Passenger side, pipe that runs under the rear seat '91 318i

[bsop]

So I swapped out my seats the other day, and noticed that there is a metal pipe running right below the rear cushion on the passenger side.

Not usually a big deal, but i felt the underside and its completely rusted through, probabaly a 40 degree slice of the cylinder rusted out on the underside. nearly the entire length of it. There is some moisture in the area, could not place the smell. Anyone have a similar issue? And What does it contain- it feels like there are multiple wires inside, which is what i hope they are, though the cause for the rust is a pretty big concern at this point.

Im currently hunting through my Bentley to try and locate it. Any help and suggestions would be wonderful.

And it didnt smell like gas.

[Massimo]

I think that is where you run the battery cable if you have a boot mounted battery. Being rust could cause a fire I supose if the cable was to ever spark and light the foam on the seats.

[bsop]

Thats what I was beginning to think it was, excellent.

Now to figure out how the hell it managed to rust out.

[jlevie]

That pipe is used to route the vent hoses from the gas filler net and expansion tank to the fuel tank.

[bsop]

So, if its a vent, why were there other tubes/cords/wires in it? Didn't have time to check it out properly, that's a next weekend deed.