BMW Repair: Fuel guage shows full, but empty light comes on., fuel guage, tv repair shop

Question
I have a 1988 325ic, when I turn on my car the guage goes to full, but the empty light will come on, which I assume is when the tank is near empty. Sometimes the needle will jump back and forth a little (usually around harder acceleration)though it hasn't happened much lately. I'm thinking maybe the fuel sender? I have a wrecked 1986 325e that I am parting out (the transfer pumps are different, one has an extra fuel line going to it) and was wondering if I could remove the sender from the e's transfer and interchange it with the ic's?

Answer
Max,
 It is possible that you could swap the sender's, but I doubt this is the problem.  The fuel and temp guages are notorious for loosing ground, and they start bouncing around and not reading properly.  You can pull the cluster out and clean the contacts for the fuel/temp guages, and that usually helps.  If not, some electrical repair might be in store.  you could probably take the cluster to a TV repair shop, and have them solder better connections into it, however you might get out cheaper by buying another cluster.

 Good luck,
 Josh