 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  02-06-2006, 10:38 PM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 160 |  Gas smell in 318ti
Hey mates. Just busy as always, but my lady is out of town and I'm sick so this is my chance.
I wanted to clear up a question I found on "Expert Blah Blah .com". A 318ti owner complained about gas smell in the car after it sat all night. The answer could be right (fuel tank cover in car under rear seat), but here's what it usually is.
The vent system for the fuel tank is located behind the interior backseat passenger side "door" skin. I know there is no door there, but this gets you in the right place. Behind this panel is a mess of fuel vapor tubes and expansion tank. As the hoses get old they shrink and vapors get by the fittings. You'll see if you look in there... and you will smell if it's leaking there.
I have this problem in my car, but am too busy to sort it right now. You could replace all the tubes, etc... but it's not as easy as one might hope. Try Zip-Ties and maybe some "Goop" on all the contact point.
These are only ideas so if you blow up your ride because something went wrong, don't hunt me down. I hope this helps someone.
cossieturbo |  |  | | 02-06-2006, 10:55 PM | #2 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
what year is yours cossie? i wasn't aware of an expansion tank where you describe but there is a charcoal canister (i have a 96) to which fumes get routed from the tank (a long blue pastic tube runs up there). i was getting fumes and at the time didn't have time to look at it. my shop guys just secured all the connections at the tank as best they could and then the smell went away. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 02-06-2006, 11:26 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 160 |
Some of the tubes should run into the body in front of the filler door. i will look up the 96 and up as mine is a 95... Be right back...
cossieturbo
Looks like they are the same. Here is a pic of the M42 95 and m44 96 Exspansion tank. looks like they are all like this. This is real stuff mates. | | | | | 02-06-2006, 11:49 PM | #4 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
i'll have to take a dig around that area once after i get it back on the road and then go into the back to finish up what i'd started on the interior before i moved. i'll need to take the rear panels off again at that point anyway. thanks cossie! EDIT: here's the charcoal canister i was referring to: http://www.318ti.org/gallery/showpho...00&ppuser=1131 __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 02-07-2006, 12:01 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 160 |
My pleasure. I just hope it helps. Now I have to get off my Arse and fix mine.
Best to you.
cossieturbo | | | | | 02-12-2006, 03:23 PM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Essex UK Posts: 164 |
Good advice there matey, I have had this fuel (gas!) smell for quite a while now, and replaced the o rings on the tank/sender joints but still it appears every few days after standing the night, I shall take a peek behind the panel when the weather warms up a bit here.......what type of clips are used to secure this panel do you know? Are they just normal trim clips are some devil designed fit once snap many times clips?
Best regards David | | | | | 02-15-2006, 01:36 AM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 160 |
They are pop in clips, but you should know that the glue the Bimmer boys used at the factory is shyte so some of the clip holders will come off. Try to get one of those plastic panel popping tools.
cossieturbo | | | | | 07-13-2007, 05:20 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 160 |
Update... I really got in there... squeezed my head and nose into the panel and it "smells" as though I will be replacing everything within this panel. I'm sure that I can find solutions to some things without having to buy everything new, but I will be replacing my fuel filler neck plus all rubber hoses. What an arse backwards pain.
cossieturbo | | | | |
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