PETROL TANK HELP!!!

Post Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:20 pm

Nealry at the end of project MOT on my 1989 2 door 318i and i've come accross a problem!!

I bought the petrol tank off ebay in january and didn't think anything of it. Have taken and threw away the old petrol tank, done all the work and just about to put the new tank in and....

There are 2 holes on top of the tank (as in 2 fuel pump entry holes) and there seems to now be 1 extra breather pipe on my car! I haven't tried to force it yet but it almost looks a tad big to fit into the car aswell!

Does this sound familiar? Any ideas?

Cheers GEO1400

Post Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:52 pm

Some tanks have a spigot for the fuel return line, others use a second connection on the fuel pump. You might have to change the plumbing of the return line a bit, or block an unused connection, depending on what the original set up was.
Second fuel pump hole (LH one) is for a second level sensor. Blank it off with the correct sender if you can find one , or an old pump frame. Don't forget to blank off the outlet pipe on this.

Post Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:01 am

I have replaced my old tank with a one with two holes.
The tank itself will fit perfectly well, however the feed and return fuel lines go to different places.

basicly you will need to block off the return line on the fuel pump and run your return line to the pipe on the right of the tank.

The second hole is designed for a second fuel sender (green in colour) and is connected in series with the sender which is attached to the fuel pump. the fuel guage inside the instrument cluster will also need to be changed for a one which is designed for a 2 sender tank.

hope this helps.

Post Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:14 am

Oh man that sounds complicated!!

My mechanic helping me suggested welding a plate over the extra hole and just blocking off one the breather pipes? I believe there are 2 breathers joined at the same somewhere on the filler neck.

Surely if I do this i can just connect it back up the way it was?

I checked on real oem and the tank i've got looks awful familiar to that of a touring petrol tank...

Cheers guys, keep it coming.

Post Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:20 am

I hope the tank is brand new if he's going to weld anything!

Post Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:22 am

Oh its brand spankin out the box! shiniest thing (nearly) on the car!

Will it work tho...

Post Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:27 am

Personally I'd follow Brianmoooore's and Smithy318i's advice if I were doing it. Words of proven experience there.

Post Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:28 am

warning. if you block off the pipe on the passenger side of the tank, fuel will not transfer from the right side to the left of the tank.

also if you blank off the passenger side sender hole, you will not get an accurate fuel level on the instrument cluster.

Post Thu Sep 21, 2006 5:50 pm

Hi I don't now if this is a good idea or not but I covered all openings on the tank and sprayed it with a plastic coating before I had it fitted.Trying to keep it rust free for a while longer I hope.I know this does not help you fit it but its an idea I had and forgot to post it for comments.

Post Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:10 pm

Is this tank meant for a touring?

How much will the proper tank cost me from europarts etc. ?

Oh and got some black hammerite, that should do the painting of it. When I get the right one!

Cheers Guys

Post Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:41 pm

90 quid from ECP iirc

Post Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:58 pm

Might just look into that. I would hate to go through all the hastle of trying to make this one work when I might just end up giving my self more probs.

Cheers guys

Post Fri Sep 22, 2006 2:34 pm

Hi - sorry to hear of your problems, but if you decide to go for the correct single-sender tank (i.e. 55 litre), i will happily buy your two-sender tank (63 litre) off you. The filler neck on my tank has rusted through, and no-one has got replacement 63 litre tanks available. GSF have them on back order, ECP only seem to list the 55litre tank.
Both ECP and GSF have (your) 55litre tank in stock.
If your interested, PM me? - where are you in the country, by the way?

Post Fri Sep 22, 2006 9:19 pm

Hi Treeman, I'm in ayrshire in scotland. I'm working on the car tomorrow so I will let you know what I do, I'm in no rush anymore so I might just hold off and get the right tank. In which case you can have my 63 litre job. I got it sent to me and postage wasn't much so we could do a deal. I'll PM you by tomorrow afternoon.

Cheers geo1400

Post Fri Sep 22, 2006 9:29 pm

youve got me worried now.i bought a new tank for my touring but havent fitted it yet.ill need to check ive got the right one

Post Fri Sep 22, 2006 10:38 pm

From what i've gathered so far, the touring is a 63 litre tank and has 2 holes on top, one for the pump and sender unit and one for a seperate sender unit.

Check this out;

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=16&fg=05

If that doesn't work just go on realoem.com and search.

Geo1400

Post Fri Sep 22, 2006 11:09 pm

Like smithy said, you need to get the second sender wired in and swap the gauges otherwise your reading will be complete

The fuel doesnt move from side to side quick enough for one sender to read the level correctly in the large tank

Post Fri Sep 22, 2006 11:52 pm

Ah, now I understand. I think getting the right tank is the best thing to do.

Cheers Guys

Post Fri Sep 22, 2006 11:58 pm

geo1400 wrote:Ah, now I understand. I think getting the right tank is the best thing to do.

Cheers Guys

hi
i should have the tank you need and i am just down the road from you.
let me know if i can help.

bob.

Post Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:10 pm

OH BOB where you last night!!

I went to Europarts this morning and bought a new tank!! Its all fitted and stuff apart from the little pipe that runs from the small belly to the big belly of the tank. That didn't come with it. If you've got a spare one of them then let me know, otherwise I'm gonna need to go to BMW.

Cheers Anyway.

Post Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:54 pm

Hi geo1400 I had a tank fitted recently and thought
the small connecting pipe was fitted properly so filled
up with fuel only to find that one end was not secured
properly.
Moral of the story is small amount of fuel until you have
checked the pipe is sealed.Ãƒ”šÃ‚£30. of fuel on the mono block.

Post Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:59 am

Thats a good piece of advice there... I'm the sort of feet first kinda guy so it would have been a full tank then check!!

Cheers

Post Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:03 am

i know!!!!

you've got the same tank as me... the extra plumbing goes to the LONG RANGE FUEL TANK which is inside the boot.

anton

Post Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:47 am

Long range fuel tank? I'm confused now...

Post Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:13 am

ive got the 62litre tank, but in the trunk/boot ive got a 2nd tank. holds 15 - 25 litres of fuel, making for upto
75litres.

it could be that the tank you have is like my "main" tank, and the extra plumbing is/would goto the secondary tank in the boot.

still confused?

cheers
Anton