Help Source Fuel Tank
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89 190E 2.6 Blue, 89 190E 2.6, teal green, 99 SL500 Sport
The car was absolutely trashed. Cylinder head had been pulled years ago, surface rust on pistons. Front end was covered in spider webs and weeds.
I got the front bumper (which had fog light holes cut into it), spare tire cover/carpet and some other odds and ends. My buddy grabbed the rear bumper impact (16V specific)
Thanks to SEC560 for the heads up about the car. I think he's going to come and pull some of the other goodies on there.
By the time I got there another guy had taken the front seat backs and rear seat bottoms and the fuel injection system/intake manifold.
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1991 190E 2.3
I would suggest you clean your gas tank sooner rather than later so none of the crud in your gas tank winds up plugging up the rest of the system and causing even more trouble.
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2008 E320 Bluetec, 1987 190e 2.6, 2007 CL600
Im thinking that if the strainer (2014700506) fits multiple models then I could use a hose from one of those cars.
Last edited by BetterDaze; Sep 16, 2021 at 02:57 PM.
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190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
BetterDaze why are you replacing the tank to pump hose? Is it damaged in any way.
Check and see if the 2.3L 8V part is the same as the 2.6L 12V hose.
If so I maybe able to help you.
-Cheers!
Check and see if the 2.3L 8V part is the same as the 2.6L 12V hose.
If so I maybe able to help you.
-Cheers!
Last edited by dolucasi; Sep 20, 2021 at 10:14 PM.
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2008 E320 Bluetec, 1987 190e 2.6, 2007 CL600
It’s not damaged im just being overly cautious since I’ve had bad luck with brittle hoses in the past. I once broke a fuel line and my car was stuck in my friends driveway for a week. Just trying to prevent that same scenario since I don’t have my own space to do this job.
A handful of models from this era use the same strainer and fuel pumps, I don’t see why that particular hose couldn’t also be interchangeable especially from another 201.
I guess I’ll go ahead with the tank removal when my parts come and reach back out if things do go wrong.
A handful of models from this era use the same strainer and fuel pumps, I don’t see why that particular hose couldn’t also be interchangeable especially from another 201.
I guess I’ll go ahead with the tank removal when my parts come and reach back out if things do go wrong.
Last edited by BetterDaze; Sep 16, 2021 at 09:24 PM.
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
That hose appear to not be a wear item out here in California. Maybe milder climate helps with no freeze, road salt etc.
So if I were you, I would not change it until it is leaking. It is probably overdesigned as most fuel lines are for safety and there is no pressure on it.
A red car with a palomino interior showed up at a junk yard near me, and a went and picked a couple of plastic parts for the bottom of the manual seats I was missing (manual seat specific).
Long story short, I checked the plumbing near the gas tank for you and sure enough someone took everything (pumps, filter, Accumulator) except that hose was left there. Probably did not have the plumbers wrench or a special tool to remove it. It is indeed size 22 nut but no way one can get to it. Of course I did not bring my tool so it is still sitting there. I'll take it next trip hopefully before the car get's crushed.
- Cheers!
So if I were you, I would not change it until it is leaking. It is probably overdesigned as most fuel lines are for safety and there is no pressure on it.
A red car with a palomino interior showed up at a junk yard near me, and a went and picked a couple of plastic parts for the bottom of the manual seats I was missing (manual seat specific).
Long story short, I checked the plumbing near the gas tank for you and sure enough someone took everything (pumps, filter, Accumulator) except that hose was left there. Probably did not have the plumbers wrench or a special tool to remove it. It is indeed size 22 nut but no way one can get to it. Of course I did not bring my tool so it is still sitting there. I'll take it next trip hopefully before the car get's crushed.
- Cheers!
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2008 E320 Bluetec, 1987 190e 2.6, 2007 CL600
Gotcha and much appreciated! I’ll leave it alone then. That hose just screws into the strainer right? Then in order to get the tank out, the strainer and retaining nuts need to be removed?
what about those other two hoses attached to the tank? Does the tank just come off of them or are there some clamps under the car I’ll need to undo?
what about those other two hoses attached to the tank? Does the tank just come off of them or are there some clamps under the car I’ll need to undo?
