Changing the fuel filter this weekend on 95 M3. I know the basics of the procedure of clamping the lines and cleaning around the hoses from my Bentley manual. However I realize that there is going to be some fuel coming out of the filter itself. How much fuel should I be expecting to deal with? What are some of the better methods for dealing with cleaning up the spilled fuel? :smoke2:

Search on fuel filter and there should be some details on changing it. The only real danger is getting gas in your eyes. This can be avoided by
1. wearing eye protection
2. bleeding off the system pressure. This can be done in a couple ways.
3. Don't have your head directly beneath any of the hoses when you break their seal.
Have a catch can with you to recover any gass that leaks out. The filter will have a fair amount that you can recover.

4. and last but not least DON'T SMOKE while performing this procedure.

You really wont need to clamp any hoses if there is no pressure. Before starting the car, cycle the key to the on position a few times to pump fuel into the system again.

I forgot to mention, do this in a well ventilated area.

Well ventilated area is KEY!! I remember seeing some tests where they dumped some gasoline on the floor of a test structure. The gas evaporated, but the vapors travelled along the floor and were ignited by the pilot light on the water heater.

Anyway, to be safe, keep a fire extinguisher handy. Nothing worse than watching your car (and garage) burn.

The whole filter is going to basically be full of gas. It's not too bad, as long as you have something ready to catch the gas that spills, and to drop the filter into, so the gas inside doesn't dump out over everything. I'd suggest buying two little tubing clamps so you can pinch off the rubber tubing before disconnecting the filter. I've done it this way without depressurizing the fuel system, and haven't sprayed fuel all over the place.

It's not too bad of a job - just be sure you have a catch can, and some rags handy to wipe up any spills.

Jim

Jim, good point about the fumes. I remember learning about gas fues in the Junior fire patrol when I was a little kid. They guys at the fire house poured some gasoline in a vat that had a "ramp" extending out the side of it. They had a lit candle at the bottom of the ramp. When the fumes got to the bottom of the ramp POOF . Things like that you dont forget. Not to mention another disaster that I wont go into. It had nothing to do with cars but everything to do with LPG fumes.

A lot of flammable gas fumes are heavier than air. So be carefull out there guys.

when u take out the fuel filter from under the car...hold it sideways, cuz i kinda tilted mine and gas came guzzling out. i still had quite a bit of gas in it, so i just poured it back into my fuel tank

btw, did any of u guys get your filter from autozone? they sold me one that was like 3 inches shorter than the stock filter. i had to use another hose b/c the stock hoses wouldn't reach the new filter

got mine at bimmerparts.com. OEM Mahle. I used a small 1gal. gas can to catch any fuel from the filter and lines.

Originally posted by hkrobotics
when u take out the fuel filter from under the car...hold it sideways, cuz i kinda tilted mine and gas came guzzling out. i
I just put my finger over the end. Kept the gas from pouring out long enough for me to get the filter into a catch can. Helpful hint - don't use latex gloves if you're going to do this trick. Use nitrile or vinyl, otherwise the glove just falls apart...
btw, did any of u guys get your filter from autozone? they sold me one that was like 3 inches shorter than the stock filter. i had to use another hose b/c the stock hoses wouldn't reach the new filter
That might be the wrong filter. There are two filters in the books for the E36 - one is the long one that goes under the floor, right about under the driver's seat. Some earlier models of the E36 had a shorter filter in the engine compartment. Last time I bought a fuel filter from a good local parts place, the guy looked it up in his book and brought out the short filter. I asked the guy, and he said "OK", went back to the storeroom and brought out the longer one.

Jim