2001 BMW 330I Fuelpropulsion System Problems

The bracket welds on the front of the right side fuel tank support strap pulled out while on the highway, leaving the fuel tank supported by only one strap. The bracket pulled right out of the sheet metal, leaving two holes where it was previously spot welded to. The support strap itself was hanging off its rear mount, dragging behind the car and potentially sparking. This was extremely dangerous, as the tank had just been filled, and if the tank had began to leak, the support strap may have sparked a fire. There was no symptom or warning sign of the impending failure. There are many reports of this issue from other BMW E46 owners. Fuel tanks should not separate from the car under normal driving conditions. The car has been in southern California its entire life, and there is zero evidence of rust or poor maintenance. Records of the...

THE STAINLESS STEEL STRAP THAT SUPPORTS THE FUEL TANK CAME OFF OF MY VEHICLE YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE STRAP IS SPOT WELDED AT 4 POINTS ON THE FRONT. THE SPOT WELDS FAILED, LEAVING THE STRAP DRAGGING BEHIND MY CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL TANK ITSELF IS SAGGING ABOUT 4" FROM THE SURFACE OF THE ROAD. THE SPOT WELDS DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY SUPPORT THIS STRAP - THIS SEEMS TO BE AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MORE ROBUST MOUNTING POINTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED DURING DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I SUDDENLY HEARD A THUMP OR POP FOLLOWED BY A GRINDING NOISE. I PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT EXIT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRACKET HOLDING THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD TORN OFF THE BODY AND THE FUEL TALK WAS LEFT HANGING A FEW INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND. THE SHOP WHERE I NORMALLY TAKE MY CAR FOR SERVICE COULDN'T FIX IT AND RECOMMENDED A BODY SHOP WHERE THE BRACKET COULD BE WELDED BACK ON TO THE BODY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WHEN I HEARD A POP SOUND FOLLOWED BY A GRINDING OF SOME SORT. I PULLED OFF THE NEXT EXIT AND COULD HEAR THE CONTINUOUS SCRAPING NOISE. I PARKED MY CAR AND COULD SEE THAT THE GASOLINE TANK STRAP HAD SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND IT WAS JUST HANGING FROM THE BACK. THE GAS TANK WAS 4 INCHES FROM THE CONCRETE. I HAD IT TOWED HOME, AND NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM GLAD THE TANK DID NOT HIT THE GROUND AND EXPLODE. I SEE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ALL E46 BMWS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR