Pierburg pump - yay or nay?

rover215

rover215

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I'm glad we're somewhat anonymous here, because I'm embarrassed about the decisions I've made since buying my Bavaria (vin 3134389, so maybe early 1973). Bought it non-running from a family member of the original owner. All original, save the replacement rad tank. I've posted about this car before, having had a couple mechanics swap out the dead carb'ed engine with an L-Jet engine from a late 70's e23. Long story short, I'm pulling the entire FI system off and will be mounting a pair of Weber 32/36 DGV 5A's. I want to order a stock, mechanical Pierburg but I've heard rumblings about them being built under license by other manufacturers (out of The Netherlands, Italy).
I'm also not a mechanic and have over the years convinced myself I knew more than I did. Nothing beats confronting the truth (Dunning-Kreuger)!

So do I plop for the Pierburg? I also rebuilt the Webers after watching what I think are quality step-by-step vids by Cars, Bikes, and Coffee (YouTube), but I *think* I'll have to replace the emulsion tubes, main jets, and idle jets. I appreciate any help and will post progress pics as things... progress.

(Original engine pictured)
 

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I had a bad experience with a Pierburg electric pump. Maybe 5-6 hours of use and it quit.. luckily I was only 3 blocks from home. No telling how long it was on the shelf. I never checked the country of manufacture. I am now using a Bosch pump. In the old days I had a 166 Ferarri. The guts from an AC mechanical pump changed right into it.
 
@deQuincey - yes, order. I see them being sold by multiple parts suppliers for $70-$110.
Part number 13311260677

@Bert Poliakoff The pump I'm interested in is the mechanical pump, not electric. As far as I know, the Pierburg pumps are stock replacements.
 
rover215 said:
@deQuincey - yes, order. I see them being sold by multiple parts suppliers for $70-$110.
Part number 13311260677

@Bert Poliakoff The pump I'm interested in is the mechanical pump, not electric. As far as I know, the Pierburg pumps are stock replacements.
Click to expand...

Usual parts suppliers, mostly you will get a faux pierburg made by an Italian company with the brand deleted by milling the logo out from the pump body

Up to three types of these pumps, maybe four
 
The faux pierburg


deQuincey

Thread 'mechanical fuel pump - pierburg ???'

bear in mind this if you need to order for a new pierburg mechanical pump:

if you order the adequate part number for this pump, you will find a pierburd pump offered in several places,...e-bay, jaimic, bmw,...

it will be in some cases the old-style rubber membrane fuel pump by pierburg,

be aware that what you will get, will NOT be a pierburg pump, read this and tell me your opinion:

you will receive a pierburg box, closed with a pierburg seal, and inside:......a pump: "made in italy", and with the brand name machined out...
 
Unless you want to stay original, I would put a block off plate where the pump goes and stick in an electric pump with a roll over shut off valve If you stay with a manual pump, make sure you get the appropriate push rod.

Thanks, Rick
 
deQuincey said:
The faux pierburg


deQuincey

Thread 'mechanical fuel pump - pierburg ???'

bear in mind this if you need to order for a new pierburg mechanical pump:

if you order the adequate part number for this pump, you will find a pierburd pump offered in several places,...e-bay, jaimic, bmw,...

it will be in some cases the old-style rubber membrane fuel pump by pierburg,

be aware that what you will get, will NOT be a pierburg pump, read this and tell me your opinion:

you will receive a pierburg box, closed with a pierburg seal, and inside:......a pump: "made in italy", and with the brand name machined out...
Click to expand...
I did a lot of looking and learning about the many so-called Pierburg pumps out there, most being non- OEM/OE. I don't think I'll get the real deal unless one of the "new" manufactured pump fails. My main goal is to get the engine running on carbs. I still have to find jet and emulsion tube info so I can at least be in the ballpark enough for it to run.
 
I’m in it now. The head is from an ‘81 engine, but I was told the bottom end and L-Jet were pulled from a late ‘70’s e23.
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E3AV said:
I think it would be difficult to put a mechanical pump on that FI head.
Click to expand...
Yes, I was just about to post exactly this same thing. I suggest an electric pierburg pump, which is what I have been running in my car for several years now: https://e9coupe.com/forum/threads/adding-a-electric-fuel-pump-suggestions.42221/post-369474

As to jetting, the Braden Weber Carburetor book contains info on how to initially size jets. Following this will get your car running: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/350311/weber-carburetors-by-verlon-p-braden/
 
I switched from the mechanical pump to a Carter p90091 in the trunk between the fuel tank and the spare wheel well and installed an inertia switch to kill the power in case of an accident.
I have yet to test this setup fully as I’m not quite done with the restoration of my car and I have not driven it yet.
 
Webers on the E9, Zeniths on the E3. Needed an electrical priming pump on the E9 to save my battery and starter. The E3 can sit for a month and the start right up!
 
I was having chronic vapor-lock fuel line failures with several versions of "Pierborg" mechanical pumps. So I got the cover plate, and converted to electric. For the last 6 years I have been running my E3 with a Carter 4070 vane-tpye electric fuel pump. It works very well. Totally reliabile. Starts right up even after long pauses and even on very hot days. It is very loud, and for reasons unknown, quite a bit louder some days than others.
I kind of miss the quiet clicking rhythm of the mechanical pump, but don't miss being stranded uintil the vapor lock clears itself.
 
Thanks for all the input, everyone. I’ll have to do some thinking. The FI head already has the old pump port blocked off, which is nice but not really a big deal. If I can isolate the sound I wouldn’t mind an electric pump. Just want to make sure it’s able to have the right (low) psi.
 
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