E86 Fueling problem

[NSM]

This was covered a little while back but having read the posts I can't see a conclusion so here goes again.

When refueling I can get very little fuel in the tank before the nozzle cuts out. It does not matter what brand of petrol or at what angle I hold the nozzle etc. At most I can get about £20 of fuel into the tank before the pump timer shuts down.

So my question is has anyone else had or have the same problem and how is it fixed? Fuel tank breather valve or charcoal canister filter? and if so any steerage on approximate cost and if it is a DIY.

Thanks

 

[ph001]

Pump timer?

The fuel tank breather is there for tho opposite reason (i.e. to stop vacuum in the tank as fuel is used) and the carbon canister just filters out hydrocarbons from entering the atmosphere.

It sounds like you might have some kind of obstruction in the filler neck. I'd buy a £20 endoscope off Ebay that connects to your mobile and shove it down into your tank to see what the problem is.

 

[Old-Duckman]

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=123865
This is what I did, haven't filled up since so not sure if it fixed the problem. Was a 30 minute job. Remove airbox, 1 QD line, 1 hose, 1 plug off MAS, 1 plug off part. Install replacement part...reverse order and your done. $32 USD Rock Auto, Euro brand Part. BMW part was about $90.

 

[Old-Duckman]

This text is from one of the links I found when researching:

One of the most common failures in the emissions system is the vent solenoid. It can stick open, causing the engine control module to think a leak is present, or it can stick closed. A closed vent valve can make refueling difficult as the pressure in the fuel tank isn’t vented. The fuel nozzle will click off constantly, making it tedious and frustrating to fill your fuel tank.

This is the link to the page: It is a BMW Z4 specific answer to a posed question.
https://www.yourmechanic.com/estimates/bmw/z4/evaporation-vent-solenoid-replacement

 

[NSM]

Thanks both for your input.
I will report back when I have solved the problem. May be a while as I last refueled in February and bearing in mind how little fuel I can get in the damned thing just shows how little use it is getting.
I really should have done this during lockdown!

 

[Old-Duckman]

Well I just filled up and........Worked like a champ ! Fueling back to normal.

 

[NSM]

Thanks O-D
I will order the part today and get it on.

 

[mpfreddy]

Old thread I realise, was this ever resolved? I have the same issue

 

[Mr Tidy]

All of my E86s fuelled fairly slowly - I couldn't ever use the full flow from the pump. But they would all fill to the brim if I took my time so I've just lived with it, because with such a small tank I've always wanted them as full as I could get them!

But I never managed to put as much in as the gauge and the range on the OBC suggested. I suppose the range must have quite a safety factor built in although I've never been brave enough to run down to zero range.

 

[mpfreddy]

Thanks for the reply, I might pull the inner wing off at the weekend and poke around, see what's in there. Mine didn't do high miles with the previous owner, or see a lot of maintenance to be frank, so there's a few niggles. This one I'd like to sort out, and if I do I'll stick a post on here to help others.