[m3pare]

Just wanted to give a special thanks to a few members on here who helped me out tonight with a fuel tank puncture situation. Shoutout to FrankiE90, longtran, armorrig, LBCeNINETEE, jzhang, cbbplanet, no34babyshaq & Bimmer Nerd! Thank you all for your support tonight, glad to be a part of the e90post family.


So, here's the story for anyone who's up for a read. Cliffs at the bottom.


I decided to venture out tonight from SGV towards Santa Monica area to attend a meet I've never been to at Little Hong Kong Cafe on Sawtelle/Olympic. Drove around the area, didn't see the restaurant nor any parking so decided to just head back home. Heading back to the 10E on local streets, I smelled gasoline and knew something was up. I checked the fuel gauge and was shocked. (Filled up earlier today, drove 30 miles to Santa Monica, and the needle was just above 1/2 tank. ) I now am certain I'm leaking fuel, and start looking back at the side mirror to see if I'm leaving a trail of gas. Nothing I could make out. I hop onto the 10E and shit starts happening.


I start to panic as I'm not sure whether I'll be able to make it home or not at the rate I'm leaking fuel. Flow of traffic was pretty bad, going ~20-30MPH due to an accident 6ish miles up. (Saw the ambulances getting there on the way to the meet.) I'm on the second to the right lane when a white Tahoe creeps up to my ass, high beams me, cuts off the driver to his left to get next to me, and starts honking to get my attention. In his exact words, "Ey bro, you're leaking a LOT of gas! You gotta pull the f*ck over." I reply with a thank you for alerting me and that I had no clue it was that bad. He takes off and now others are honking at me, flashing their lights, etc. to get my attention. I manage to get one lane over and get off at the next exit on Fairfax. Made a right and discovered a Mobil gas station past Washington; I pull into there behind the closed service bay and get out to inspect underneath the car. No dripping.


I then call AAA roadside assistance to just tow the damn thing home and not worry about driving it. I give them my info and they ask me why I need it towed. After telling them it's leaking fuel, they connect me with the local fire department as they can't tow a car that's leaking fuel until it's inspected and cleared. As I finish up giving them my location, another E36 M3 pulls up next to me and the guy says he pulled in and saw the yellow E36 wondering if it was for sale. Turns out this guy is also an E36 enthusiast and so I tell him what happened and inquire his opinion on what to do.


A few minutes later, three firetrucks arrive and 6-7 firefighters jump out to inspect the fuel leak. They pull out their gigantic maglight and find a dent in the tank, as well as a small crease on the side. The E36 guy informs them where the fuel line runs and directs them to the engine bay. The lead fireman recommends I tow it home to be safe and call back AAA letting them know they verified it's fine to tow. They take off and the E36 guy continues inspecting the fuel tank/lines. He shares his verdict then asks me about the vehicle and what I've done to it so far. I share my mods with him and tell him about the forums I'm on. He tells me he's excited to join and learn more on the forums, we exchange numbers, and he leaves.


I then again contact AAA and they give me an ETA for the flatbed to come in 30-40 minutes. During that time period, I decide to take a picture of the car with the Mobil sign in the back and upload it on Facebook, because as the saying goes, "It's not offical until it's on Facebook." I caption the photo that I'm stuck on Fairfax/Washington at a Mobil due to a fuel tank leak followed by a sad smilie face. FrankiE90 quickly replies and asks if I need a ride, followed by some advice on how to avoid danger in the ghetto.


At this point, I receive a call from AAA stating the next flatbed will arrive in no more than 3 hours, making it 1:10 from that point. LBCeNINETEE also offered to drive over and hang out while waiting for the flatbed to arrive after I post that ridiculous wait time. Thanks Frankie and Gerald!! Then I receive some notifications that jzhang and armorrig posted something about Cathy Nguyen and having a photoshoot at the Mobil. Thanks again John and Gus, cheered me up a bit.


Time passed by and I saw at LEAST 2 AAA tow trucks pass by, one for sure being a flatbed. I decided to call AAA again and ask (more like bitch) why it's taking so goddamn long. They get a flatbed from another company and send it over in no more than 15 minutes. Finally, the flatbed arrives at 11:13PM. As the tow truck operator loads the vehicle onto the flatbed, I snap some quick shots and post an update on Facebook about the bumper/lip scraping. lol. no34babyshaq expresses his concern along with cbbplanet and Bimmer Nerd. Thanks Justin, Christina, and Nick!