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
Here is my recollection:
- Remove the retaining bolts to the body from the trunk
- remove and slide the rubber hose around filler neck (be prepared to replace this it may have deteriorated)
- Remove the rubber hose clamp to the L shaped elbow before the first pump. Pull the fuel line off that elbow and be prepared to drain the tank so have a bucket ready.
- Now at this point you may think you can jostle the tank and get it out of the trunk. No dice! You will have to remove the hose feeder from below using some sort of 22mm open spanner or the plumbers wrench from below. It is really tight in there. I am going to try to remove this one in the JY on Saturday and let you know if the plumbers wrench works.
Good luck!
- Remove the retaining bolts to the body from the trunk
- remove and slide the rubber hose around filler neck (be prepared to replace this it may have deteriorated)
- Remove the rubber hose clamp to the L shaped elbow before the first pump. Pull the fuel line off that elbow and be prepared to drain the tank so have a bucket ready.
- Now at this point you may think you can jostle the tank and get it out of the trunk. No dice! You will have to remove the hose feeder from below using some sort of 22mm open spanner or the plumbers wrench from below. It is really tight in there. I am going to try to remove this one in the JY on Saturday and let you know if the plumbers wrench works.
Good luck!
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
OK, so I did go over the weekend and took that tank to pump hose. With the plumbers wrench I sent the link of, easy pezy. Adjustable open end wrench did not work for me.
So here is a completion of the steps and yes those 2 other hoses need to come out to. One is the charcoal canister return line, I have no idea what the other one is. Make sure and take the picture of which one is which as one has a check valve on it. You do not want to cross them up during installation.
- Remove the retaining bolts to the body from the trunk
- remove and slide the rubber hose around filler neck (be prepared to replace this it may have deteriorated)
- Remove the rubber hose clamp to the L shaped elbow before the first pump. Pull the fuel line off that elbow and be prepared to drain the tank so have a bucket ready.
- Now at this point you may think you can jostle the tank and get it out of the trunk. No dice! You will have to remove the hose feeder from below using the plumbers sink wrench from below. It is actually a pretty loose fitting because it does not need to be that tight (like the sink faucet) (I would not overtighten it in the installation either or you will be looking for a new tank pronto.
-Lastly there are 2 short hoses with simple pressure clamps on them, you will need to remove these too.
- You need to also remove the 4" by 9" rubber protection, that just pulls out.
- You are ready to jostle the tank any remove it from the trunk
So here is a completion of the steps and yes those 2 other hoses need to come out to. One is the charcoal canister return line, I have no idea what the other one is. Make sure and take the picture of which one is which as one has a check valve on it. You do not want to cross them up during installation.
- Remove the retaining bolts to the body from the trunk
- remove and slide the rubber hose around filler neck (be prepared to replace this it may have deteriorated)
- Remove the rubber hose clamp to the L shaped elbow before the first pump. Pull the fuel line off that elbow and be prepared to drain the tank so have a bucket ready.
- Now at this point you may think you can jostle the tank and get it out of the trunk. No dice! You will have to remove the hose feeder from below using the plumbers sink wrench from below. It is actually a pretty loose fitting because it does not need to be that tight (like the sink faucet) (I would not overtighten it in the installation either or you will be looking for a new tank pronto.
-Lastly there are 2 short hoses with simple pressure clamps on them, you will need to remove these too.
- You need to also remove the 4" by 9" rubber protection, that just pulls out.
- You are ready to jostle the tank any remove it from the trunk
Last edited by dolucasi; Sep 21, 2021 at 04:12 PM.
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2008 E320 Bluetec, 1987 190e 2.6, 2007 CL600
Appreciate the breakdown dolucasi! And thanks for retrieving that NLA hose should I need it.
Waiting on the strainer to arrive and I also ordered the POR15 fuel tank restoration kit, should be ready to do this project by the weekend.
