2001 BMW 330CI Fuel system Problems

Gas tank strap that holds up the gas tank tore off on the part that is supposed to be welded on the car. One end is bolted on, the other has a welded bracket. That bracket broke off and my gas tank and bracket were dragging until I pulled off of the road. Luckily the entire gas tank didn’t fall out because if it would have, the tank would’ve broke and caused a massive spill of gas, since the tank was full of fuel. There is no warning lamps for this, a weld shouldn’t just break off, and I can’t find any replacements to fix it or replace it at all.

NHTSA ID

11427015

Incident

Jul 23, 2021

THE WELDS ON THE FRONT STRAP THAT HOLDS THE GAS TANK IN PLACE BROKE WHILE DRIVING,RESULTING IN GAS TANK DROPPING HALF WAY DURING DRIVING. THERE IS NO OTHER DEVICE HOLDING THE GAS TANK MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AND INOPERABLE.

NHTSA ID

11352406

Incident

Aug 31, 2020

Mileage

198,000 mi

STRAP THAT SUSPENDS THE FUEL TANK BROKE CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO HANG AND ALMOST TOUCH THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ID

11267142

Incident

Oct 8, 2019

Mileage

168,000 mi

THE SPARK PLUGS AND COILS THAT WHERE INSTALLED IN MY BMW AT THE BMW SERVICE CENTER DID NOT WORK PROPLERLY OR WHERE INSTALLED PROPERLY THEY DIDN'T EVEN GIVE ME A WARRANTY TIME FRAME IT ONLY RAN 4,000 MORE MILES SINCE THEY DID A SERVICE ON IT MY CAR JUST STOPED WORKING IT WOULDN'T TURN ON ANYMORE I DON'T WANT THIS HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE THEY PUT MY LIFE AT RISK AND ANYONE IN THE CAR WITH ME OR AROUND IT COULD HAVE JUST STOPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BUT THANKFULLY I WAS AT A PARKING LOT I JUST WOULD LIKE THE BMW SERVICE CENTER TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND TO REPAIR MY CAR THE RIGHT WAY THEY USED PARTS THAT STOPED WORKING.

NHTSA ID

11063908

Incident

Jan 14, 2018

Mileage

170,903 mi

SUPPORT STRAP FOR GAS TANK BROKE OFF ON PASSENGER SIDE AND WAS DRAGGING ON GROUND. VEHICLE WAS IN RESIDENTIAL AREA AND MADE LOUD METAL DRAGGING NOISE. THE WELDS BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME LEAVING THE GAS TANK UNSUPPORTED ON PASSENGER SIDE. DEFINITE FUEL FIRE HAZARD CAR IS NOW IN DRIVEWAY UNTIL REPAIR. THIS IS MY COMMUTER CAR AND DEALER SHOULD FIX. HOW IS A GAS TANK SUPPORTED BY WELDS THAT SIMPLY BREAK? DESIGN FLAW..

NHTSA ID

10780949

Incident

Oct 8, 2015

Mileage

166,181 mi

THE BRACKET HOLDING THE STRAP THAT SUPPORTS THE GAS TANK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF AT THE WELDS, LEAVING THE GAS TANK HANGING AND THE STRAP DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10644633

Incident

Oct 14, 2014

Mileage

141,889 mi

GAS TANK METAL STRAP/BRACE WELD CAME LOOSE CAUSING IT TO HANG FROM BOLT TOWARD REAR OF THE CAR LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596033

Incident

Jun 4, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

THERE IS A METAL STRAP THAT RUNS UNDER THE RIGHT GAS TANK AND HOLDS THE GAS TANK TO THE CAR. ONE END IS BOLTED. THE OTHER END IS HOOKED TO A BRACKET THAT IS WELDED TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR. AS I WAS GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY THE 4 WELDS ON THE BRACKET FAILED. THE COMPLETE STRAP AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY DRAGGED ON THE ROAD. THIS MADE A GROWLING NOISE SO LOUD THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER, GET UNDER THE CAR TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE RIGHT GAS TANK WAS NOW DANGLING FROM THE CAR. THIS BRACKET FAILURE SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THE SAME CAR: HTTP://FORUM.E46FANATICS.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=669079. BMW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND PAY ALL AFFECTED PARTIES FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING FLAW IN THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10559858

Incident

Jan 13, 2014

Mileage

119,606 mi

ARRIVING TO MY HOUSE DRIVEWAY I STARTED TO HEAR A METAL SOUND AGAINST THE PAVEMENT. IMMEDIATELY I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE THERE WAS A METAL STRAP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK HANGING OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552187

Incident

Nov 13, 2013

Mileage

170,000 mi

WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY I HEARD A POP FROM UNDER MY CAR AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO HEAR A LOUD METALLIC SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR AS IF I WERE DRAGGING SOMETHING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND FOUND THE METAL BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE GAS TANK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD COME LOOSE FROM AN AREA WHERE IT HAD BEEN SPOT WELDED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. THIS EFFECTIVELY CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO LOWER ITSELF A FEW INCHES OFF THE GROUND. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY HOME AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515885

