2006 BMW 3 Series Fuel System Problems

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for routine maintenance. The mechanic informed the contact that vehicles older than 2013 were not serviced by the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with a fuel leak. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while adding fuel, he noticed that fuel was leaking from the fuel tank. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 229,896.

WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY I NOTICED FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE THE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY 2006 BMW 325I ALSO THE CAR WAS HARD TO START MEANING THE STARTER WAS CRANKING EXCESSIVELY TO START THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE DRIVERS SIDE SENDING UNIT LEAKING FUEL UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THEY REPLACED THE SENDING UNIT (PART NO. 16-11-7-163-295) AND MY CAR IS GOOD NOW BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AND THE REPAIR COST ME $529.00

FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL FILTER / FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, LOCATED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THE PLASTIC COVER WHERE THE PRESURRED FUEL LINE IS CONNECTED CRACKS CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK. I NOTICED THE ISSUE DUE TO A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMMING FROM THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I FOLLOWED THE SMELL AND IT TOOK ME TO THE FUEL TANK ACCESS UNDER THE REAR SEAT ON THE LEFT (DRIVER) SIDE. THAT IS WHERE I NOTICED FUEL ACCUMULATION OUTSIDE THE TANK. THEN I PROCEED TO START THE ENGINE AND CLEARLY NOTICED THE FUEL LEAKING FROM AN SMALL CRACK ON THE FILTER (NOT THE FUEL LINE). I STARTED A RESEARCH ON THE SUBJECT AND I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS ISSUE INCLUDING VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE ON MANY BMW MODELS. ALSO FOUND THERE IS AN ACTIVE SAFETY RECALL FOR SOME VW MODELS WITH THE SAME SITUATION. THE PARTS FROM BOTH VEHICLE BRANDS ARE PRETTY SIMILAR AND THE PARTS ARE FROM THE SAME SUPPLIER (VDO). I JUST NEED YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AS A SAFETY CONCERN BEFORE VEHICLES START CATCHING FIRE. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER. SORRY FOR NOT HAVING PICTURES, JUST GOOGLE IT AND YOU WILL SEE IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE DROVE OFF FROM HIS GARAGE, THERE WAS A TRAIL OF FUEL FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED, UNDER THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS COVERED WITH FUEL AND THE LACKING RING THAT SECURED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

LEAKING FUEL BY THE FUEL TANK.

I AM FILING THIS SAFETY VEHICLE COMPLAINT ON MY 2006 BMW 330I. WHAT FIRST BEGAN AS A SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE CAR ESCALATED TO A STRONG SMELL OF GAS, AFTER LOOKING AT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE I DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE GAS TANK INCHES AWAY FROM THE HOT EXHAUST. TRACKING WHERE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM, I REMOVED THE PASSENGER REAR SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP PLASTIC HOUSING DEVELOPED CRACKS ALL AROUND CAUSING THE FUEL TO ESCAPE BELOW THE PASSENGER SEAT DOWN THE GAS TANK. THE VEHICLE OPERATES FINE AND THERE ARE NO DASH LIGHTS INDICATING THAT THERE ARE ANY FAILURES OF FUEL, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THE FUEL HAS BROKEN DOWN THE PLASTIC HOUSING OF THE FUEL PUMP OVER TIME, RESULTING IN AN ENORMOUS LOSS OF FUEL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. I AM VERY GLAD I DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS AN ENORMOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE ON MY LAST DRIVE. I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH BMW'S HOTLINE BECAUSE I AM CERTAIN THERE ARE OTHER DRIVERS THAT OWN THE I90 SERIES THAT MAY BE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND HOPE NHTSA CAN PUT THIS ON THEIR BULLETIN AND OPEN AN INVESTIGATION ON THE SERIOUS ISSUE.

I HAVE A 2006 BMW 325I THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL AND FROM WHAT I THINK IT IS THE BREATHER PIPE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THIS WILL GENERATE A SERIOUS PROBLEM LIKE EXPLODING OR ANY TYPE OF FIRE PROBLEM. THERE IS A PUDDLE OF FUEL EVERY TIME I PARK MY CAR. THE FUEL LEAK IS ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL IS ASCENDING. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DESIGN FLAW,AND EVEN THOUGH MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD AND MUST COVER THIS SAFETY CONCERN BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SITTING IDLE FOR A FEW HOURS, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO START. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ASSIST THE VEHICLE IN STARTING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO EXHIBIT A PUMPING NOISE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL INJECTION PUMP DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,019 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,775.

BMW 325I HAS AN ACCELERATION DELAY PROBLEM. WHEN THE DRIVER DEMANDS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ACCELERATION, THE CAR HESITATES ANYWHERE FROM 1.5 TO 3 SECONDS. I TOO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 325I. INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO WORK FINE IN MANUAL AND SPORT MODE. I ONLY EXPERIENCE THIS DEFECT DURING AUTOMATIC MODE. AS STATED THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN SOMEONE IS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN TRAFFIC, OR GETTING ONTO A HIGHWAY, OR PASSING ON A 2 LANE COUNTRY ROAD, ETC. PROBLEM IS RECURRENT. *NM

BMW 325I HAS AN ACCELERATION DELAY PROBLEM. WHEN THE DRIVER DEMANDS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ACCELERATION, THE CAR HESITATES ANYWHERE FROM 1.5 TO 3 SECONDS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN SOMEONE IS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN TRAFFIC, OR GETTING ONTO A HIGHWAY, OR PASSING ON A 2 LANE COUNTRY ROAD, ETC. OTHER CARS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ARE MOVING AT 88 FT/SEC. THE AMOUNT OF LEEWAY THIS CAR NEEDS IS MUCH TOO EXCESSIVE. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS - "PROBLEM NOT VERIFIED". FRIENDS WHO HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR THINK IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. BAD ACCELERATION IS JUST AS BAD AS POOR BRAKING. *JB