[Robin330i]

Confirmed yesterday on my friends ramp that my car does have the dreaded fuel pipe leak!

Rang BMW Crewe yesterday to see what price i would be looking at to have it done and they quoted £700 - also questioned why this wasn't a recall but they had no answer to why BMW Uk aren't doing anything about it.

Going to see the BMW Specialists tomorrow to see how much they are going to charge, if its a few hundred then i will do it myself - i know its not an easy job but i have done a few engine changes on various cars, done the timing chains on the wifes R32 etc on the driveway however if the specialists are able to do it relatively cheap then i will get them to do it as it won't be worth me getting my knuckles bashed!

On a good note though - just picked up some 17'' Sport Staggered wheels for £150 (alloys only) ready for winter tyres, got a few kerb marks but they will do for winter wheels :-)

Ordered some Falken HS439's in 225/45/17 and 255/40/17 from mytyres to go on.

[makkan00]

Robin, let us know how you go with it.

I want to do mine as well, but feel very lazy lately.

[Brian mc21]

My last e90 had this although I never new until I had sold it to my boss and he filled it up cos he's rich.

[Robin330i]

Originally Posted by Brian mc21

My last e90 had this although I never new until I had sold it to my boss and he filled it up cos he's rich.

lol!

I always fill mine up to the top, one of my pet hates is hlaf filling a tank - whats the point? You got to fill up again sooner or later lol.

BTW i am not rich - far from it lol.

Sam i will let you know how i get on.

[DavS1]

What's this? first time i've heard of the problem.

[1 AKY]

Do a search on the forum (or might have been on BMWland). There's an Indy in stoke that somebody used or try Darren Wood near Manchester. I'd not covered by warranty, I wouldn't think twice about getting if sorted by an Indy.

[Robin330i]

Just got quoted £400 all in to do the breather pipe from BMW Specialist in Sandbach.

Decided to do it myself instead this coming weekend, i will take some pics of the job and post them up.

When i was ordering the pipe from BMW there was a customer having a proper go at the service guy regarding the security issue on the 3 series - i asked the parts guy about the problem and he said that the phones didn't stop ringing the days after the watch dog program, he said it was mental! - GOOD!

[ade146]

This must be very common its just most people do not notice. A word of warning. When you get the tank lose and it will not come down any further. It is held by the breather spigot being close to the chassis. if you pull the tank downwards it is possible to snap it clean off the tank as its plastic. Ask me how I know that.
If there is nothing obvious holding it up you will need to get over the top of the tank to release the breather pipe. It will be very difficult to see. In fact I didnt and Im usually careful.

[Robin330i]

Oh thanks for that advice!!!

I will let you know how I get on and will try to take some pics to do a guide.

[Robin330i]

Well I tackled the job yesterday and it was a horrible job, I have done lots of work on cars including engine changes etc and I rank this job as one of the worse.

Managed to balls it up though, even though I took ade's advice I snapped the sodding breather stub pipe off!!!! Absolutely gutted when the tank slipped slightly and caught the pipe and snapped it clean off.

Had to sleeve the broken pipe with a smaller metal pipe just to get everything back together. I will have to get a replacement tank and redo the job.

Gutted.

Anyway here is a picture of the leaking pipe.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Robin330i

Well I tackled the job yesterday and it was a horrible job, I have done lots of work on cars including engine changes etc and I rank this job as one of the worse.

Managed to balls it up though, even though I took ade's advice I snapped the sodding breather stub pipe off!!!! Absolutely gutted when the tank slipped slightly and caught the pipe and snapped it clean off.

Had to sleeve the broken pipe with a smaller metal pipe just to get everything back together. I will have to get a replacement tank and redo the job.

Gutted.

Anyway here is a picture of the leaking pipe.

Well done mate.

I hope you sorted it out.
Do you know what is the part number ?(feeling lazy

And do you mind sharing instructions step by step?

Thanks.

[Robin330i]

Sam i don't mind sharing a step to step guide however i didn't manage to take many pictures as i lost the will to live when i broken the stub pipe off the fuel tank, it was a case of bodging something up to get home lol.

When i come to change the whole tank i will take some photos and do a guide, one piece of advice is don't do it unless you are confidently hands on!

Part number - 16126765748

[ade146]

The important bit is how on earth do you release the breather before you lower the tank. Answers on a postcard please.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Robin330i

Sam i don't mind sharing a step to step guide however i didn't manage to take many pictures as i lost the will to live when i broken the stub pipe off the fuel tank, it was a case of bodging something up to get home lol.

When i come to change the whole tank i will take some photos and do a guide, one piece of advice is don't do it unless you are confidently hands on!

Part number - 16126765748

Cheers Robin,
No point of me playing with it then.

Thanks for the part number.

[Mr Singh]

Mine was done by the previous owner through BMW dealership. I assume the problem could re-occur?

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Mr Singh

Mine was done by the previous owner through BMW dealership. I assume the problem could re-occur?

Basically, there is a design flaw. That pipe gets rubbed against a body part of our cars and get ruptured.

Apparently, new part comes with this pipe + protective cover which goes over this pipe and saves the pipe from friction and avoid happening this again.

Robin, I take it that your BMW pipe is update version and it came with protective cover.

[tmarshall57]

Some useful information here including photos of the cause and possible prevention:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=414556

[Robin330i]

Originally Posted by makkan00

Basically, there is a design flaw. That pipe gets rubbed against a body part of our cars and get ruptured.

Apparently, new part comes with this pipe + protective cover which goes over this pipe and saves the pipe from friction and avoid happening this again.

Robin, I take it that your BMW pipe is update version and it came with protective cover.

yes it does.

[Robin330i]

Just changed the tank on the car.

Picked up a 2nd hand tank for £150 delivered.

Removed the existing tank and fitted the replacement tank in 3 hrs.

Couldn't take any pictures as i did it at work where we are not allowed to use cameras due to prototype vehicles.

Wish i removed the tank to do the pipe in the first place as its so much easier for the extra bit of additional work required to take the prop and exhaust off.

[jamesno1]

Where exactly does the pipe burst? I mean is the hole visible when you take the wheel arch lining off?

[bigbeemer]

Blue Bell in Crewe are awful to deal with, don't you think?

Originally Posted by Robin330i

Confirmed yesterday on my friends ramp that my car does have the dreaded fuel pipe leak!

Rang BMW Crewe yesterday to see what price i would be looking at to have it done and they quoted £700 - also questioned why this wasn't a recall but they had no answer to why BMW Uk aren't doing anything about it.

Going to see the BMW Specialists tomorrow to see how much they are going to charge, if its a few hundred then i will do it myself - i know its not an easy job but i have done a few engine changes on various cars, done the timing chains on the wifes R32 etc on the driveway however if the specialists are able to do it relatively cheap then i will get them to do it as it won't be worth me getting my knuckles bashed!

On a good note though - just picked up some 17'' Sport Staggered wheels for £150 (alloys only) ready for winter tyres, got a few kerb marks but they will do for winter wheels :-)

Ordered some Falken HS439's in 225/45/17 and 255/40/17 from mytyres to go on.

[NotNormal]

Originally Posted by bigbeemer

Blue Bell in Crewe are awful to deal with, don't you think?

I had mine replaced the other year, cost me £85 inc vat

Astle BMW in Grimsby