[muncie21]

#8 is your vent line. As fuel enters the tank, the air inside is displaced and leaves via the vent line. The charcoal cannister is there to capture the gas vapors, rather than discharging them to the atmosphere.

If you disconnect the vent line and you're able to fill your tank normally, you have something preventing air from escaping the vent line. Most cars have a 'purge' valve/solenoid in this line that controls when air is allowed to escape.


BMW may have built the purge valve into the charcoal canister, if so, see how the valve is actuated (power or vacuum) as the valve may be fine, but the actuation source may not be working. Could be as simple as you vent line is clogged too.

[Abax335]

No power going to a charcoal canister.

Used to be an issue with spider webs in older 7's, haven't seen lines cause this failure but that's just my personal experience

[924er]

Whatever I'll just live with this problem. It's not that bad. Typical BMW unnecessary fails

[Wingnut335]

I used to have gas pump issues, then recently all the Shell gas stations by me replaced their pumps. Now I never have any problems. I used to think something was wrong with my car since my BMW was the only one that ever had issues.

[Operator Mo]

This happens to me periodically. When it does, I have to adjust the angle of the nozzle, usually by holding it the entire time I'm filling, to prevent the auto-shut off from engaging early.

I find it happens mostly at one particular Chevron but that may be because I buy the majority of my gas there.

Having read through the thread, the plugged vent line seems like the probably cause. Certain nozzles must come to rest on the outlet of the vent line, reducing the volume of air escaping from the tank. This would impede the flow of gasoline into the tank causing gas to rise up the filler neck tripping the auto-shut off mechanism.

While driving through Oregon (mandatory full service), I stopped for gas and had to explain to the guy that topping it off should mean about 14 gals. If it stopped before then, he should pause filling for about 10 seconds, adjust the angle of the nozzle in the filler neck and resume fueling.

[Volkswagen1200]

Originally Posted by Volkswagen1200

I cannot get my cap off the car to refuel the car. I have tried to use a spanner on it as a lever and I have now broken the black cover off.

Why has the cap seized onto the car and could the tank be airlocked?

Any help appreciated.

I eventually got the fuel cap off by turning it as if I was closing it - I must have screwed it too far back in the first place, lol

[tdli]

Any concrete solutions to this issue? I have been experiencing the same on my '07 E93 and found that by lifting up the handle a bit and fill the tank while pump handle is at a more up-right angle fixes the issue. By doing this, I think I created a small space to allow air to escape from the tank, which is a similar solution to many has already proposed.

Still, I would like to know if there is a part that can be replaced or cleaned and make this issue go away?

[Street of Rage]

My e92 has this issue as well.... it gets annoying..

[gT-BMW]

i have the same problem with my 325i n52. i narrowed it down to the fuel tank vent valve. i also narrowed down the my oil burning issue to my ccv. i'll replace both when i can get a 3stage intake manifold for a fair price, so when i do i plan on replacing all of the above and i will update if it it changes anything.

[Street of Rage]

Originally Posted by gT-BMW

i have the same problem with my 325i n52. i narrowed it down to the fuel tank vent valve. i also narrowed down the my oil burning issue to my ccv. i'll replace both when i can get a 3stage intake manifold for a fair price, so when i do i plan on replacing all of the above and i will update if it it changes anything.

I replaced the tank vent/purge valve, gave me that code too.... probably is the breather line next to the vent valve..

This just irks me lol

[Jesda]

I used to have this problem constantly.

I finally decided to just let it stop filling when the car thought it was full (which is about half a tank). It then went away on its own.

[IllSic_Design]

This happens to me BUT, only with certain random pumps. I usually just angle the gas nozzle a different way then straight at my filler neck and it solves it, but not on some gas pumps.

[Eagle1oh7]

Let me ask you this: Is it really that serious?

[blown07]

I fixed this on my car by removing the charcoal canister. It felt solid so i banged the bottom of the canister against the ground (not crazy hard) to loosen up the pellets in the canister. On my next fill up the problem was solved. Used to take me 10 minutes and yes in the freezing cold this was a big deal.

[tcphoto]

Just turn the nozzle so the handle is on top when filling up. Problem solved.

[Street of Rage]

The code 3166 bothers me... lol

[BimmerNugget]

I've been having this problem on and off too. It only shoots out maybe 3-5 seconds of gas before it stops pumping as if it were full, but the whole tank is damn near empty. It doesn't happen at Bj's gas but happens every time at the BP gas station near my house. The solution is to not put the pump nozzle all the way into the tank. I like to stick it all the way in and then pull back the nozzle 2 inches. This works 90% of the time, I can fill up my tank without issue.

[Street of Rage]

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

I've been having this problem on and off too. It only shoots out maybe 3-5 seconds of gas before it stops pumping as if it were full, but the whole tank is damn near empty. It doesn't happen at Bj's gas but happens every time at the BP gas station near my house. The solution is to not put the pump nozzle all the way into the tank. I like to stick it all the way in and then pull back the nozzle 2 inches. This works 90% of the time, I can fill up my tank without issue.

I ma try that next time.

[jay-rock]

I had this problem for the first time yesterday at a Mobile station. I've filled up twice at a Texaco since buying this car and it was fine. I had to keep trying different angles with the pump handle. Pushed to the left and began to flow smooth after that.

I had an old Lexus RX that had the same problem. It would happen at nearly every pump. Going for different angles with the handle was the only was to keep it flowing.

[gT-BMW]

Originally Posted by Street of Rage

I replaced the tank vent/purge valve, gave me that code too.... probably is the breather line next to the vent valve..

This just irks me lol

I just replaced my fuel tank vent valve, put fuel and still the same issue. and the part that pisses me off i still gave the same code small evap leak. I dont see a leak i smoke tested the evap system there is no leak arrrrgghhh.

oh so the way how i combat this problem is that i use the fuel filler cap and have the fuel nozzle sort of trickle the fuel in the tank. takes just a lil bit longer to fuel the car but im free to check out my cars tires, engine, fluids, etc.

[Street of Rage]

My issue had been solved awhile ago...turned out to be charcoal canister.

Details below
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1535486

[blown07]

Originally Posted by Street of Rage

My issue had been solved awhile ago...turned out to be charcoal canister.

Details below
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1535486

You shouldn't need to replace the canister the pellets/spring loaded plate just seems to get "frozen". I have fixed this problem on both my cars by removing the canister and banging the bottom against a semi hard surface until the pellets and spring loaded plate inside free up. I could fill for about 1 second before shutting off and now I can do a full tank on full throttle.