2001 BMW 3 Series FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE WELDS ON THE FRONT (PASSENGER SIDE) FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP FITTING (WELDED TO THE UNDER SIDE OF THE BODY) BROKE AWAY ALLOWING THE SUPPORT STRAP TO FALL, CONTACT, BEND BACKWARD AND SCRAPE ALONG THE ROAD SURFACE CAUSING SPARKS. THE TANK WAS FULL OF FUEL, AND THE WEIGHT OF THE TANK CAUSED IT TO SAG DOWNWARD TOWARD THE ROAD SURFACE. FORTUNATELY IT DID NOT BREAK OR CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SEEK ASSISTANCE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF NOT CORRECTED. I AM REPORTING IT BECAUSE AFTER THIS EVENT I LEARNED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE IN THIS MODEL BMW. *TR

1) CAR WOULD NOT START, FUSE BLOWN ON FUEL PUMP. (NO. 1 ORIGINAL) TOWED TO MECHANIC. 2) MECHANIC REPLACES FUEL PUMP. (NO.2) 3) RETURN CAR TO DRIVEWAY WHERE IT SITS OVER NIGHT. CAR WON'T START. TOWED IT TO MECHANIC. REPLACED FUEL PUMP, AND HE ALLOWS IT TO SIT IN HIS GARAGE OVER NIGHT. (NO.3) 4) CAR WON'T START. HE THOROUGHLY CHECKS THE CAR FOR PROBLEMS, REPLACES THE FUEL PUMP, EMPTYING FUEL TANK, REPLACING WITH NEW GASOLINE. (NO.4) MECHANIC CUT OPENED THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP AND FOUND THAT THE IMPELLER HAD SWOLLEN. THIS SUGGESTED TO HIM THAT THE HIGH ETHANOL CONTENT FUEL WAS SWELLING THE IMPELLER. HE TRIED USING BOTH BMW PARTS AND AFTER MARKET PARTS. THIS ISN'T NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE AGE OF THE CAR. HE SAVED THE FUEL PUMP AND A GASOLINE SAMPLE. *TR