Serious fuel leak @ cold startup

[grsteiner]

My '98 1100RT with 50K miles has developed an occasional fuel leak the source of which seems to be just forward of the battery box and it only happens on cold starts after sitting for some time. Once warm, the leak stops and may not occur again for some time. This is a serious leak with fuel dripping on the pavement in quantities sufficient enough to be dangerous. With the plastic in place, I can't see exactly where it's coming from. The leak doesn't occur at the first turn of the key when the fuel pump builds pressure. It happens only after startup. When this first happened on the trip to Spokane, I thought the fuel was coming out of the vent tube. Yesterday I was able to trace the source as described above. Before I put my wallet at the mercy of my dealer, has anyone had a similar experience with this problem? Was this the source of a recall on later 'R' models in the last couple of years?

[dano]

One word: Fuel line (hose) FI clamps.

Okay....so it was five words.......... :dunno

Best to have a BMW dealer address the problem. Not a big deal!

[grsteiner]

I remember an article in Owner News about fuel line clamps. I just couldn't recall if it applied to my particular model year. I'll follow your advice and contact my dealer. Thanks for your quick response. :wave

[BklynPete]

why not remove some plastic and see what is going on. best case senerio is you'll find a hose clamp that needs tightening or replacing. worse case, you put it all back together and bring to the dealer. :dunno

[jdcoffman]

why not remove some plastic and see what is going on. best case senerio is you'll find a hose clamp that needs tightening or replacing. worse case, you put it all back together and bring to the dealer. :dunno

I concur. It's not too bad a deal, earliar this year I put in a new fuel filter, and replaced the stock fuel clamps, since the stock ones aren't reusable.
I'm a very marginal kind of mcchanic so if I can do it pert near anyone can.

[dano]

I agree.....you could look into it yourself and try to find the problem. As I haven't dealt with FI clamps, I was a bit hesitant to recommend doing so.

It sounds as if sooner or later, we all will at some time. :banghead

[kbasa]

Tina's RS did that one morning in Ely, NV and a couple of $.50 clamps from the local NAPA fixed it. Took me about a half hour using the tools under the seat.

[grsteiner]

Thanks for the response. Another rider sent a response that he had the same problem on a 'P' model and it was the fuel pressure regulator located (as I suspected) in front of the airbox and battery box. He was kind enough to send a diagram from a repair manual. He had a pin hole in the plastic line that would cease to leak when the engine warmed up. He says the replacement assembly is made of thicker plastic, so BMW is aware of the problem. :type