What the hell is that...?

[BigD]

Hi guys, new here, bought an '87 325eS for a track project. Right now I'm curing all the problems it accumulated while sitting for over a year and I noticed it's got a fuel leak. Being from Toronto I paniced that fuel lines or the tank is rusted out but the underbody doesn't have a spot of rust, I love the West Coast!!! WHat's leaking is a short bit of fuel hose between the fuel filter and some odd thingamajig.

If no one can help by the time I get to it again tomorrow, I'll take a pic but it looks like a fuel regulator but I didn't see a return hose (unless I'm blind). It's just a little barrel thingy between the filter and the metal tubing.

Here's a pic of my car, I can't believe what good a shape it's in. The paint is almost as shiny as my brand new 4Runner to the left of it. The only rust is in the bottom license plate holes and a bit on the bottom edge of the front fenders. Somehow water got into the battery area. I don't see any rust down there, and the fenders are intact... I have to guess the trunk seals are not airtight..

[NickP]

The leaking part - is it a round thing just past the filter? Its called an absorber - I don't think you'll notice too much if you remove it.

The trunk leaks are typically caused by the tail light gaskets failing.

[delatlanta1281]

tail lights, strut gaskets, sunroof drain, and don't forget the ever elusive antenna mast gasket or grommet.

[BigD]

Nick,

Yeah that's the bit I'm talking about. I can't tell what exactly is leaking. All I see is the fuel hose between the absorber and filter is wet and starts leaking when under operating pressure. Do you think I should just get a length of hose and bypass the absorber or replace the absorber to filter hose?

Del, love the wheels! I want 17x8 compomotives with R compounds on mine after the S50 transplant.

Thanks,
D

[NickP]

Nick,

Yeah that's the bit I'm talking about. I can't tell what exactly is leaking. All I see is the fuel hose between the absorber and filter is wet and starts leaking when under operating pressure. Do you think I should just get a length of hose and bypass the absorber or replace the absorber to filter hose?

Del, love the wheels! I want 17x8 compomotives with R compounds on mine after the S50 transplant.

Thanks,
D

I replaced that part once ~$100 from the dealer. It rusted and started leaking again. I just bypassed it with a rubber hose and haven't noticed any adverse effects.

[BigD]

I replaced that part once ~$100 from the dealer. It rusted and started leaking again. I just bypassed it with a rubber hose and haven't noticed any adverse effects.

Perfect, thank you very much!

[nando]

if this part you guys are talking about is what I think it is, BMW now reccomends removing them and bypassing them like the above posters did. later cars don't have it, and it only causes trouble with the early ones. I don't think they sell it anymore either.