Waiting on the strainer to arrive and I also ordered the POR15 fuel tank restoration kit, should be ready to do this project by the weekend.
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1991 190E 2.3
This looks nasty. I would suggest checking your fuel filter to see if it's also full of this same crud and I would also suggest flushing your entire fuel system because crud like this can cause all kinds if trouble.
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
I would actually take apart the whole plumbing down there (Fuel pumps, accumulator, filter, hoses etc) and flush everything.
I just replaced my filter and swapped in another accumulator and there was a lot of bad fuel (nothing like yours but with some water) that came out from the tank side of the accumulator connection.
If you think about it that fuel is from the tank and has been there for ages as the accumulator does not allow fuel flow in the reverse direction.
I just replaced my filter and swapped in another accumulator and there was a lot of bad fuel (nothing like yours but with some water) that came out from the tank side of the accumulator connection.
If you think about it that fuel is from the tank and has been there for ages as the accumulator does not allow fuel flow in the reverse direction.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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1991 190E 2.3
I would actually take apart the whole plumbing down there (Fuel pumps, accumulator, filter, hoses etc) and flush everything.
I just replaced my filter and swapped in another accumulator and there was a lot of bad fuel (nothing like yours but with some water) that came out from the tank side of the accumulator connection.
If you think about it that fuel is from the tank and has been there for ages as the accumulator does not allow fuel flow in the reverse direction.
I just replaced my filter and swapped in another accumulator and there was a lot of bad fuel (nothing like yours but with some water) that came out from the tank side of the accumulator connection.
If you think about it that fuel is from the tank and has been there for ages as the accumulator does not allow fuel flow in the reverse direction.
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2008 E320 Bluetec, 1987 190e 2.6, 2007 CL600
I had replaced the accumulator, filter, pumps and all a few weeks ago and none of the rust had made it past the first fuel pump. Only drove it a handful of short distances since but I’ll check again and flush.
I put things on hold a couple days. I underestimated how far up into the bottom of the car that fuel tank exit hose was and the fitting was pretty corroded.
I put things on hold a couple days. I underestimated how far up into the bottom of the car that fuel tank exit hose was and the fitting was pretty corroded.
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2008 E320 Bluetec, 1987 190e 2.6, 2007 CL600
Revisiting stall issue
Alright fellow enthusiasts I am back with an update after taking a break from the car.
I ordered a fuel tank from a 91 model for my 87 and it didn’t fit! My original fuel tank was flat in the back and it seems late model tanks have a arch in them which I can can only assume was a anti crumble safety feature that was updated in the latter half of w201s.
Instead I just cleaned the tank I already had and reinstalled it. The fuel tank screen was stuck and it feels as if it’ll break off into the tank so I left it alone…
Refilled the car with about 10 gallons of gas made sure battery voltage was good and went on my first drive of the year. Didn’t even make it to the next light and we are back stalling but a lot sooner than before. It will idle maybe 1-2 minutes before it stalls out.
The fuel pumps are extremely loud and may have gotten reclogged before I had cleaned the tank out. Soon I will undo that entire system under the car and clean it out.
what do your fuel pumps sound like, Can you hear them at all times when the car is running?
-sent from my iPhone
I ordered a fuel tank from a 91 model for my 87 and it didn’t fit! My original fuel tank was flat in the back and it seems late model tanks have a arch in them which I can can only assume was a anti crumble safety feature that was updated in the latter half of w201s.
Instead I just cleaned the tank I already had and reinstalled it. The fuel tank screen was stuck and it feels as if it’ll break off into the tank so I left it alone…
Refilled the car with about 10 gallons of gas made sure battery voltage was good and went on my first drive of the year. Didn’t even make it to the next light and we are back stalling but a lot sooner than before. It will idle maybe 1-2 minutes before it stalls out.
The fuel pumps are extremely loud and may have gotten reclogged before I had cleaned the tank out. Soon I will undo that entire system under the car and clean it out.
what do your fuel pumps sound like, Can you hear them at all times when the car is running?
