So I had a small hole in my fuel tank. I rang a few mechanics around and all suggested I replaced the tank with a second hand one and strongly advised against using some type of sealant.
So I asked another mechanic to replace my tank and be said sweet, I know of an e30 tank that I can use etc etc.
Then I have a chat with him today (1.5 weeks on) and he tells me the tank he sourced was the wrong fit (I checked the wiki and it says there are a range of tanks so this is okay)
Then he told me he has used a sealant on my tank as the hole was really small. Some sort of metal putty? Apparently done it hundreds of times and its sweet..
I said I'd prefer if he stuck with the original plan and replaced it but he said because he knew the guy who had the tank it was so cheap but if he goes to a scraper it will be 3x the price. (Quoted me $180nzd for his mates and said he's been quoted $400-500nzd from a scraper)
I want to know is -
Do those prices sound right for a second hand tank?
Anyone heard of metal putty working to stop a fuel tank leak? I've read allottttt of bad things about using sealants.
Lastly, if you were to use the sealant would you still need to take the whole tank off to do it? (The hole was on the bottom)
Mechanic fixing my cracked fuel tank
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Grrrmachine
- E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member
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No idea of the NZ market, but $500NZ (250 quid) seems an insane price for a used scrapyard fueltank. Even $180 sounds like a lot, but I guess they're fairly hard to come by in your neck of the woods.
As for repairing the hole: even if you fix one pinhole, another can spring up in another area soon afterwards. The tanks rot out in reliable locations (along the main seam and around the stub pipe) so a patch is little more than a band aid for another year until it fails elsewhere. It's the sort of thing that's not worth economising on.
As for repairing the hole: even if you fix one pinhole, another can spring up in another area soon afterwards. The tanks rot out in reliable locations (along the main seam and around the stub pipe) so a patch is little more than a band aid for another year until it fails elsewhere. It's the sort of thing that's not worth economising on.
'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
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pauljsc
- E30 Zone Newbie
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Yeah that's what I thought. I'm left in this awkward state that if I ask him
to replace it he's going to charge me even more.
Or do I accept his sealant job.
I hate crappy work being done on my cars.
Thanks for the info.
to replace it he's going to charge me even more.
Or do I accept his sealant job.
I hate crappy work being done on my cars.
Thanks for the info.
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Duke137
- Married to the E30 Zone
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Don't accept it if you want a long term fix! It is bad news, new tank only. In fact, I wouldn't even buy a used one unless 100% it wasn't very old etc (which is what I did).
Sounds like he has committed to buy the 'wrong tank' from his "mate" won't take it back so has decided to bodge it up. I would take my car back and go elsewhere and get a new tank sorted out.
I also find that some garages default to the "cheapest" repair because that is what the customers want or expect 99 times out of 100, but this doesn't mean it is correct. For example, my mechanic welded up the exhaust on my girlfriends daily the other week and had I known I would have just replaced the section, now I will have to go back in 6 months no doubt to do what should have been done in the first place!
Sounds like he has committed to buy the 'wrong tank' from his "mate" won't take it back so has decided to bodge it up. I would take my car back and go elsewhere and get a new tank sorted out.
I also find that some garages default to the "cheapest" repair because that is what the customers want or expect 99 times out of 100, but this doesn't mean it is correct. For example, my mechanic welded up the exhaust on my girlfriends daily the other week and had I known I would have just replaced the section, now I will have to go back in 6 months no doubt to do what should have been done in the first place!
How do you pronounce 'either'? I say 'either', but some say 'either'. Either is correct.
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
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What is 'wrong' with the replacement tank? If it's the 55 litre / 62 litre thing, these are interchangeable with a little extra work (except that there may be a problem with very early E30s apparently.)
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pauljsc
- E30 Zone Newbie
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- Location: Earlswood, Surrey
They said the filler pipe didn't match up and a few other things. My tank and prop shaft is on the floor so I think it might be too late to ask for my car back.
Ill give you all an update when I talk to him tomorrow.
Ill give you all an update when I talk to him tomorrow.
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pauljsc
- E30 Zone Newbie
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- Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:00 pm
- Location: Earlswood, Surrey
I have a 316i 1989.
I'm down in queenstown. Parts down here can cost a little extra because we're a little bit isolated but no that much extra.
Anyway got my car back and he offered me an ultimatum. Get a another second hand tank in for $335 or put my "fixed tank" back in. I just wanted my car back from this p***k so I got him to put my tank back in which he had bogged and sprayed and charged me $345.
$280 for labour and $65 for parts.
Now my exhaust hangs loose and my previously tempermental fuel gauge doesn't work at all.
I'm down in queenstown. Parts down here can cost a little extra because we're a little bit isolated but no that much extra.
Anyway got my car back and he offered me an ultimatum. Get a another second hand tank in for $335 or put my "fixed tank" back in. I just wanted my car back from this p***k so I got him to put my tank back in which he had bogged and sprayed and charged me $345.
$280 for labour and $65 for parts.
Now my exhaust hangs loose and my previously tempermental fuel gauge doesn't work at all.
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Mitchen
- E30 Zone Addict
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What a cunt
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bosers
- E30 Zone Regular
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I bought a new tank for my touring from eBay, came from Germany and cost about £150. Took ages to fit as old one was so rusted and had to drill out some bolts from above. All good now though. Don't know what shipping would cost to NZ but I'dthink new is the way to go.
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pauljsc
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:00 pm
- Location: Earlswood, Surrey
Thanks for the advice Will! I should get around to joining that forum too.
I'm just going to settle with what's happened. Ill be selling this 316i in November/December because me and the mrs are moving back up to Auckland. I might try find another e30 in better condition up there. Think ill be lucky to find a manual as cheap as I got this one but we'll see!
Appreciate the help guys.
I'm just going to settle with what's happened. Ill be selling this 316i in November/December because me and the mrs are moving back up to Auckland. I might try find another e30 in better condition up there. Think ill be lucky to find a manual as cheap as I got this one but we'll see!
Appreciate the help guys.