If you've ever considered putting a bag of rock salt in the trunk of your Bimmer during the winter, here's a tip: don't.

When they break, as they always do, those corrosive crystals scatter everywhere and in a year or two, you'll notice a patch of gasoline forming on the garage floor. It's gas tank leak time!

Even if you've not got a gas tank leak, I'd suggest you pull the tank the next time it's near empty and check for rust along the seams. Following the steps in the Service and Repair Handbook, (mine's a Clymer and it's great).

1. Disconnect battery ground strap.
2. Remove tank drain plug.
3. Remove trunk floor panel and expose tank.
4. Disconnect the electrical leads on the sending unit.
5. Disconnect fuel hose from sending unit.
6. Detach hose clamp at bottom of filter neck and push rubber sleeve upward (also disconnect fuel return line and plug is on post-73 cars).
7. Unscrew fuel tank securing bolts and lift out the tank.

If you see any signs of rust or corrosion, steelwool them down to bare metal and spray on three to four coats of rustproof paint. The preventive care is well worth the effort, as BMW 2002 tanks cost $80-$100 to replace, and welding or soldering a leak is not without its drawbacks.

If you do have a repairable leak, shop around until you find a gas tank repair shop that fills the tank with inert gas, not water, before welding. The guy who fixed mine steam cleaned and submerged the tank and now, a month later, I've had to clean the fuel pump filter, replace fuel line filters twice, and pull and rebuild the carburetor. A clot of rust doesn't do much for an idle jet. After all that, it looks like I'll be able to keep up with the sludge accumulation by pulling and rinsing the tank once more and changing fuel line filters again.

Believe me, the half-hour it takes to remove and clean the tank is well worth the effort.

Author: Kevin J. Craw

Tech Ed. Note:

The rust, more likely than not, was scale in the tank. After the repair, rinse tank out with a gallon of gas and dump it.

Gas tank leaks are caused more often by the sponge rubber that the tank is mounted on. This rubber catches the water thrown up by the rear wheels and causes the tank to rust out. I've replaced many gas tanks on 3 year old cars where the owners never had rock salt in the trunk compartment. Possible cure? Remove the gas tank when it's a year old, clean the rubber, and spray a good undercoating on the tank after wire brushing it and painting it with a zinc chromate-based primer

BMW 2002 Fuel Tanks

I've mentioned using fused relays for QI (Quartz-Iodine) lamps before, but the caution is worth repeating.

Make sure you use a fuse link in all QI lighting systems!

For some reason, BMW tends to fuse the low-beam circuits, but not the highs. (On pre- '72 BMWs neither circuit is fused.)

Buy an in-line fuse holder (about seventy-five cents including a 20-amp fuse) and install it in the high-beam line. If the lamp element does not conduct properly, it can effectively produce a "dead short" to ground.

The lamp wiring then heats up, exactly like an electric resistance heater, melting the vinyl insulation. It is even possible to start an electric fire this way. The "ounce of prevention" is very cheap.

I'll be glad to answer any questions on the particular procedure to use on your year and model BMW.

Author: Bence Boelskevy

When you need a new replacement element for one of your quartz-iodine lights, or wish to keep a spare light bulb in the glove compartment, you do not have to use a Marchal in a Marchal, a Carello in a Carello, etc.

Most replacement elements available in this country are made by Phillips -- an H1 will fit anything that uses an H1, an H4 will fit in any H4 application, and so on.

Remember, don't touch that expensive new bulb with your fingers any oil left on the element will fry it soon after you install it and hit the light switch.

Author: Unknown

BMW Headlights

After trying all kinds of tools to get the oil filter off my BMW Tii, I found the ideal tool for the job.

I tried modified oil filter wrenches, channel lock pliers, a screwdriver through the filter, and God knows what. Then I found the ideal thing. Try a "can lid twister-offer." The one your wife uses to get lids off jars and cans.

I bought mine at a local dime store for 39¢ and it works perfect every time. You take the filter off from the underside with the device. It grips the filter great.

Author: Leif Anderberg

If you have problems trying to remove your BMW 2002 tii oil filter, try using large Channel Lock pliers. They will permit you to get a good grip on the oil filter, squashing it, and then getting it loose -- from which point you can remove it by hand.

This also works great for other BMW models.

Author: Unknown

eBay Deals: BMW 2002 Oil Filters

I wish to report a fuel injection problem that I experienced with my 1974 BMW 2002 Tii. Hopefully it's unique as it proved both difficult and expensive to diagnose and repair.

