Gas Tank Access Door Doesn't Close

dude987 · 02-13-2013, 02:58 PM

Tried to close the gas tank access door after filling the gas tank and it wouldn't latch shut. The temperature was about 30 degree fahrenheit and the latch that catches the access door would not pop out. What happened to quality? Is anyone else having this problem? I never had this kind of a problem with a Lexus. Just a little irritating.

Tsuyoi · 02-13-2013, 03:05 PM

Had a few complaints about this before, usually due to dirtiness/wetness of the latch area. Try cleaning surfaces and drying it, then see what happens.

Frogman · 02-13-2013, 03:10 PM

Also make sure the cap is closed completely. There's very little clearance there.

shivaswrath · 02-13-2013, 03:18 PM

there are defective plastic latch thingy's out there, I had one - whole closure was replaced...it acted up more in the cold, so sounds like a similar problem.

jzcrna · 02-13-2013, 03:43 PM

Mine did this but then resolved itself

Yay-Z · 02-13-2013, 03:45 PM

Were your doors unlocked?

pkimM3r · 02-13-2013, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yay-Z

Were your doors unlocked?

Was gonna say wont open or close if doors are locked.

nick1212 · 02-13-2013, 05:48 PM

Make sure doors are unlocked.

dude987 · 02-13-2013, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkim1079

Was gonna say wont open or close if doors are locked.

Did not know this. Passenger door was locked and driver door was unlocked. Will have to check it out.

BMWrules7 · 02-14-2013, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by setha

Just take it in they will repair for free

It's not broken. He had his doors locked.

dude987 · 02-14-2013, 02:37 PM

Okay. So I filled up the gas tank again today and made sure the doors were unlocked. Wha-la. It worked. The outside temperature was about 27 degrees and the access door slammed shut just like it should.

Tested the door locks and sure enough if the doors are locked the access door is locked also. What I don't understand is why the access door opened when one driver door was unlocked and the passenger door was locked.

So maybe, if one door is unlocked and one door is locked the access door will open but not close shut???

I dunno.

Just glad to have it resolved for now.

keremorhan · 04-07-2013, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude987

Okay. So I filled up the gas tank again today and made sure the doors were unlocked. Wha-la. It worked. The outside temperature was about 27 degrees and the access door slammed shut just like it should.

Tested the door locks and sure enough if the doors are locked the access door is locked also. What I don't understand is why the access door opened when one driver door was unlocked and the passenger door was locked.

So maybe, if one door is unlocked and one door is locked the access door will open but not close shut???

I dunno.

Just glad to have it resolved for now.

Mine does not close when all doors are unlocked. I had to push and hold it closed when i pushed the lock button on the key. Now it is locked. Did not try yet but i think it would pop out again when i will push the unlock button on the key.

Nothing broken inside. I wonder if it is a temporary problem or i should take my car to dealer???

bavarianride · 04-08-2013, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude987

Okay. So I filled up the gas tank again today and made sure the doors were unlocked. Wha-la. It worked. The outside temperature was about 27 degrees and the access door slammed shut just like it should.

Tested the door locks and sure enough if the doors are locked the access door is locked also. What I don't understand is why the access door opened when one driver door was unlocked and the passenger door was locked.

So maybe, if one door is unlocked and one door is locked the access door will open but not close shut???

I dunno.

Just glad to have it resolved for now.

No need to be confused, as there is an explanation(I think). The gas access door has a spring-loaded toggle mechanism. With one push, the access panel toggles open, even if the doors are locked, but lock pin holds the panel in place(I haven't tried if a 2nd push will toggles the panel closed again). When at least one door is unlocked, the panel will pop open. If the door is locked again before the panel is pushed to close, the lock pin will block the panel to be closed.

Hopes this helps. It should be relatively straightforward to verify the above.

bavarianride · 04-08-2013, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keremorhan

Mine does not close when all doors are unlocked. I had to push and hold it closed when i pushed the lock button on the key. Now it is locked. Did not try yet but i think it would pop out again when i will push the unlock button on the key.

Nothing broken inside. I wonder if it is a temporary problem or i should take my car to dealer???

If the doors are unlocked, the gas access panel should be able to be opened and closed(toggled) with subsequent pushes of the panel. Your description seems to indicate the spring loaded toggle mechanism is malfunctioning(sounds like the lock pin is holding the panel if doors are locked, and the spring is always at "open" position). Maybe it's time to bring in to dealership to check.

keremorhan · 04-08-2013, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f30fanboy

If the doors are unlocked, the gas access panel should be able to be opened and closed(toggled) with subsequent pushes of the panel. Your description seems to indicate the spring loaded toggle mechanism is malfunctioning(sounds like the lock pin is holding the panel if doors are locked, and the spring is always at "open" position). Maybe it's time to bring in to dealership to check.

I will try again and see what happens. Will inform later...

Waterbelly · 04-08-2013, 07:26 AM

Just took mine in to have the PPK installed on Saturday. Had the same issue with the gas tank door. SA said 5 other people had come in with the same problem - has nothing to do with door looks. They have a bunch of defective latches. Have to order in parts, etc.

N-Y · 04-08-2013, 07:53 AM

that door always opens when i go through the drive through car wash, when I get to the last part, when the car is getting air dried

shivaswrath · 04-08-2013, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterbelly

Just took mine in to have the PPK installed on Saturday. Had the same issue with the gas tank door. SA said 5 other people had come in with the same problem - has nothing to do with door looks. They have a bunch of defective latches. Have to order in parts, etc.

