1997 bmw 318ti fuel door won't lock....help!
 

I just found out that my fuel door lock won't lock. I can pull the niddle out but when I try to lock it again, the needle won't stick out. I hope somebody can help me on this.... thanks!:smile:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...59&hg=41&fg=25

p/n: 67116987627

Was the locking door only for later model cars? My '95 has no such provision...

Humm, interesting my 99 does not have fuel door lock.

realoem has the actuator listed for models equipped with M42's and M44's as well as early model 318's and 325's, so I know it was available on earlier models. Are you guys sure your cars don't have them? It's part of the central locking system, perhaps yours are just broken. It's a little pin that extends from the top left corner of the fuel access compartment. Here's what it looks like:
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/fueldoor.jpg

Where would I find the lever that pulls this door, if I had it?

There's no real lever, it actuates with the door locks as it's part of the central locking system. There's a little thin cord located in the cargo area to manually release it in the event your battery dies or the central locking system malfunctions. The cord is located on the carpet up against the passenger's side bulkhead above the oil/tool cubby.

Ok, I must be blind and obviously only using it when I have had the doors unlocked I may be overlooking this little thing. I will look tomorrow because it's F'n Cold outside.

Thanks cooljes76
 

Thank you bro, actually further reading all the blogs about 318ti I found out that my new installed alarm was kind of mess up because when I lock that the doors, the fuel door was not included and when I stick it in my key to the door and turn it (clockwise) it will lock my fuel door. I guess I need to go back to the shop and complain about this. It should be, all doors are lock once I press the remote "lock"! thanks again!:smile:

No worries man, hope you get everything sorted out.

Hey, have you read the blog about front spoiler lip??. We can install the spoiler lip from Jetta MK111. It looks good. I went out while ago to the yard and I found one, so I clean it up and will install hopefully within this week.

Yeah, I remember member "Wasabinuki" had one installed on his Hellrot ti. It looked really clean, check it out here:
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12505

but my favorite lip for non-M bumpers is the Zender lip. Here it is installed on Marcus2116's car:
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15190

^^^He has an M bumper on his car now. He was selling his Zender lip a while back:
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=28918

3.2TI, I took some pictures of the fuel door release cord in the cargo area for you:

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/CIMG4896.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/CIMG4897.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/CIMG4898.jpg

You're right, Jess- the pin is there. I guess mine isn't working either because it doesn't actuate when I lock the doors (I can still open the fuel door). I imagine that it is easy to get to once you pull the rear panel. Funny, because I just noticed the fuel release cord a few weeks ago and just thought it was for some option my car didn't have or for some other application (I guess I wasn't overly curious that day...)

Looks like I have something else to add to my 'parts needed' list. :wink:

To be perfectly honest, it really doesn't do much. The thing is so flimsy, if somebody really wants to steal your gas, they're gonna steal your gas. It's just a matter of if they're willing to mess up your car doing so.

I found mine and it does work but my now my passenger door lock is not locking unless I unlock the door like 3 times.