The problem was first picked up at a 16,000 mile major service, when it appeared that the cold start enrichment device was malfunctioning. The device was not decreasing the richness of the fuel mixture as the engine warmed up, requiring unusual and excessive engine temperatures to shut off.

After replacement of the enrichment device, the car exhibited extremely poor gas mileage (13 mpg highway), extreme difficulty starting, easy stalling during the first 15 minutes of operation and a high idle rate (1500-3000 RPM). If the radiator front was totally covered while the engine idled, the engine temperature would increase and after about 10 minutes, the idle rate would decrease as the cold start enrichment device shut off. Idle rates would not drop during normal driving.

The car was taken to Karzundpartz (Greensboro, N.C.) where the problem was corrected.

Casting flash in the passage of the water pump leading to the cold start enrichment device prevented the circulation of water to the device so that the engine temperature was always interpreted as "cold" under normal conditions. Removal of the flash relieved the symptoms and increased gasoline mileage.

I have no idea why the car did not exhibit difficulty immediately upon delivery as the water pump had never been replaced to my knowledge. I do know that before the onset of symptoms my highway gasoline mileage was 23 whereas after correction it is now 30, so evidently the car was defective from the beginning.

Author: L.B. Holt

eBay Deals: BMW Fuel Injection

In response to Delph Wilson's comments in the June, 1977 issue concerning gasoline leakage from a BMW fuel filler, I too had a similar problem. The gas cap didn't form a tight seal due to a 1/8 inch gap between it and the filler neck.

Fritz Peterson of BMWNA provided the following list of checks to be made to resolve this problem. These are:

BMW Fuel Filler Gas Leak Checklist

1. Assure that the gas cap has been sufficiently tightened. Turn cap until ratchet mechanism has clicked at least two times.
2. Check rubber seal on filler cup to insure its integrity.
3. Check filler neck to assure that no damage has been done by a gas filler nozzle. Damage to the neck will prevent a good seal.
4. Inspect cap for proper manufacture and replace if necessary.

In my case, the cap was defective and replacing it cured the problem. Incidentally, the gas cap is one of the items covered by the five-year/50,000 mile emissions control system warranty.

Author: Robert L. Kreger

BMW Gas Caps

If your BMW fouls its plugs, use anti-foulers with care.

Generally available in auto parts stores, anti-foulers are first screwed onto the spark plug and then screwed into the cylinder head. Use of anti-foulers may increase plug tip temperatures to the point where preignition may occur, consequently damaging the engine.

If it becomes necessary to use anti-foulers, perhaps while you are waiting to have a ring job done, check the plugs frequently for burning away of the electrode and discontinue use if the engine pre-ignites. (Based on information contained in Champion Spark Plug's Service Corner.)

In conversation between Michel Potheau, BMWCCA Tech Editor, and Thomas McGurn, Rainer Fruechtnicht, Til Roemer, and Jim Ryan of BMW of North America concerning the BMWCCA Techline, one of the points which came out was that the points and condenser are not interchangeable between the 1975 and earlier and 1976 BMW 2002. Although they physically fit, they do not function properly if changed, burning out in a short time.

Author: Michel Potheau

For those fortunate enough to own a BMW 2002 with leather upholstery, but who may be sweating about what to do with the color wearing off or cracks developing, try Mar Hyde Vinyl Color Spray. I have used only black but it seems to be a perfect treatment for the leather.

Clean the leather first with saddle soap, using very little water to make the foam, or with mineral spirits such as lacquer thinner, used very sparingly. Spray the Mar Hyde on. It dries instantly and bonds to the leather without flaking or peeling. It gives an absolutely new appearance to the leather without drying it out as the water-based color compounds do. Mar Hyde should be available at most paint stores or paint distributors.

Author: Steve Brenneman

Also try upholstery shops if your local paint store strikes out. Tech Ed.

See also: Leather Interior Tips and Leather and Vinyl Care

Here's a low cost rear fog light solution for your prized BMW 2002.

K-Mart has an inexpensive amber light (#82-20-53) called "rectangular fog lamp" for $4. An orange replacement switch from your BMW dealer (#61311356873) costs $6.70 or you can use some other switch. About eight feet of wire to connect the two and some time spent mounting the lamp on the rear and you have low cost rear end protection in the fog.

Author: Unknown

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BMW Fog Lights and Bulbs