Yup, mine was replaced in the winter when it stayed open for like a week.

PierreTT · 04-08-2013, 02:03 PM

Same here, it is a cold related issue

tkwliu · 04-08-2013, 10:48 PM

I experienced a similar issues, the latch just wouldn't shut properly. It took me a little while to figure out what happened but it was the tether that was attached to the fuel cap inside that was the problem. When refueling i must have twisted the tether and bundled together inside that when i close the outer fuel cover, the tether would obstruct part of the room needed for the hinges of the cover to close properly. Hope this helps

keremorhan · 04-13-2013, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkwliu

I experienced a similar issues, the latch just wouldn't shut properly. It took me a little while to figure out what happened but it was the tether that was attached to the fuel cap inside that was the problem. When refueling i must have twisted the tether and bundled together inside that when i close the outer fuel cover, the tether would obstruct part of the room needed for the hinges of the cover to close properly. Hope this helps

yes. this is the reason. funny....

02-13-2013, 02:58 PM	#1
dude987 Second Lieutenant 41 Rep 244 Posts Drives: BMW 335i xDrive M-Sport DHP Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Stuttgart iTrader: (0)	Gas Tank Access Door Doesn't Close Tried to close the gas tank access door after filling the gas tank and it wouldn't latch shut. The temperature was about 30 degree fahrenheit and the latch that catches the access door would not pop out. What happened to quality? Is anyone else having this problem? I never had this kind of a problem with a Lexus. Just a little irritating.
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02-13-2013, 03:05 PM	#2
Tsuyoi Lieutenant 34 Rep 568 Posts Drives: 2013 F30 328i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	Had a few complaints about this before, usually due to dirtiness/wetness of the latch area. Try cleaning surfaces and drying it, then see what happens.
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02-13-2013, 03:10 PM	#3
Frogman Lieutenant Colonel 288 Rep 1,892 Posts Drives: 2012 F30 328i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Also make sure the cap is closed completely. There's very little clearance there.
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02-13-2013, 03:18 PM	#4
shivaswrath Brigadier General 649 Rep 4,323 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lost in NJ iTrader: (3)	there are defective plastic latch thingy's out there, I had one - whole closure was replaced...it acted up more in the cold, so sounds like a similar problem. __________________ CURRENT: 2017 RS3 (miss you guys) SOLD: 2012 335i Mineral Gray M Performance Exhaust/Brakes/Suspension/LSD\|Bav Stage 1/AMP\|\|ER CP/IC/DP/OC \| Dinan CAI/N55 PWG BIG TURBO\|BMWF30.com
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02-13-2013, 03:43 PM	#5
jzcrna Captain 167 Rep 975 Posts Drives: 2019 M2 Competition Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	Mine did this but then resolved itself
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02-13-2013, 03:45 PM	#6
Yay-Z Shifting to Top Gear 40 Rep 556 Posts Drives: F10 M5/E70 X5 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	Were your doors unlocked? __________________ 2015 F10 M5 CP 2013 E70 X5
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02-13-2013, 05:48 PM	#8
nick1212 Lieutenant 74 Rep 471 Posts Drives: '13 335i Sport 6MT - Gone soon Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Make sure doors are unlocked. __________________ Current - 2016 340xi M-Sport, BSM w/ Coral red interior, 6MT, Premium package enhanced, M-Sport package. Previous - 2013 335i Sport Line Sapphire Black 6MT with Premium Package, Extended BT, BMW Assist & Lane Departure Warning System, M Sport Suspension & VSS
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02-14-2013, 02:37 PM	#11
dude987 Second Lieutenant 41 Rep 244 Posts Drives: BMW 335i xDrive M-Sport DHP Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Stuttgart iTrader: (0)	Okay. So I filled up the gas tank again today and made sure the doors were unlocked. Wha-la. It worked. The outside temperature was about 27 degrees and the access door slammed shut just like it should. Tested the door locks and sure enough if the doors are locked the access door is locked also. What I don't understand is why the access door opened when one driver door was unlocked and the passenger door was locked. So maybe, if one door is unlocked and one door is locked the access door will open but not close shut??? I dunno. Just glad to have it resolved for now.
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04-08-2013, 07:26 AM	#16
Waterbelly Second Lieutenant 177 Rep 202 Posts Drives: 2020 X3M Comp Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	Just took mine in to have the PPK installed on Saturday. Had the same issue with the gas tank door. SA said 5 other people had come in with the same problem - has nothing to do with door looks. They have a bunch of defective latches. Have to order in parts, etc.
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04-08-2013, 07:53 AM	#17
N-Y Lieutenant 35 Rep 578 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 328i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	that door always opens when i go through the drive through car wash, when I get to the last part, when the car is getting air dried
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04-08-2013, 02:03 PM	#19
PierreTT New Member 4 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2013 335 iX Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Quebec, Canada iTrader: (0)	Same here, it is a cold related issue
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04-08-2013, 10:48 PM	#20
tkwliu Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 328iA Sport Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0)	I experienced a similar issues, the latch just wouldn't shut properly. It took me a little while to figure out what happened but it was the tether that was attached to the fuel cap inside that was the problem. When refueling i must have twisted the tether and bundled together inside that when i close the outer fuel cover, the tether would obstruct part of the room needed for the hinges of the cover to close properly. Hope this helps
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