The car's now loaded up, secured, and ready to be delivered. It's getting mad late and I hate to bother him at that hour, but did it anyway. longtran just got back home from his shop, LTBMW, tired from a long day when I called him. Asked him if I could tow the vehicle to LTBMW and he said yes! Still feel bad for making him driving out all the way back to the shop after he just got home to relax. Thanks so much Long!!!
So now the car sits at LTBMW to be further inspected.


Sorry for the long post. Typing out this mini-essay helped relieve some stress.


Cliff Notes:
1. Car starts leaking fuel on the way home. (~30 miles away)
2. Park at nearest gas station to get it towed.
3. AAA needs fire dept. to come out and verify it's safe to tow
4. Takes AAA long ass time to get a flatbed over.
5. Meanwhile, I post on Facebook what just happened.
6. I also meet this E36 enthusiast and we talk for a bit.
7. Facebook keeps me busy while waiting for a tow truck.
8. Tow truck takes vehicle to LTBMW.
9. Thanks to FrankiE90, longtran, armorrig, LBCeNINETEE, jzhang, cbbplanet, no34babyshaq, & Bimmer Nerd for the support.
10. Long night. Time to knockout and visit LTBMW tomorrow afternoon.

[Mahhvinn]

Man, sorry about the car Joe. Hopefully it'll be a quick and easy fix.

[FrankiE90]

u smell'd to much gas.

Originally Posted by FrankiE90

wait wait.
JB sos, update.

[OC Guy]

Good story telling. Glad everything is okay, hopefully the bill isn't too bad.

Not to be a fanboy but this is why Long is just the man. I understand you can never make everyone happy but when stuff goes down, Long's always willing to help to go the extra mile.

[armorrig]

Hope to see you back on the road soon my Dakar twin!!! (no homo)

[Joonsup]

pick n pull time. wooooooohooooooo

[1013mm]

at least you got home finally man geez.... the towing company needs to work faster............

[m3pare]

Originally Posted by M_Truong

Man, sorry about the car Joe. Hopefully it'll be a quick and easy fix.

thanks Marvin! i hope it'll be quick and easy too.

Originally Posted by FrankiE90

u smell'd to much gas.

the stench is 10x worse sitting in the car.

Originally Posted by OC 335i

Good story telling. Glad everything is okay, hopefully the bill isn't too bad.

Not to be a fanboy but this is why Long is just the man. I understand you can never make everyone happy but when stuff goes down, Long's always willing to help to go the extra mile.

thanks John. totally agree on that part. Long's always there to help and lend a hand when shit happens.

Originally Posted by armorrig

Hope to see you back on the road soon my Dakar twin!!! (no homo)

lol thanks Dakar twin. boy, these cars are a handful huh?

Originally Posted by joonsup

pick n pull time. wooooooohooooooo

will visit pick-a-part and other yards asap.

Originally Posted by jzhang

at least you got home finally man geez.... the towing company needs to work faster............

tow company fail.

[Joonsup]

so if you parked in long's shop, what car got the boot for the night

[1013mm]

longs m3?!

[m3pare]

Originally Posted by joonsup

so if you parked in long's shop, what car got the boot for the night

not sure but frankie's is all the way in, and i'm right below your m3 on the lift. then ivans mustang is on the side.

[Joonsup]

Originally Posted by josephbryan

not sure but frankie's is all the way in, and i'm right below your m3 on the lift. then ivans mustang is on the side.

lol long's car used to sit below mine.

[m3pare]

oops. haha it's possible to fit 3 cars on the bottom. it's been done with two e36 m3's and an e39 m5, then long's m3 on the lift.

[OC Guy]

Maybe Long drove the M3 or someone else is driving it.

[m3pare]

fwiw, long drove the tundra when i met him at the shop

[jhv]

so much

[FrankiE90]

lets hope Long didn't smoke in the morning....

.....Long?......
kabooom!!!!!!!!


don't have to worry bout my JB E90 anymore.
good job JB.

[m3pare]

haha he was smoking already when i gave him the reds hard waiting for the car to be unloaded

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by FrankiE90

lets hope Long didn't smoke in the morning....

.....Long?......
kabooom!!!!!!!!


don't have to worry bout my JB E90 anymore.
good job JB.

Reminded me Die Hard 2....

JB....so much love here

[MrChessy]

"We are family..."?

[SES_D]

lol! nice write up JB...good shit hahahha