-sent from my iPhone
Last edited by BetterDaze; Apr 1, 2022 at 09:47 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,995
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1991 190E 2.3
Alright fellow enthusiasts I am back with an update after taking a break from the car.
I ordered a fuel tank from a 91 model for my 87 and it didn’t fit! My original fuel tank was flat in the back and it seems late model tanks have a arch in them which I can can only assume was a anti crumble safety feature that was updated in the latter half of w201s.
Instead I just cleaned the tank I already had and reinstalled it. The fuel tank screen was stuck and it feels as if it’ll break off into the tank so I left it alone…
Refilled the car with about 10 gallons of gas made sure battery voltage was good and went on my first drive of the year. Didn’t even make it to the next light and we are back stalling but a lot sooner than before. It will idle maybe 1-2 minutes before it stalls out.
The fuel pumps are extremely loud and may have gotten reclogged before I had cleaned the tank out. Soon I will undo that entire system under the car and clean it out.
what do your fuel pumps sound like, Can you hear them at all times when the car is running?
-sent from my iPhone
I ordered a fuel tank from a 91 model for my 87 and it didn’t fit! My original fuel tank was flat in the back and it seems late model tanks have a arch in them which I can can only assume was a anti crumble safety feature that was updated in the latter half of w201s.
Instead I just cleaned the tank I already had and reinstalled it. The fuel tank screen was stuck and it feels as if it’ll break off into the tank so I left it alone…
Refilled the car with about 10 gallons of gas made sure battery voltage was good and went on my first drive of the year. Didn’t even make it to the next light and we are back stalling but a lot sooner than before. It will idle maybe 1-2 minutes before it stalls out.
The fuel pumps are extremely loud and may have gotten reclogged before I had cleaned the tank out. Soon I will undo that entire system under the car and clean it out.
what do your fuel pumps sound like, Can you hear them at all times when the car is running?
-sent from my iPhone
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2008 E320 Bluetec, 1987 190e 2.6, 2007 CL600
Yes, tough lesson for sure! Time and money wasted but I’ve accepted that will happen occasionally with a rolling restoration. I think most likely it is the fuel tank screen being blocked internally. The last time I changed the pumps most of the debris was caught between it and the first fuel pump.
Sad thing is no shop will touch it for the reasons previously stated. I mean I could try and crank it off and hope for the best but could end up needing another fuel tank in the end. Like you said it is getting expensive but I have plenty of patience and won’t ever give up on the car, this should be the last thing needed to get it back on the road faithfully.
Just sort of stuck at the moment….I might have to just wait until I can find another fuel tank matching my exact year/model.
Sad thing is no shop will touch it for the reasons previously stated. I mean I could try and crank it off and hope for the best but could end up needing another fuel tank in the end. Like you said it is getting expensive but I have plenty of patience and won’t ever give up on the car, this should be the last thing needed to get it back on the road faithfully.
Just sort of stuck at the moment….I might have to just wait until I can find another fuel tank matching my exact year/model.
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
I would take the tank out of the car again. And remove that strainer in the tank. Don't try to clean it just put in a new one. A lot easier with the tank out. It might be jammed because the tank is corroded or rusted where the coupling is.
You might want to use some mild rust remover with mild Phosphoric acid to loosen it up. They work very well.
I might have mentioned before but all the plumbing down by the pump will need to be flushed out for sure. So it has to be taken apart.
On the pump noise, you should not be able to hear it. They are pretty quiet. Mine are quite old now as I have about 85K miles/ 20 years on them. Mine make a gurgling sound sometimes when they first turn on but it goes away in a minute or two. I have purchased a pair as I think mine might go out in the next 10K miles.
You might want to use some mild rust remover with mild Phosphoric acid to loosen it up. They work very well.
I might have mentioned before but all the plumbing down by the pump will need to be flushed out for sure. So it has to be taken apart.
