistic fuel Gauge?

[kenny320]

I filled the 320 to the brim recently. Did about 60 miles on the first 10 litres of fuel. I know cos I put some more petrol in I've now done 240 miles (which would suggest I've used 40 of a total of 60ish litres) but the fuel gauge is almost on the red line.

Now I reckon I should have 20 litres, a third of the tank, still in reserve. The fuel gauge says otherwise. Is the fuel gauge really that pessimistic on the E30's?

[liquidken]

All BMW's are pretty pessimistic.

You may have a problem with the boards in your binnacle

Have you noticed any "flicking" of any of the needles?

I know the 320 12v lump isn't really an economical tour de force, but stil...

[kenny320]

No, the needles tend to behave themselves. I think it may just be some pessimism from the gauge.

The only thing I find odd is the first 10 litres where i managed 60 miles I'd been diving pretty hard so I don't think its been running too uneconomically. I just dont want to be think "aww its okay got plenty left" then suddenly have it conk out

[MrFlibbles]

My fuel gauge is all over the place. Yesterday I was out driving miss daisy when the needle plunged to the red.

Oh bugger, i'll fill up.

By the time I got to the petrol station it was reading almost half!

[kenny320]

That doesn't sound good. Sounds like my friend's chimaera

Could it be a problem with the integrating circuitry?