Fuel Leaking In Passenger Compartment

[pleasemoveover]

After my wife complained of smelling fuel when she'd fill her tank I discovered the fuel return line was leaking fuel at the tank. This resulted in a two inch deep puddle of fuel directly under the rear passenger seat (where my two year old nephew usually sits). The fuel had eaten through the wires on the electrical connection in this location. I have pics if anyone wants to see them, need help uploading them. I can think of no more dangerous situation. My dealer International Autos Milwaukee won't help, I'm the second owner of this vehicle. BMW NA you should be happy my wife isn't a smoker. I really feel that BMW should step up here considering the danger of a situation like this.
95 ///M3
Alpine White/Black

[JMD]

I recommend you remove all cigarette lighters! Also, try to leave your windows vented whenever you can,...as there will be a buildup of gas fumes in your vehicle,...especially as the temps heat up.

Lastly,...not that you wouldn't do this or hadn't,...I suggest a deep cleaning of the carpet with a mild detergent, etc. Use Joy detergent and let it soak in deep. Don't worry about a little water,...your X won't melt or rust out. You will want to do this at an auto wash station so that you can use one of those super strong vacuum cleaners to pull a great amount of the water out of the carpet, etc.

You can replace any of the damaged wires yourself,...with a host of available wire from auto parts stores, etc. Just use the same gauge wires,...same color wire if it's possible. You can also use shrink wrap insulation to cover any crimp connectors. Most car stereo install shops can do shrink warp insulation.

Or,...naturally,...not to be wise,...you can take it to the dealer!

Don't forget to take plenty of quarters with you for the car vac!

GL and Hth

JMDXX5
JMD
...not that I will, but it can!
<br>
<img src="http://members.roadfly.org/JMD540is/4.6is_Sig/jmdxx5_02_46is_1.jpg">

[pleasemoveover]

Thanks for the advice. Here is what I did: Under the passenger side rear seat is an access to the top of the fuel tank. Inside this access is where fuel was pooling. There is a return fuel line, electrical connection and an unused nipple for another line (possibly used on a different model) also this area is packed with insulation (to prevent fume accumulation). This whole area was filled with fuel. I removed the soaked insulation and the remaining fuel with a turkey baster. I discovered the leak was on the unused nipple, there was pin whole on the top of it that literally shot a stream of fuel up when pressure was applied to the area. I covered this with a glob of JB weld last night and checked it this morning. I replaced the insulation with new, and taped up each wire that had been damaged. All seems good now, but potentially a deadly defect. I love BMW but this X has been a borderline nightmare, maybe more because of my dealers inability to accept that some customers are equipped with knowledge of problems. I don't want to rant here but I had a whole general module nightmare...... Thanks again for your help.
95 ///M3
Alpine White/Black

[JMD]

Your remedy to the problem seem to have worked. Pics for others to see would be nice. Ah,..JB Weld,...that's some nifty stuff. I used it to shorten the kickstand on my lowered bike (ZX12R).

The pin hole,..is it in rubber hose or metal pipe?

All the same,..way to go!

JMD


JMD
...not that I will, but it can!
<br>
<img src="http://members.roadfly.org/JMD540is/4.6is_Sig/jmdxx5_02_46is_1.jpg">

[pleasemoveover]

Pin hole was in the "extra mipple" on top of the whole fuel deliver unit that drops into the tank. Here's a link to flicker with two pics that I took. Its not the electrical plug and not the hose but the nipple....


fuel leak pics
95 ///M3
Alpine White/Black

[robertplattbell]

Great pictures and good of you to document this problem.

I am confused by the pictures, though. It looks like the access cover has been removed in this picture (you can see the cover and four nuts missing).

The fuel ling doesn't travel through the passenger compartment. So how is the fuel getting INTO the car? Is it spraying upward or something? If the access cover is ON, the fuel should not be entering the car, or is it leaking past the cover somehow?

Sounnds like you need to replace that unit.

Although if it were me, I'd get a vacuum port cap from an auto parts store and just clamp it onto that offending nipple with a screw clamp. Total cost: $1 Total Repair time: 10 minutes.

FWIW.

[MLJ]

Yes, I have removed the access cover in the photo. I did fix it by sealing the nipple. Fumes were entering the passenger compartment, not liquid fuel, the access panel prevented that.