High-pressure fuel pump failure
Attaches to N54 at engine level · Fuel · carried by 6 variants across 5 chassis
Overview
High-pressure fuel pump failure is a common fault recorded against N54 at engine level, typically from 90–160k km. It shows up as long crank, extended cranking when warm, limp mode, misfire and hesitation under load. Where it is documented, the repair runs €700–€1,100 (independent specialist, pump only, costs dated 2026-07), and it can be partly checked before you buy. 6 variants across 5 chassis in this database inherit it.
What happens
Symptom. Long crank, extended cranking when warm, limp mode, misfire and hesitation under load.
Cause. The direct-injection high-pressure pump loses delivery pressure and eventually fails outright. Early pumps went through several revisions.
Later parts. Revised pump part numbers from 2010 onward; not all cars received one.
Sources. US extended warranty to 10 years / 120,000 miles; no equivalent EU programme
How to check it
OBD scan
Insist on a cold start. Scan for fuel-pressure and misfire codes, and ask for a pump receipt with the part number — revised part numbers appeared from 2010, so check the number rather than the build year.
Mandatory. A seller who refuses a scan has answered the question.
Every variant that carries this
| Variant | Chassis | Body | Years | Risk | Good buy | Cost as % of good buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 335i N54 | E90 | sedan | 2006–2010 | R4 | €7,350 | 12% |
| 335i N54 | E92 | coupe | 2006–2010 | R4 | €8,450 | 11% |
| 335i N54 | E93 | convertible | 2007–2010 | R4 | €8,250 | 11% |
| 135i N54 | E82 | coupe | 2007–2010 | R4 | €9,800 | 9% |
| 135i N54 | E88 | convertible | 2008–2010 | R4 | €10,350 | 9% |
| 1M N54 | E82 | coupe | 2011–2012 | R3 | €50,700 | 2% |
The last column is the point: the same repair is an inconvenience on one variant and a reason to scrap the car on another. A failure costing a quarter of the vehicle's value changes the purchase decision regardless of how rare it is.