E30 Zone

I've got a question that after hours of searching I still haven't found an answer to. For those of you who don't know, early e30s that didn't have central locking which locks the petrol door, had a locking gas cap. The original locking petrol cap for the e30 was chrome. It has now been replaced by a plastic cap with a lock in the middle. I've got the original chrome one, but unfortunately, I don't have a key. Here are some pictures of it, it has a little lid to cover the lock cylinder that flips around.

Lid Closed

Lid Open

Back


The plastic locking gas cap is still available from the deal with the part number 51212291901, and of course when you buy the new cap you get a key to go with it. I can't find an individual part number for a key blank for my locking petrol cap and I want a key to buy without having to buy the entire cap to get the key.

My plan is to get a key blank, and bring the key and cap down to my local locksmith and have them carve the key to the locks shape.

I can't find an individual part number for the key blank for the locking petrol cap, but after some research on other BMWs that did have locking petrol caps, I think I found the maker of my specific cap. This is from an E3
http://www.bmwmobiletradition-online.co ... g=16&fg=05

Notice the cap with the flip around lid like mine is made by a company called Koehler.

It's all getting somewhat confusing, my question is can anybody help me get a key for this thing!? It's currently unlocked so I can use it as a regular cap, but I want that key and locking function.


Also, if anybody else on here has a locking petrol cap, if you could take a picture of the cap and the key that goes to the cap it would better help me understand what I'm on the lookout for. (and no, the ignition key doesn't fit into the petrol cap lock, it's a smaller key)

Well you've confused the hell out of me !

The key for the locking petrol cap is the same key as for the rest of the car or at least it should be with a plastic locking cap...I know nothing of chrome caps I'm afraid. Blank keys are available from BMW:

Part number 51211900892, price last week in € was 24.48 plus tax.

clipper wrote:Well you've confused the hell out of me !

The key for the locking petrol cap is the same key as for the rest of the car or at least it should be with a plastic locking cap...I know nothing of chrome caps I'm afraid. Blank keys are available from BMW:

Part number 51211900892, price last week in € was 24.48 plus tax.

Hmmm.... well I could be completely wrong about the originals being chrome and they are now replaced by plastic locking caps. They might have been plastic locking caps since the beginning!

Do you have a picture of a plastic locking cap by chance?
The chrome cap I have may not even be for an e30, it may be for an e9 coupe

I've just arrived at work, but if you can wait till my lunch time I'll take a photo for you. I need to fill up anyway.

By then someone else may be able to post one up anyway.

clipper wrote:I've just arrived at work, but if you can wait till my lunch time I'll take a photo for you. I need to fill up anyway.

By then someone else may be able to post one up anyway.

After a little googling with the part number 51212291901 I found these two pictures. Does yours look like these? I'd still like you to take a picture of yours if you could since I only have these two small pictures.

I can't see photobucket at work, but if your images look anything like this:



Then yes, that's what all locking petrol caps I've ever seen are like, including mine. My 2 main keys are also like this one shown.

I'll post up photos of the underside of mine later if that helps.

But I really must do some work !

With non-central locking cars you got the plastic cap with lock as standard, and it used the same key as the the door, ignition etc....

However, you could spec an optional extra to have a cap, with a different, smaller key than the rest of the lock set. This I have a picture of in my optional extra booklet from 1985.

I had the plastic one like above, But I lost the key so I now have a non locking type one.

Ollie_bwoii wrote: However, you could spec an optional extra to have a cap, with a different, smaller key than the rest of the lock set. This I have a picture of in my optional extra booklet from 1985.

Well you live and learn as they say. No way I'd run around with an unlocked fuel tank though

Anyhoo, here are some stunning real life locking cap pictures as promissed, live from an industrial estate, somewhere north of Madrid....

Ollie_bwoii wrote:With non-central locking cars you got the plastic cap with lock as standard, and it used the same key as the the door, ignition etc....

However, you could spec an optional extra to have a cap, with a different, smaller key than the rest of the lock set. This I have a picture of in my optional extra booklet from 1985.

I had the plastic one like above, But I lost the key so I now have a non locking type one.

Thanks a lot for the pics and information clipper.

Ollie, any chance you could scan or take a picture of the brochure ad with the locking cap that's uses a smaller key?

just a thought but do any of the older models of BMW have the cap like you are after?
it might be easier to get one from a 2002 or something??

Ollie_bwoii wrote:

That's a smaller key ??? Wow you'd really have noticed the difference !!

Wow! So I guess they both look identical, but the only difference is a smaller key. Thanks for the pic Ollie I appreciate it.
Just bought one off ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 500wt_1182

what's twenty buckeroonies in sterling?

around £15 {guess} for a petrol cap!

I've just realised, that chrome petrol cap is off a 2002.

Is it not possible to dismantle the cap and get the lock cylinder out of it?
BMW seem to have only used 4 different shaped tumblers in door locks,cannot see filler caps being any different!