Going on a brief vacation in our '99 528it tomorrow and filled the gas tank this evening. After parking in the garage, returned a short time later to smell gasoline. Concerned that something was wrong with the recently replaced left side fuel tank sender, I pulled the back seat and left side inspection plate only to find everything nice and dry. Pulled the inspection plate over the right side fuel tank sender and it was soaked in gas. Shining a light thru the opening, I quickly discovered where a mouse had started building a nest on top of the tank and the damn rodent had chewed into a hard plastic fuel line. All this on a car that is our daily driver! I've taken a photo and believe it to be part # 16 11 1 183 301, labeled as vent pipe on RealOEM. In the photo, a phillips screwdriver is pointing to the fuel line in question.
It appears to match the photos I could find of part # 16 11 1 183 301 and my question is: Is this line under pressure? Is it just a vent? I don't have time to replace it before leaving in the morning but if it is not pressurized, I'll cut and add a splice with clamps until I return from my trip.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice.
If BMW says this is "vent" pipe, then it is just a vent pipe.
- Make sure you fill gasoline to only 90% or so (1-2 gallons shy of full), don't overfill it!
- If you are in a hurry, then get a rubber hose with appropriate I.D., then undo the plastic pipe at the connection.
Then slide the rubber hose in and clamp both ends. This effectively seals the broken section.
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