So i managed to track down a leak and gassy smell whenever I fill up to some leak on the left side (drivers side) fuel tank. After removing the rear seat and pulling on the rubber grommet on the left side, it appears their is a small tiny leak on the left side fuel sending unit? I suspect its the oring that needs to be replaced (pn 16111744369 ). Do i need to get a special bmw tool to access and replace? Anybody know? Thanks for reading and any help will be appreciated.
Nah, you just need a tool as shown here:
https://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/Sender/Index.htm
Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i
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thanks! got the new o-ring in the mail today. So I went out and changed it. Old one was damaged. Anyway, i will see next time i fill up if I did it correctly.
I had a gasoline smell ("that smell, that gasoline smell, smells like....Victory!") when I filled up on my 1995 740iL. I replaced the gasket but the smell remained. The area around the fuel sending unit had pinholes of rust. I had to get the gas tank lined with plastic, this only cost maybe $200 USD but the labor to pull the tank and replace was more. Years later, the same thing happened to my 1998 740iL, same repair fixed it also. Come to think of it, I had a 1984 533i that needed a new gas tank after 10 years. Probably water vapor rusts the partially filled gas tanks with time, top is exposed most of the time (when tank isn't full). Its a shame, but a result of keeping these cars longer than most owners...
well, i must have installed it incorrectly, because its leaking by the o-ring. When I installed it, I did not notice a a groove for it to sit. Now, I have to wait for the tank to go really low to check everything out (....made that mistake already...lol).
Your leak may be the fuel level sender unit itself. The plastic can develop hairline cracks, and fuel leaks into the recessed top, filling it with gas. See my write-up (written for E36 but still applicable):
Fuel Sender/Gasket Replacement
Sorry for the delay. it turned out I needed to reseat the o-ring correctly. I had to take the sender unit out and use vasoline to hold the o-ring in place. No leaks and no fumes since I did that back in August.
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