Fuel Tank woes / is this salvageable?

[msauls]

Hello- I'm requesting some guidance on my options regarding what i've found with my fuel tank on my 1986 535i.

Purchased cheap, not running. Thinking there's not much i couldnt handle regardign getting the car to run, at least- I've been going thru the normal procedures with my Bentley manual and this site.
I currently am with the in-tank transfer pump; I pop open the cover in my relatively clean trunk and find this:



Cleaned and vacuumed a bit:



One of the connectors had rotted/rusted/oxidized off and it looks to be a mess of rust and corrosion. So, down and off comes the tank.

Tank seems in ok condition, minus the top area where the pump access is and the vent lines (worst). Nothing seems to be rusted thru at initial inspection, but not sure if this is worth salvaging? A wire brush and elbow grease will clean this up a bit but will it be in condition enough to be usable??

Broken connector (should be easy enough to fix/replace):





Vent lines:



Overall:



Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated.
There are a couple of E24's at a salvage yard in town- I may head over this weekend and scavage one if they seem ok? Dunno yet.

(This is my first post. I've been reading here for invaluble info for a while now. [so, thx] I will probably try to document my car here in another thread once past this hurdle)

[Kyle in NO]

Hard to tell with no pictures.

[msauls]

Sorry- photo permissions corrected.

Hard to tell with no pictures.

[John in VA]

I can't imagine you could find a tank in worse condition. Have you checked the For sale/wanted section for one? Car-parts.com?

[oldskool]

I wouldn't wish that tank on my worst enemy.

[Mike W.]

I wouldn't wish that tank on my worst enemy.

I would, but maybe I have worse enemies.

Seriously though on the tank, if you can find a good one, do it, replace it. Even if it isn't rusted thru yet, it will be, and it doesn't take much of a gas leak to create a big odor. Any idea how it got like that? A saltwater flood or something or is that just what it is like on the gulf coast?

[msauls]

.... Any idea how it got like that? A saltwater flood or something or is that just what it is like on the gulf coast?

No idea, but its not from around here. Its a midwest car, and truthfully im surprised the car isnt worse in general (rust-wise). Odd thing is; inside trunk and underneath, wheelwell, bumper piston mounts, etc...its pretty clean. The vent line area and filter/pump bracket was toast tho....and of course right here on the top plate of the pump.

Thanks for the thoughts- I'm not wanting to shell $$$ for a new one since im not sure if the car is worth saving yet.

I've read here that e24's have the same tank, so ive located a few in salvage yards ill go take a look at this weekend.

[John in VA]

METAL FUEL TANK - 63L - part # 16-11-1-176-518
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partxre ... 6111176518

Part 16111176518 was found on the following vehicles:
5' E12   (07/1978 — 07/1981)
5' E28   (05/1981 — 12/1987)
6' E24   (09/1977 — 04/1989)

[a]

That is not so bad. I think i see cracks in the filler beside the vent tubes. Wire brushing rusty areas are bound to reveal pin holes. JB Weld is what I used to fix them. Bigger holes, I used JB Weld gas tank repair If the tank gauge works a little soldering should create a ground lug on the pump top. I have had great success re habbing the transfer pumps. I started taking apart dead pumps and found that all it was was a worn out brush. I harvested a brush from another dead pump to fix it.

[msauls]

Me on way to salvage yard: hmm, they must drain all those tanks for all those cars.... Of course they would have to. I wonder how they do it. Naah, that's too much trouble.

Me at the salvage yard, under a 635csi: oh. well, they drilled 3 holes in this serviceable tank to drain it. That's how.

Me: back to the drawing board.

[dcains]

I saw a nice one on eBay tonight. $75 buy-it-now, plus $45 shipping.

[msauls]

I saw a nice one on eBay tonight. $75 buy-it-now, plus $45 shipping.

Thx, got my eye on it. (... And hoping no one else here needs one!)

[msauls]

Update: while I'll see what is salvageable from the orig tank and equip; I've now got a replacement on the way for the tank, (new) pump, sending unit and maybe something i can use for the pump carrier thing (cant believe how $$$ those things are to replace new).

I'll likely show any further work done on the vehicle in some kind other all-encompassing thread.

Thanks for all your thoughts and direction regarding the tank!

[tn535i]

they drilled 3 holes in this serviceable tank to drain it. That's how.

I guess drilling three holes is easier than removing the drain screw. I might be inclined to have three holes repaired before trying to fix that old rusty tank. What kind of price do they ask for a tank with holes drilled in it ? Might be cheap cheap and having the holes repaired not too much either.

[msauls]

Left the triple tapped one out there. For a second I thought about repairing the holes, but was fed up by the time I found them.
Having a useable used one shipped to me.

[pdcollins]

I have a question, hopefully someone here can help me out.

On RealOEM, there are two other part numbers you can find for 63L metal fuel tanks:

16111153153 and 16111150242

These are both considerably cheaper than the listed part on RealOEM, and part 16111153153 says it's "exchangeable retrospectively." Would I be able to use either of these for a replacement tank, and what's the difference between these 3 part numbers?

