Gas Tank Access Door Doesn't Close - BMW 3-Series Forum (F30 / F32)

dude987 · 02-13-2013, 03:58 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, 04:05 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, 04:10 PM

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

shivaswrath · 02-13-2013, 04:18 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, 04:43 PM

Mine did this but then resolved itself

Yay-Z · 02-13-2013, 04:45 PM

Were your doors unlocked?

pkim1079 · 02-13-2013, 04:48 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, 06:48 PM

Make sure doors are unlocked.

dude987 · 02-13-2013, 11:17 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, 08:39 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, 03:37 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???

f30fanboy · 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.

f30fanboy · 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, 03:58 PM	#1
dude987 Private First Class Drives: BMW 328i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Chicago Posts: 184 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, 04:18 PM	#4
shivaswrath Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 2012 335i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norwalk CT Posts: 1,982 iTrader: (2)	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. __________________ 2012 335i Mineral Gray M Performance Whore: PPK\|Exhaust\|Brakes\|Performance Suspension Struts & Springs\|Black Kidney Grilles\|CF Spoiler and Mirror Caps\|M Sport 400M\|BMWF30.com 335i brakes FS!

02-13-2013, 04:45 PM	#6
Yay-Z Shifting to Top Gear Drives: F30 328I Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Midland / Houston, TX Posts: 300 iTrader: (0)	Were your doors unlocked? __________________ 2011 E92 335i 6MT (Gone, will be missed) 2013 F30 328i SAT

02-13-2013, 06:48 PM	#8
nick1212 Second Lieutenant Drives: '13 335i Sport 6MT - Ordered Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Toronto Posts: 225 iTrader: (0)	Make sure doors are unlocked. __________________ Current - 2013 335i Sport Line Sapphire Black 6MT with Premium Package, Extended BT, BMW Assist & Lane Departure Warning System, M Sport Suspension & VSS Previous Car - 2006 325i 6MT

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02-13-2013, 04:05 PM	#2
Tsuyoi Lieutenant Drives: 2013 F30 328i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New York Posts: 526 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.

02-13-2013, 04:10 PM	#3
Frogman Captain Drives: 2012 F30 328i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Southern California Posts: 945 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW F30 328i [5.00]	Also make sure the cap is closed completely. There's very little clearance there.

02-13-2013, 04:43 PM	#5
jzcrna Captain Drives: 2012 BMW 335i Sedan Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 752 iTrader: (0)	Mine did this but then resolved itself

02-14-2013, 03:37 PM	#11
dude987 Private First Class Drives: BMW 328i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Chicago Posts: 184 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.

04-08-2013, 07:26 AM	#16
Waterbelly New Member Drives: 2013 f30 335i M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: MA Posts: 19 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.

04-08-2013, 07:53 AM	#17
N-Y First Lieutenant Drives: 2012 BMW 328i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa Posts: 330 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

04-08-2013, 02:03 PM	#19
PierreTT New Member Drives: 2013 335 iX Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 7 iTrader: (0)	Same here, it is a cold related issue

04-08-2013, 10:48 PM	#20
tkwliu Registered Drives: 328iA Sport Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1 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