Petrol smell inside car

VinnyJ · Nov 5, 2013

I recently purchased the F30 320i Sport. On a daily basis i get a strong petrol smell inside the car.
Had the car booked into clear water bmw and they had a look at the car and could not find any leaks. All they told me is that the car is safe to drive. Surely getting a petrol smell from inside the car is not normal?
has anyone had a similar issue and if so what was done to repair it. Also if you can recommend a BMW dealership in the JHB area that is capable of identifying and fixing this issue.

Crash_Nemesis · Nov 5, 2013

Petrol smell is usually attributed to a car running rich. Also, deleting the catalytic converters sometimes can give a Petrol like smell, not always, but have heard of some cases. Not sure how true.

But it being a new F30, I am surprised that you are having this issue.

Clownshoe · Nov 6, 2013

That is usually a seal on the fuel tank that has not been put back right. Pull back seat and that is where you will access the top of the fuel tank. Not sure exactly what it looks like on f30s. There are two big "jam jar tops". Undo these and inspect the seals and fuel lines. Sounds like they have not been put back correctly.

The reason is the fuel tank is directly below the rear seats and teh access is there, so if something hasn't been put back right the fuel smell gets into the car. I would not say its dangerous... but def not pleasant.

Solo Man · Nov 6, 2013

I have found recently on two E36 cars that the plastic cover/float in the fuel tank had cracks in them and petrol was leaking out especially when the tank is full or nearly full. This created a petrol smell, in the one instance inside the car and on the other car you could smell petrol when walking or standing next to the car. In both instances i fixed the problem with Q-bond and koeksoda and it is still working after about two months. I have bought a new float for the fuel tank but it is stored till the problem occurs again. So, could be that you have the same problem although i am not sure where the float in your car is situated, but i would assume it is under the rear seat under a cover normally, as was said in one of the other replies.

VinnyJ · Nov 6, 2013

Thanks Guys for the feedback. Spoke to quite a few guys and they all said that it could be the seal around the fuel tank and float. Now just find a BMW dealer that will actually check it out thoroughly. Any dealer ship you can recommend?

JENICH · Nov 7, 2013

VinnyJ said:
Thanks Guys for the feedback. Spoke to quite a few guys and they all said that it could be the seal around the fuel tank and float. Now just find a BMW dealer that will actually check it out thoroughly. Any dealer ship you can recommend?

Hey there bud,
I had the same issue some time back on my E90 and JSN Motors in Bryanston sorted it out

cOlDFuSiOn · Nov 7, 2013

JENICH said:
VinnyJ said:

Thanks Guys for the feedback. Spoke to quite a few guys and they all said that it could be the seal around the fuel tank and float. Now just find a BMW dealer that will actually check it out thoroughly. Any dealer ship you can recommend?

Click to expand...

Hey there bud,
I had the same issue some time back on my E90 and JSN Motors in Bryanston sorted it out

+1 Best dealership ever :thumbs:

tivoli786 · Nov 7, 2013

try them as all the others are useless, don't take your car to Club Motors Randburg and I am beginning to think the same of Sandton Auto ask them to tighten the exhaust and I get told the head mech took car and adjusted it my foot
Exhaust still loose. BMW customer services are also a bunch of wankers still waiting for them to call me back from yesterday.

VinnyJ · Nov 7, 2013

JENICH said:
VinnyJ said:

Thanks Guys for the feedback. Spoke to quite a few guys and they all said that it could be the seal around the fuel tank and float. Now just find a BMW dealer that will actually check it out thoroughly. Any dealer ship you can recommend?

Click to expand...

Hey there bud,
I had the same issue some time back on my E90 and JSN Motors in Bryanston sorted it out

Took it JSN BMW this morning and booked it in. Then called ClearWater BMW (the dealer that sold me the car and worked on it) and kicked up a fuss. They collected the car from JSN and took it back to clearwater and gave me a loan car. Lets hope they can sort it out. Escalated all the way to the production line manager and dealer principle.

cOlDFuSiOn · Nov 7, 2013

VinnyJ said:
JENICH said:

VinnyJ said:

Thanks Guys for the feedback. Spoke to quite a few guys and they all said that it could be the seal around the fuel tank and float. Now just find a BMW dealer that will actually check it out thoroughly. Any dealer ship you can recommend?

Click to expand...

Hey there bud,
I had the same issue some time back on my E90 and JSN Motors in Bryanston sorted it out

Click to expand...

Took it JSN BMW this morning and booked it in. Then called ClearWater BMW (the dealer that sold me the car and worked on it) and kicked up a fuss. They collected the car from JSN and took it back to clearwater and gave me a loan car. Lets hope they can sort it out. Escalated all the way to the production line manager and dealer principle.

On your Maintenance Plan KMs as well I guess... Cause they drove it back I guess? *sigh* Hope they sort it...

JENICH · Nov 8, 2013

VinnyJ said:
JENICH said:

VinnyJ said:

Thanks Guys for the feedback. Spoke to quite a few guys and they all said that it could be the seal around the fuel tank and float. Now just find a BMW dealer that will actually check it out thoroughly. Any dealer ship you can recommend?

Click to expand...

Hey there bud,
I had the same issue some time back on my E90 and JSN Motors in Bryanston sorted it out

Click to expand...

Took it JSN BMW this morning and booked it in. Then called ClearWater BMW (the dealer that sold me the car and worked on it) and kicked up a fuss. They collected the car from JSN and took it back to clearwater and gave me a loan car. Lets hope they can sort it out. Escalated all the way to the production line manager and dealer principle.

Dude,
You should have just left it at JSN to have them sort it out.
Now that Clearwater has it, hope you come right:thumbs:

VinnyJ · Nov 11, 2013

Got my car back on Saturday. Apparently there was a micro filter that was clogged up, so they replaced it. so far no petrol smell...

And i was having so much fun with the loan car :rollsmile: sigh!!

VinnyJ · Nov 19, 2013

ok so car went BACK again to the dealership as the smell was still there and guess what they found..

Those delinquents at Tracker damaged the fuel filler neck and a plastic cover around it when installing the device. They clamped straight into the filler neck. :argh:

Best part is BMW does not cover such damage.. Lets see if tracker will cough up!!

tinovittee · Nov 19, 2013

:thumbdo: :thumbdo: Dude... I can only empathise... sorry man! Hope you come right claiming from Tracker!! They should definitely be held accountable.

VinnyJ · Nov 19, 2013

All sorted. Tracker will be settling BMW for the cost of the repair, and have re-installed the tracker in another location at no cost.

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