[tn535i]

Just a guess.. some regions don't require the more elaborate evaporative recovery system and associated extra lines. You should be able to use BMWFans or RealOEM to see usage and determine if they have the same mounting straps, pump fitting, caps and such. Then if true and you are OK with deleting some of that it's up to you.

[msauls]

I have a question, hopefully someone here can help me out.

On RealOEM, there are two other part numbers you can find for 63L metal fuel tanks:

16111153153 and 16111150242

These are both considerably cheaper than the listed part on RealOEM, and part 16111153153 says it's "exchangeable retrospectively." Would I be able to use either of these for a replacement tank, and what's the difference between these 3 part numbers?

I found only (using BMW PNPC) bluntech having those two parts available, and yes at a substantially lesser price. But I did not call to see what the deal was there, all other dealers/distributors claimed that part number as unavailable. I found my replacement before reaching that point. Maybe call bluntech and see?

[msauls]

Update on the tank- just FYI if anyone is still interested.

I got it open last night, 3 of the studs had broken off of the sender mount during the process. The top really was bad. BUT, the really sad part is- The inside of the tank was immaculate...sender and the pump carrier as well. All unusable because of the upper exterior. (forgot a pic of the tank inside, reeealy clean.) Sucks. I guess when the replacement tank arrives i can compare it with this one/and fixing its problems.

tank = bad : exterior rust around vent lines, potential failure/thru rust.
sender = bad : elec conn disentigrated.
pump hanger/pickup assembly = bad : mounting bolts snapped off.

I think i have all three in usuable shape being shipped to me at the moment. we'll see...

[Mike W.]

they drilled 3 holes in this serviceable tank to drain it. That's how.

I guess drilling three holes is easier than removing the drain screw. I might be inclined to have three holes repaired before trying to fix that old rusty tank. What kind of price do they ask for a tank with holes drilled in it ? Might be cheap cheap and having the holes repaired not too much either.

Around here I don't think they let them have wrenches, they just beat a hole in it with a hammer and chisel. Low tech at it's extreme.

[pdcollins]

I have a question, hopefully someone here can help me out.

On RealOEM, there are two other part numbers you can find for 63L metal fuel tanks:

16111153153 and 16111150242

These are both considerably cheaper than the listed part on RealOEM, and part 16111153153 says it's "exchangeable retrospectively." Would I be able to use either of these for a replacement tank, and what's the difference between these 3 part numbers?

I found only (using BMW PNPC) bluntech having those two parts available, and yes at a substantially lesser price. But I did not call to see what the deal was there, all other dealers/distributors claimed that part number as unavailable. I found my replacement before reaching that point. Maybe call bluntech and see?

I talked to sales at bluntech, they told me that the cheap tanks are only in their catalog because their catalog is based on a BMW parts database that is not always properly updated. Apparently if you try to order one of the cheaper tanks, they will automatically redirect you to the current and more expensive tank.

[msauls]

I talked to sales at bluntech, they told me that the cheap tanks are only in their catalog because their catalog is based on a BMW parts database that is not always properly updated. Apparently if you try to order one of the cheaper tanks, they will automatically redirect you to the current and more expensive tank.

Intresting. Thanks for the clarification.

[steve 87 535is]

Posting from Buffalo, NY: I've seen/had worse tanks. The actual tank doesn't look too bad. I would have just tried the sending unit/pump part to see if it started. Which should have been in the punctured yard tanks. Hell, my 85 735's tank looked the same about ten years ago. A little JB Weld in the right spots with some clean up and paint- good enough.

Good luck with the new to you stuff.

[msauls]

Posting from Buffalo, NY: I've seen/had worse tanks. The actual tank doesn't look too bad. I would have just tried the sending unit/pump part to see if it started. Which should have been in the punctured yard tanks......
Good luck with the new to you stuff.

Yeah, looked in the tank on the 6series at the yard. It had all be taken. Thanks for the luck, i think i may need it.

On another note: sender arrived- but... seems that its for a diff tank.


I checked the part #'s and could have swore e30 and e28 used the same sender. guess i was wrong.

[tn535i]

The earliest e30 (like the 84 we have) used the same tall sender as the e28/24 but then they changed the back seat (more cushion) and made the tank shallower. The 84 in my basement came with the short one in it IIRC, probably replaced. I think there may be 3 versions of the e30 tank where they then changed to an in tank main pump but I think it used the shorter level sender.

That e30 sender will work and you will have a really big reserve fuel volume. Might be just what you want if your wife and kids drive the car just don't tell them.

[msauls]

The earliest e30 (like the 84 we have) used the same tall sender as the e28/24 but then they changed the back seat (more cushion) and made the tank shallower. The 84 in my basement came with the short one in it IIRC, probably replaced. I think there may be 3 versions of the e30 tank where they then changed to an in tank main pump but I think it used the shorter level sender.

That e30 sender will work and you will have a really big reserve fuel volume. Might be just what you want if your wife and kids drive the car just don't tell them.

Haha, great- Interesting, thanks for the info. Yeah, this one seems to function perfectly so I'll use it til i run across a correct one. Easy enough to change out at least.