» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 405,266 Views | | | | | 08-20-2008, 10:29 PM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 6 | Stolen gas! Well I just had to share this story. About a month ago when gas prices in Texas were $4 a gallon, I walked out of my apartment one morning and smelt a strong gasoline fumes. I have a 1997 318ti and a 2003 Honda Element. I park both of them beside each other. Here recently I have been driving the Element, so the Bimmer has been parked. I do a walk around both cars. Nothing dripping out from underneath them. I checked the gas door on the Bimmer which was locked. The Honda has a locking gas cap which was secure. The only thing I noticed was a empty gatoraid bottle and a glass jar on the side walk. I went to check them out, they both smelt of gasoline. So fast forward 1 month. I wanted to go wash the Bimmer and get it all cleaned up from being parked. So i try to start it and it just spins over. I remember parking it with "10 miles to empty" so It didn't have much gas in it to begin with. I thought well, its been 120 degress outside so maybe the gas evaporated some how. I dunno much about gas. So I went out and bought about one and half gallons of gas to put in. As I pour it in I start to hear this drip, drip, drip....so i look underneath the car...there is a perfect hole on the side of the gas tank. Similar to a small drill bit. All I can say is I bet whoever stole the gas was pissed because that's probably less than a third of a gallon they got. Ha! So $5 dollars on a repair kit, and she is patched back up. I drive her around town and all seems to be fine. I now park her against a fence where the gas tank isn't accessible. People will try anything! If they only knew that the honda was full of gas and could easy been drained. Why did they choose the BMW is besides me. Just thought I'd share my experience. I did file a police report, but didn't have them come out because so much time had past and I'd already started patch'n it. | | | 08-20-2008, 10:42 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 | Whatthebloodyhell? I hope this in not a new trend. Glad to hear you could fix it cheaply. __________________ ... ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ | | | 08-20-2008, 10:51 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 6,182 | my car is to low to get under it lowered cars FTW! that does suck a big fat one though! __________________ -Josh Sold-1995 318ti, Club Sport, Hellrot Sold-1996 318ti, Active Model, Boston Green Current- 1995 318ti, sport model, schwartz | | | 08-21-2008, 01:38 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin Posts: 3,059 | That's why I (Yes, me, myself, and I) installed wireless cameras all over my house, connected to my PC. The night vision cameras are installed where my car can be clearly seen. Anyone getting close to my car might as well just smile for the camera and wave. __________________ Come get a ti-shirt Quote: From the e30 M3, evolved the e36. They were "Keepin it Real" when they introduced the 318ti ClubSport in '95 and the 318ti Sports from '96 to '99. After that... well nothing else really matters. ~Jess | | | | 08-21-2008, 01:45 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 170 | kinda creepy but whatever gets the job done.^ and yeah even stock, bmw are tough to get under, if they were smart they would just get a SUV or pickup. | | | 08-21-2008, 01:48 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 3,212 | People have been doing this for a while. They basically drill a hole on the gas tank and steal your gas. I say it isn't the smartest idea, since they are drilling a hole on metal, it might heat up. It might get hot enough to set a spark and that would just go from bad to worse. I did hear about this guy who decided to check how much gas was in a car with a lighter. In the end he had burns all over his face. haha | | | 08-21-2008, 02:49 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SOUTH Jersey Posts: 1,085 | yes, but aren't our tanks plastic? Besides, as long as you are below the level of the fuel, nothing it going to happen. Gasoline is very hard to ignite, it is the fumes that are explosive | | | 08-21-2008, 04:41 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 3,212 | I didn't know they were plastic. But still though i don't think its worth it. | | | 08-21-2008, 04:47 AM | #9 | That's not Millpoint Blue Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: BNA Posts: 3,161 | Quote: Originally Posted by bmwpelican if they were smart they would just get a SUV or pickup. | "Smart thief" is a bit of an oxymoron, but if the thieves were smart, they'd also steal the catalytic converter while they're under there. __________________ Real men know how to SEARCH! THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics." | | | 08-21-2008, 05:12 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 | wow, that sucks, I've been thinking of buying one of those springs that you put in your filler neck to prevent the gas from being siphoned, seems like even that won't work now | | | 08-21-2008, 05:23 PM | #11 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Rollin on "E" FTW! Best LTW mod ever! __________________ 4 MORE YEARS BABY!!! | | | 08-22-2008, 12:20 AM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Posts: 188 | people around here have been doing that for awhile to. Its a shame what people will do these days for gas! | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |