Bottle bolted on passenger side wheel well...

[Schniddy]

Underneath the rear driver side wheel well is a water bottle that I think is somehow connected to the fuel tank. There is a plastic lining covering this bottle up. Anyways the platic lining is out and the water bottle is just hanging there. The bolt that was holding it up rusted out!

So now the bottle just hangs there and rubs on the tires. What on earth does this bottle do/hold? There is nothing in it. There is a whole that has started to form and I'm thinking about just taking it out. I also can kind of smell gas?

Is this a very bad idea or what?

[Van Westervelt]

pics? am I the only clueless one here?

[Schniddy]

edited the post a little bit to make it more clear.
I'll try and get pictures.
So no one else has this bottle???

[lordofthewaters]

:stupid: Pretty mush hopeless without pics.

[rs4pro3]

Well on the passenger side rear, there is a canister that collects vapors from the fuel tank. so this is probally what you are talking about.

[Schniddy]

Well on the passenger side rear, there is a canister that collects vapors from the fuel tank. so this is probally what you are talking about.

eh, Thought it was collecting vapors from the gas. I'm guessing having a whole in it rubbing on the tires isnt' good at all.

I should replace it and get it welded back in probably?

[rs4pro3]

I don't know it's all part of the charcol canister system http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...07&hg=16&fg=10

[xLibelle]

thats your overflow tank. if you over filled and it got hot, the gas would expand into that tank. But its supposed to be on the passanger side??
it is such the item that is always there yet no one knows it.
the charcoal canister sits semi-under the brake MC. it filters vacuum intake to the tank.

[rs4pro3]

if you look at the hose routing, the fumes go from the tank to that canister, then the charcol canister vents fumes from it to the intake. On all my e30's that tank is on the Passenger side. There is a plastic cover that covers it so not many know it's there.

[Schniddy]

so the question now is, do i really need it?

[Garageaholic]

the carbon canister you're talking about?

pictures...

[Schniddy]

the carbon canister you're talking about?

pictures...

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...07&hg=16&fg=10

Its that, but from the looks of it on my car the hoses coming out of it are on the opposite end.

[Sean]

I'd say you do.

You're OEM one is gone?

I have no idea that was there, either! lol

[PeaveyBassist]

I think a lot of people don't know its there. I didnt know till a couple weeks ago when we swapped Heeter's gas tank at work. You should keep it there. It should stay up above the fender liner though.

Will

[Schniddy]

ya its still there, but its hanging down and has a HUGE hole in it now. Theres no way to bolt it back up unless I have it welded back. Does it matter if there is a hole in it since its just holding excess gas?