Fuel filler pipe/neck.

[RicardoD]

Hello,

When I fill up my filler neck starts leaking, the problem is at the top, well away from the tank. A brief tank inspection shows that it's solid and has been painted at some point after it left the factory.

I have the replacement filler pipe, I was just wondering if I need any other bits before I start dismantling, also have any of you guys done this before?

I think it's similar for most E30s but mines a '90 320i.

Cheers all.

[jimbom30cab]

The filler pipe is the same across all models i believe

Last time i took one off i also took off the cover that goes over the fuel vent pipes. The pipe sits on a large tab under the car and then attaches to the flexi pipe. There is only one single bolt holding it to a bracket on the inner arch - this gets really rusty and can be a pain to remove properly.

Difficult to say what other replacement bits you will need without stripping it down but i guess a new flexible pipe (still avail from the dealers and about £20) would do no harm.

hope that helps

[capri_rob]

Replacing the pipe is easy

The difficult bit is chopping out the near-inevitable ( if it hasnt already been welded up ) grot that will be lurking at the back and top of the inner arch and around the bracket that holds the neck in place.

Good luck


Top bracket





This probably what you;ll find

[RicardoD]

I thought as much! Cheers for all the help guys, much appreciated, will let you know how it goes. In the process of putting a motorbike on the road at the moment so I can take the BMW off the road.

[RicardoD]

Just a swift update, managed to change the pipe, not to difficult at all. Need to weld in a new bracket, it's cabled tied at the moment. Some inner arch corrosion, should I weld it? Fibre glass it or something else? Have you guys had the same kind of problems? I had to pull out quite a bit of crusty inner arch, currently gaffa taped up the holes to keep the wet out until I can get her off the road.

Cheers all

Richard

[Brianmoooore]

Definitely not fibre glass! The inner wing is structural, and holes here = MOT test fail.
The usual place for them to go is around the brackets, as this area isn't undersealed at the factory. For a proper repair, cut out the whole area, back to bright metal, fabricate new brackets and weld them to the repair patches before the patches are welded in place.

[RicardoD]

Yeah, that does sound more sensible. What should I do about the inner arch where it presses into the outer arch, on the lip if that makes sense?

Also, what is best for cutting out metal in awkward areas, I find angle grinder to cumbersome round the inner arch.

[Grrrmachine]

A Dremel and a 50-pack of slit discs will help you there.

This part of my resto outlined what I did. Pay attention to the photos in the boot pocket behind the wheel arch, and you'll see more welding on the inner arch too.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 59#2291959