On the pump noise, you should not be able to hear it. They are pretty quiet. Mine are quite old now as I have about 85K miles/ 20 years on them. Mine make a gurgling sound sometimes when they first turn on but it goes away in a minute or two. I have purchased a pair as I think mine might go out in the next 10K miles.
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2008 E320 Bluetec, 1987 190e 2.6, 2007 CL600
The pumps on there now only have mileage from a few test drive attempts. I think flushing should do the job so I’ll hold off on new ones for now.
Thanks for the advice! I won’t be starting the car up again until that screen is replaced
Thanks for the advice! I won’t be starting the car up again until that screen is replaced
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
I have no running issues but when I replace my diff with a newer one and am down there, I will replace my tank screen. I purchased mine online (genuine MB) and I can see how they can get clogged up with bad sitting fuel. It is a super fine mesh screen. I doubt mine looks like a new one after 33 years! I have seen photo's of clogged up ones on-line. It is not a pretty sight....
- Cheers!
- Cheers!
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2008 E320 Bluetec, 1987 190e 2.6, 2007 CL600
Yes I went MB brand for the screen and already have it in the glovebox. Im certain this will fix my problem. Like you said the mesh is really fine and a weird texture… My mistake was assuming the car sat all those years on an empty tank but no, the old fuel had simply evaporated and the rest turned to dust and sediment and settled to the bottom, that screen is the bottom most part of the tank….
I will take my time on this and provide an update once my car is back running
I will take my time on this and provide an update once my car is back running
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2008 E320 Bluetec, 1987 190e 2.6, 2007 CL600
I gave up and sent the car to the shop. My mechanic was able to get the fuel tank strainer off, it was indeed seized but I have a new strainer put in now. The car is still cutting out when attempting to drive, but I’m glad strainer is out of the way.
He has boiled down my issue to two possible culprits. He recommended tackling the EZL first, car is losing spark and secondly the o2 sensor (mine is “lazy”, rounded and seized). The plan is to try and put a used EZL from a m103 motor to see if there’s any difference, once I get my car back I’ll try to get a muffler shop to torch off my seized o2 sensor.
Thoughts?
He has boiled down my issue to two possible culprits. He recommended tackling the EZL first, car is losing spark and secondly the o2 sensor (mine is “lazy”, rounded and seized). The plan is to try and put a used EZL from a m103 motor to see if there’s any difference, once I get my car back I’ll try to get a muffler shop to torch off my seized o2 sensor.
Thoughts?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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1991 190E 2.3
I gave up and sent the car to the shop. My mechanic was able to get the fuel tank strainer off, it was indeed seized but I have a new strainer put in now. The car is still cutting out when attempting to drive, but I’m glad strainer is out of the way.
He has boiled down my issue to two possible culprits. He recommended tackling the EZL first, car is losing spark and secondly the o2 sensor (mine is “lazy”, rounded and seized). The plan is to try and put a used EZL from a m103 motor to see if there’s any difference, once I get my car back I’ll try to get a muffler shop to torch off my seized o2 sensor.
Thoughts?
He has boiled down my issue to two possible culprits. He recommended tackling the EZL first, car is losing spark and secondly the o2 sensor (mine is “lazy”, rounded and seized). The plan is to try and put a used EZL from a m103 motor to see if there’s any difference, once I get my car back I’ll try to get a muffler shop to torch off my seized o2 sensor.
Thoughts?
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
Also, can you describe the "cutting out" a bit more. Do you mean it does not have enough power or do you mean it is tumbling, coughing etc.
remember outside the consumables (distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs) the rest is super reliable. That includes, coil and EZL.
Also a lazy O2 sensor will hardly be noticeable when driving because if everything else is on order and your FD/airflow meter is properly aligned the O2's function is limited by design, it is just fine tuning your lambda ratio.
remember outside the consumables (distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs) the rest is super reliable. That includes, coil and EZL.
Also a lazy O2 sensor will hardly be noticeable when driving because if everything else is on order and your FD/airflow meter is properly aligned the O2's function is limited by design, it is just fine tuning your lambda ratio.
