Broken hinge fuel filler cover E34SE 1994.

[tony2beemers]

For a while now each time I put fuel into the tank the cover has'nt remained open, as it should. Instead it springs back into the closed position , so it's necessary to hold it open in order to be able to insert the nozzle of the fuel filler each time I want to put gas into the tank.
I have discovered that the top piece of black plastic fitting that the hinge is attached to has snapped, and looking at it closely its not a repair job but a replacement part.
Does anybody have a useful site which would show me how to remove and replace the new hinge which I presume I should be able to source from a dealership? It looks a tricky little job as I cannot see any screws which hold it in place.
Thanks in advance of replies.
Tony (UK member)

[liquidtiger720]

Not sure of any sight. but if you buy the replacement part...its pretty easy to do.

[JD525IA]

that you're paying way too much for gas. ha ha

You know.......they should put a little flip-down mirror on every gas nozzle.
That way, you can watch yourself get ****ed at the pump.

[632 Regal]

Its easier to break the old hinge and remove it, the new one slides right in, you can get them at BMA.

[SharkmanBMW]

that you're paying way too much for gas. ha ha

You know.......they should put a little flip-down mirror on every gas nozzle.
That way, you can watch yourself get ****ed at the pump.


good one... fuel porn!

[tony2beemers]

that you're paying way too much for gas. ha ha

You know.......they should put a little flip-down mirror on every gas nozzle.
That way, you can watch yourself get ****ed at the pump.

And over here in the UK you can say that last line of your sentence again, and again, and again............ You see, our government believes in shafting its motoring population with high fuel taxes( in sterling the equivalent of $130 to fill my tank) in order to hand our money over to their deserving causes and I don't think I need to mention who they are here as I think you probably know what I mean. But us Brits must love it, cos we keep on voting them back into power. The odd thing is, I don't know anybody who does vote for them but then I'm lucky and don't have to live amongst the deserving causes.
Sorry to go off topic but it just pi$$es me off sometimes.
Thanks for your reply, Tony (UK)

[Alexlind123]

When i was traveling in sweden several years ago, the gas prices were much, much more than in the good 'ol US. In europe, the main problem is taxes, here its the oil producing countries who price gouge us and get rich. For example, its takes a mid-east country $3 a barrel, in cluding shipping to get it to the US. They then turn around and sell it to us for $63 a barrel. If they werent so greedy and did not have such a monopoly on the market, gas would cost, including tax, about 50 cents a gallon, and thats a conservative estimate.

[tony2beemers]

When i was traveling in sweden several years ago, the gas prices were much, much more than in the good 'ol US. In europe, the main problem is taxes, here its the oil producing countries who price gouge us and get rich. For example, its takes a mid-east country $3 a barrel, in cluding shipping to get it to the US. They then turn around and sell it to us for $63 a barrel. If they werent so greedy and did not have such a monopoly on the market, gas would cost, including tax, about 50 cents a gallon, and thats a conservative estimate.

In that case Alex - us Brits are being shafted more than we know. But I guess we were being shafted by the Romans when they were here. Nothing changes in this country except taxes. They just keep rising.

[Phil Sanderson]

...then remove the spring. Break off the old plastic hinge and then snap in the new one. Refit the spring and you're good to go - it's pretty easy.

regards
Phil

[632 Regal]

Lookin at that pic maybe his spring just popped out of position.

[tony2beemers]

Thanks Phil and Regal.
In Phil's image the top piece of plastic has snapped and has come away preventing it from supporting the hinge properly. As long as its easy to snap the old one then I shall buy the hinge first and have a bash at it. I must admit having had this car for nigh on 5 years and an E30 for 18 months, itwas quite a surprise to find a part like this breaking, as everything else in these cars are made to survive almost any amount of use. That's apart from tyres, suspension and exhaust systems.
Regards, Tony (UK)

[tony2beemers]

...then remove the spring. Break off the old plastic hinge and then snap in the new one. Refit the spring and you're good to go - it's pretty easy.

regards
Phil

Hi Phil,
I managed to source the part from a firm 40 miles away. They are www.linwar.com an excellent outfit who will ship all over the world. Take a look at their site, just for interest. With shipping and in sterling (£7.00) it cost me less than three and a half US dollars.
I have connected everything up and the flap is tightly in place. It opens and closes easily but just how do I get that steel spring back in place? It's obviously something that goes in last. If you cannot help, not to worry, I will see if a mechanic I know can do it. There is obviously a knack to it. Unfortunately I am no DIY man.

Thanks again for your help.
Tony (UK)

[Phil Sanderson]

...you half close the door and then fit the spring by fitting it in place on the car's body side and then you should be able to spread the spring open enough with your fingers to attach it to the door side. You can see that the spring goes into slots in the hinge plastic.
hope this helps.

regards
Phil

just how do I get that steel spring back in place?
Tony (UK)

[tony2beemers]

Thanks again Phil, been at it a good portion of the afternoon now, even had my wife trying her hands on touch but no use. I guess I will have to take it to the mechanic along the way from us.
You obviously have the knack! the main thing is that the lid closes and I don't think it will come open by itself. The guys who make these things never think of the ordinary Joe when they design them.
Regards tony.

[Gayle]

I must admit having had this car for nigh on 5 years and an E30 for 18 months, itwas quite a surprise to find a part like this breaking, as everything else in these cars are made to survive almost any amount of use. That's apart from tyres, suspension and exhaust systems.
Regards, Tony (UK)

Tony,

I think you have had a uniquely blessed BMW ownership experience. As a relative newbie to this forum, I am thinking perhaps you have not seen this list. We had a 525 we kept to 200,000 and it had a large number of these things break including the fuel door, the door restraint, and the glove box.


http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/trouble/what_will_break.htm


Here's hoping your good BMW karma continues.

Gayle

[tony2beemers]

Tony,

I think you have had a uniquely blessed BMW ownership experience. As a relative newbie to this forum, I am thinking perhaps you have not seen this list. We had a 525 we kept to 200,000 and it had a large number of these things break including the fuel door, the door restraint, and the glove box.


http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/trouble/what_will_break.htm


Here's hoping your good BMW karma continues.

Gayle
Thanks gayle and boy am I glad I had'nt seen the list the day after I bought it almost 5 years ago. I would have aged even more than I already have.
The engine on mine is the M50 and it was built in 1994, more recent than some of the engine types in the list. Plus she has only covered 82000 miles.
I began towing a caravan this summer, well I thought I've had it a few years and the value has long disappeared from this model so why not? I do expect the suspension to need rebuilding now that I am towing, although the weight of the van fully laden usually weighs no more than about 1150kgs. That having been said the engine is only the 520. Not available in the USA but over here in the UK they are everywhere.
There is just one thing that I have noticed and that is that the diodes that display whether she is in D for drive or R for reverse etc are not fully filling up and therefore show only part of the lettering. But what the heck, if that's all I have to worry about in comparison to what's on that list...........
I notice that in most magazines and professionally written articles that the E34 is described as being one of the toughest BMW's ever built. I think I might buy a Toyota next time. I can hear the groans from some of the board members already.
Thanks for the response and I must remind myself that, I will sleep tonight, I will sleep tonight, I will sleep tonightzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.