Ugh! Car tried to set itself on fire (fuel line leak)

[VadGTI]

Went to start the mothballed car today and this was the result:



See the puddle?





Yep, a cracked and leaking fuel line.

The fuel lines seem to be mostly metal, with short rubber portions. If this one deteriorated, I'm sure the others did too.

Questions:

1. How much of the fuel delivery system is rubber, and not metal (basically, if I buy 6ft of rubber line, will I have enough)?
2. Is there a how-to for replacing these fuel lines?

[lore2486]

Went to start the mothballed car today and this was the result:



See the puddle?





Yep, a cracked and leaking fuel line.

The fuel lines seem to be mostly metal, with short rubber portions. If this one deteriorated, I'm sure the others did too.

Questions:

1. How much of the fuel delivery system is rubber, and not metal (basically, if I buy 6ft of rubber line, will I have enough)?
2. Is there a how-to for replacing these fuel lines?

same think happened to me but only after i put in a walbro 255
i eliminated the "absorber" (metal thingy after filter) i know the hose that goes to the in tank is also rubber. (mine broke) its also a pain to replace to just check with one you need to change.

the only metal that i could see is from the filter to the front of the car. and from there to fuel rail is back to rubber... i don't know how much you need

[ethirtydavid]

realoem has diagrams you can use to see where the rubber fuel lines are located. take a look there

[UweM3]

I had a small leak there for years. But was a pin hole rusted in the fuel damper. It was so fine that I could smell it but never find it because it just evaporated the fuel. But once it was rusted through it was very evident where it cam from.

But why do you say it was on fire?? There is nothing sparking or hot around this area.

[///Mflossin]

Not a fire hazard in that location. Obviously nobody wants fuel to leak from anywhere but as Uwe mentions....not much "combustible" in that area. I bet that there a quite a few e30's out there weeping or leaking in that location. If the car is not garaged one would likely never know.

[1st Roundel]

Went to start the mothballed car today and this was the result:



Yep, a cracked and leaking fuel line.

The fuel lines seem to be mostly metal, with short rubber portions. If this one deteriorated, I'm sure the others did too.

Questions:

1. How much of the fuel delivery system is rubber, and not metal (basically, if I buy 6ft of rubber line, will I have enough)?
2. Is there a how-to for replacing these fuel lines?

I would say that you can see 90% of the rubber fuel lines in the car from your current vantage point. When I first got my car the same line had a leak. My replacement only lasted about 18 months. Thankfully you can usually see/smell a leak there. That area must take some abuse. Good chance to R&R the line to damper, to the filter and to the pump all at once. Less than 18 inches of line.

[UweM3]

keep in mind that you need to use high pressure fuel line for this.

[1st Roundel]

keep in mind that you need to use high pressure fuel line for this.

Assumed but good point nonetheless. I have never seen such a short section of hi press fuel hose split like that!

[///CRISS]

Just old line. Looks like you should just go through everything at this point. Check your coolant hoses too while your at it.

[SteveJ]

Replacing all the rubber bits on my 88 during this resto. From the filler neck up to the engine there are a lot of flexible hoses. The evap system, the supply and return. There is an 8mm ID hose that runs across the top of the tank and down to the external pump. That one has a special bend at the end. Thankfully, most of the other hoses are just stock 8x13.

[VadGTI]

Replacing all the rubber bits on my 88 during this resto. From the filler neck up to the engine there are a lot of flexible hoses. The evap system, the supply and return. There is an 8mm ID hose that runs across the top of the tank and down to the external pump. That one has a special bend at the end. Thankfully, most of the other hoses are just stock 8x13.

So, how much should I buy to do most of it? It looks like a large portion is hard lines, at least from lying under the car and looking up. So, 8x13 it is? This ID hose, any pics of it? A part number?

[e30rida]

Same happened to me once. Saw the puddle, backed out of the garage, looked under and couldn't find nothing wrong. Never happened again.

When you change the hose make sure you use quality hose and quality clamps so it lasts for a good while.

[VadGTI]

Replacing all the rubber bits on my 88 during this resto. From the filler neck up to the engine there are a lot of flexible hoses. The evap system, the supply and return. There is an 8mm ID hose that runs across the top of the tank and down to the external pump. That one has a special bend at the end. Thankfully, most of the other hoses are just stock 8x13.

Is this the piece you're talking about?



Part Number: 16 12 1 180 399

[VadGTI]

Here's what I found:

The fuel supply system, from tank to fuel rail, is pressurized to 2.5bar
(eta) or 3.0bar/42psi (i engine) in normal operation. If there is a
clog the pressure can go as high as 150psi, even in the normally
low pressure fuel return system.

This pressure requires heavily reinforced fuel line. Most of the bulk
hose that you find at auto parts stores is only lightly reinforced and
is intended for gravity feed or low pressure fuel system (3-6psi). That
type of hose will quickly balloon and fail.

8mm (or 5/16", 7.94mm) ID high pressure hose, 13mm OD
You'll need 9 ft/ 3 meters total for most models, 11ft with fuel cooler
2 pcs 4ft engine comparment supply and return
2 pcs 6" fuel filter inlet and outlet
13-31-1-469-781 Fuel hose, bulk 1 meter
You'll find a wide price range: $10/meter Pelican
$1.75/inch at some dealers, $6.49/meter at EAP
07-12-9-952-104 L12-15 hose clamp, $0.70
Use rounded edge hose clamps. BMW prices are very reasonable.

Molded hose sections
16 12 1 180 398, fuel filter hose (inlet), sugg US retail $5.17
16 12 1 180 399, fuel filter hose (outlet), sugg US retail $8.00

13 31 1 722 565, fuel rail inlet [fuel hose 561-920 mm], sugg US retail $26.68
16-12-1-180-237, fuel filter hose clamps, sugg US retail $0.33
Superceded by 07-12-9-952-104

Except when I called the dealer, the prices are x4 as much. $5 for a clamp. Hoses are $39/meter and molded sections are $35 instead of $5 suggested.

[Mike K.]

Call another dealer.