83 E12/8 528i - Fuel leak/blockage

[rodga]

Hey guys
So I picked up this e12/8 last week and it started first time and did a 40km trip from Kempton to Centurion without missing a beat.
On idle though it would be hunting.

Anyways car was parked for a day or 2 and when I tried starting it wouldnt take. After cranking a few times I noticed a wet spot under the drivers side. Is there anything specific in that area - ie fuel filter/pump etc that could be blocked?

Reason Im asking is I cant really investigate the problem in my complex parking as I the guys gave me a friendly reminder that no working on cars allowed in the parking bays...:RedNo:

So would like to know if I need to get any parts before getting started at a friends place to see if its maybe a just a loose clamp on the fuel line or something else.

It only wets the floor when you crank the car... :roflol:

I also need to replace the 2 outer headlights that have cracked as well as the front indicator lenses. Is it possible to source these items new at a reasonable price? Or should I go hunting some scrapyards?

 

[Luis Malhou]

1. Try Adi on the forum, he had some indicator lenses for giveaway.
2. That wetspot under the drivers side. There isn't anything running under there, all the fuel lines etc run on the passenger side. I think that the cover you see isnt sealing properly and you picking up water. Those covers are used to let the car drain quickly of the chemicals when they are dipped in the factory paintshop. The covers are then placed on and sealed, it looks like you have some puncture wounds too. The water is probably entering and then soaking the carpet. Is you carpet wet inside, even under the seat?
3. With regards to the not starting, not sure how long the car stood before you drove it. Fuel could be a bit old and dirt in the tank churned up and blocked the pickup in the tank. You may now perhaps have not enough fuel pressure. I would start by cleaning the tank, checking all the fuel lines and putting in a new fuel filter. At worst your fuel pump may have packed up.

 

[rodga]

1. Try Adi on the forum, he had some indicator lenses for giveaway.
2. That wetspot under the drivers side. There isn't anything running under there, all the fuel lines etc run on the passenger side. I think that the cover you see isnt sealing properly and you picking up water. Those covers are used to let the car drain quickly of the chemicals when they are dipped in the factory paintshop. The covers are then placed on and sealed, it looks like you have some puncture wounds too. The water is probably entering and then soaking the carpet. Is you carpet wet inside, even under the seat?
3. With regards to the not starting, not sure how long the car stood before you drove it. Fuel could be a bit old and dirt in the tank churned up and blocked the pickup in the tank. You may now perhaps have not enough fuel pressure. I would start by cleaning the tank, checking all the fuel lines and putting in a new fuel filter. At worst your fuel pump may have packed up.

Thanks Luis

1. Unfortunately Adi has already disposed of those lenses
2. Thats interesting, it only gets wet if I try starting the car - water exits when their is movement.
3. I believe the car hasnt been really standing for too long, it had at least 2 30-40km trips in the last 2 weeks at least.
I agree with the dirty tank so I will lookk at that first though.

I cant seem to find any info on these cars on realoem. it has the short vin number and comes up as motorcycle from the 60's
Is there any resources for the SA production cars from this era we can use for part numbers by vin etc?

 

[Luis Malhou]

Vin No's from SA cars rarily work on realoem, I am talking about older cars. With modernisation VIN Nos are electronically created by the main manufactured in accordance with their standards. In the old days BMW SA would generate their own vin no's. These were sometimes the same as cars built in the more electronic era and you will find newer generations cars having similiar VIN No, especially since only the last 7 digits are used. Youd need to your local BMW dealer, although dont hold your breath.

My 530MLE comes out as a e30 320i, my other chassis 1 digit away is a e34..

With the water, you'll have to remove the front seat, remove the sill covers and pick up the carpet and see where its coming from. I wonder if its not 1 of 2 things, 1. the AC drain pipe is broken inside the car and the water draining into the car.. Not sure if you have AC. 2. You could have a leaking heater radiator in the car.. Do you loose water ?? Thats about the only things I can think of that can leak inside the car..

If you do need to use real oem, put in the car specs and pic either ZA or EU as the country.. it should be pretty close, unless you have a e12/8 mixed 5 series, then youll have some major diffrences

 

[rodga]

Yeah it's a e12/8 528i lol
Stopped by the local dealer today but there were very little help unfortunately. Couldn't even find a part number for a replacement headlight.

I do have an air con, but haven't really used the car. Only did the one trip from the transporter depot to my place. It didn't want to start the next day lol

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Do you perhaps know what oil specification I can use on this car?

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[tsetse]

Yeah it's a e12/8 528i lol
Stopped by the local dealer today but there were very little help unfortunately. Couldn't even find a part number for a replacement headlight.

I do have an air con, but haven't really used the car. Only did the one trip from the transporter depot to my place. It didn't want to start the next day lol

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Do you perhaps know what oil specification I can use on this car?

Sent from my SM-N900 using Tapatalk

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Bought my indicator lenses some time last year for about R460 from Lyndhurst BMW in Melrose. They do have the parts in Pretoria. I picked them up after 1 day.

 

[rodga]

Yeah it's a e12/8 528i lol
Stopped by the local dealer today but there were very little help unfortunately. Couldn't even find a part number for a replacement headlight.

I do have an air con, but haven't really used the car. Only did the one trip from the transporter depot to my place. It didn't want to start the next day lol

Sent from my SM-N900 using Tapatalk

---

Do you perhaps know what oil specification I can use on this car?

Sent from my SM-N900 using Tapatalk

---

Bought my indicator lenses some time last year for about R460 from Lyndhurst BMW in Melrose. They do have the parts in Pretoria. I picked them up after 1 day.

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Thanks man will check it out

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