Where is the fuel pump relay located in the BMW 3 Series?

[BradleyAnn]

The fuel pump relay in the BMW 3 Series is located inside the engine cover, near the battery, or in the black box above the left/right front shock absorbers. It is uniformly installed in either the fuse box or relay box. You can open the box cover to check - the relay labeled "FP" on the cover is the fuel pump relay, as all relays are clearly marked. A relay is an electronic control device that consists of a control system and a controlled system, typically used in automatic control circuits. Essentially, a relay uses a smaller current to control a larger current, functioning as an automatic switch that performs roles such as automatic regulation, safety protection, and circuit conversion in electrical systems. The BMW 3 Series represents BMW Group's new generation of sedan products, with a body weight of 1,465 kg, equipped with an inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine. The vehicle dimensions are 4.734 meters in length, 1.811 meters in width, and 1.455 meters in height.

[StCali]

The fuel pump relay in my old F30 is hidden in the fuse box on the right side of the engine bay, that black box near the windshield. You need to remove the cover and check the circuit diagram inside—the small icon with a fuel pump symbol is the one. Last time my car suddenly wouldn't start, it was due to poor contact in this relay. I pulled it out, sanded the contacts with sandpaper, and that fixed the issue. Remember, working with the power off is safest, and the back of the fuse box cover also shows the locations of the spare fuses.

[OCaroline]

The fuel pump relay of the new G20 model has been relocated to beneath the dashboard, behind the storage compartment near the driver's knee position. When I helped my cousin inspect it last time, we had to remove the interior trim panel first to access the fuse holder. Here's a handy tip: locate it by sound! Have an assistant turn the key to the ignition-on position (without starting the engine) – the click sound from the relay will pinpoint its location. This modification makes it much harder to find compared to the older models, so I recommend keeping a flashlight handy for the job.

[VonJace]

Make sure to match the model before starting! For E46, it's in the third row of the fuse box behind the glove compartment. For F chassis, it's the fuse labeled 87 in the upper right corner of the engine bay fuse box. For G series, it's under the driver's seat. Last time, a mechanic mistook the fuel pump relay for the headlight relay in my E90, resulting in a wasted trip. The safest way is to check the circuit diagram in the owner's manual—locations vary significantly by year, and mistakes could fry the control module.