Gas Leak

[///FrankC]

Hey everyone. I was in an accident recently:( . I'll spare you the boring details and get to the point: my left front fender was smashed in. After the accident I began to smell gasoline from inside the car. It started small, but then today I started it and let it run a bit, and gas started pouring out from the top of the gas tank. Could this be in anyway related to the accident? Is there a fuel line that runs through the fender? It's going to be a few days before I have the time to drop the tank down, but I expect to see the return line disconnected and/or damaged.
I know I'm not sure what the problem is yet, but if the return line is damaged, do I have to replace the entire line, or is there a fitting? I've never taken a fuel tank out of a BMW before so I'm not quite sure what to expect. Any information at all would be great. Thanks a lot everyone.

-Frank

[Balthazarr]

Hey everyone. I was in an accident recently:( . I'll spare you the boring details and get to the point: my left front fender was smashed in. After the accident I began to smell gasoline from inside the car. It started small, but then today I started it and let it run a bit, and gas started pouring out from the top of the gas tank. Could this be in anyway related to the accident? Is there a fuel line that runs through the fender? It's going to be a few days before I have the time to drop the tank down, but I expect to see the return line disconnected and/or damaged.
I know I'm not sure what the problem is yet, but if the return line is damaged, do I have to replace the entire line, or is there a fitting? I've never taken a fuel tank out of a BMW before so I'm not quite sure what to expect. Any information at all would be great. Thanks a lot everyone.

-Frank

The line runs on that side from the tank, although the filter is further back and has rubber hose fore and aft and not at all close to the outer fender skin.
A steel line segment jogs upward to rubber line, IIRC.
How it popped off the rear at the tank...must have been one hell of a hit.
Pull the rear seat and underneath insulation you will find an access panel on each side.
Ck underneath the panel for breaks or rubber line that popped off.

[///FrankC]

Hey thanks. Yeah I suppose this could have happened aside from the accident, I just thought it was one hell of a coincedence. I waws thinking maybe something got pinched and rising pressure popped the tank, but I sure hope not :) .