Incident

Jun 8, 2013

Mileage

112,342 mi

FUEL TANK RETAINING STRAP BRACKET BROKE FREE FROM UNDER BODY LEAVING THE TANK HANGING FROM THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513434

Incident

May 24, 2013

Mileage

156,128 mi

I WENT OVER A SMALL SPEED BUMP WHILE DRIVING ON A PARKING LOT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I STARTED HEARING THIS METALLIC RUBBING NOISE AS IF I WAS DRAGGING SOMETHING BEHIND A CAR. I STOPPED AND INSPECTED THE UNDERSIDE & FOUND A METAL STRIP HANGING & DRAGGING ON THE PAVEMENT RIGHT NEXT TO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE METAL BRACE WAS APPARENTLY THERE TO RESTRAIN THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE. THE FULLY LOADED FUEL TANK WAS HANGING UNDER THE CAR JUST INCHES ABOVE THE PAVEMENT. THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE SO I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THIS SEEMED VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT AS THIS COULD HAVE EASILY HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED ON A HIGHWAY WHERE I MAY NOT EVEN HAVE HEARD THE NOISE. AT WORST THIS LOADED FUEL TANK COULD HAVE LEAKED OR FALLEN OFF THE CAR STARTING A FIRE. THE CAR IS IN SHOP AT THE MOMENT & THE REPAIR ESTIMATE IS IN EXCESS OF $600. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUES ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER & BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR BILL. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10480842

Incident

Oct 16, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY AT NEAR FREEWAY SPEEDS, I HEARD A SUDDEN THUMP, THEN THE SOUND OF SOMETHING DRAGGING ON THE GROUND BENEATH THE CAR. I PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE 4 TINY SPOT WELDS AND EPOXY THAT FIXES THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL TANK STRAP TO THE CAR HAD BROKEN FREE, ALLOWING THE TANK STRAP TO DRAG ON THE GROUND AND THE FUEL TANK TO COME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE ROAD SURFACE. I HAD JUST FILLED THE TANK. *JS

NHTSA ID

10461105

Incident

Jun 9, 2012

Mileage

143,323 mi

THERE IS A METAL STRAP THAT SUPPORTS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BRACKET TO WHICH THE FORWARD END OF THIS STRAP MOUNTS TO HAS BROKEN FREE FROM THE UNDERBODY. THE STRAP AND BRACKET SEEM TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE. IT'S JUST THE WELDS THAT HOLD THE BRACKET TO THE UNDERBODY HAVE BROKEN. THERE IS VERY MINIMAL RUST ON THE UNDERBODY COMPONENTS. IT APPEARS THAT THE TACK WELDS JUST FAILED. THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP WANTED $1200 TO REPAIR THE ISSUE AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. I THEN TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO BODY SHOP. THEY REMOVED THE TANK AND WELDED THE BRACKET BACK IN PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370991

Incident

Apr 20, 2009

Mileage

99,000 mi

ON MY 2001 BMW 330CI THE PASSENGER FUEL TANK TRAP HAS BROKEN OFF. MY FUEL TANK WAS HANGING HALF WAY DOWN ALMOST TOUCHING THE FLOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10362721

Incident

Oct 26, 2010

Mileage

126,000 mi

CAR BMW 2001 330 CI- MY GAS TANK STRAP BROKE OFF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND STARTING DRAGGING ON THE GROUND, CREATING A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO A SHOP SPECIALIZING IN BMW'S, THEY SAID THEY JUST FIXED ONE OF THESE LAST WEEK. THE ARE CUSTOM WELDING ON A BRACE FOR ME. MY BILL IS $500 PLUS FOR THIS CRUCIAL SAFETY ISSUE. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND THE COMPANY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332373

Incident

May 25, 2010

Mileage

104,000 mi

AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE METAL STRAP THAT SUPPORTS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK FAILED; THE BRACKET TO WHICH THE FORWARD END OF THIS STRAP MOUNTS TO, HAS BROKEN FREE FROM THE UNDERBODY. THE STRAP AND BRACKET SEEM TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE BUT IT'S THE WELDS THAT HOLD THE BRACKET TO THE UNDERBODY HAS BROKEN. WHEN THE BRACKET BROKE FREE FROM THE UNDERBODY, IT DROPPED TO THE GROUND WHILE STILL ATTACHED TO THE STRAP AND DRAGGED ON THE ROAD MAKING A VERY LOUD METAL-DRAGGING-ON-ROAD SCREECHING NOISE. THE FUEL TANK NOW HAS DROPPED ABOUT 3 INCHES DOWN ALMOST TOUCHING THE GROUND, THE FUEL TANK COULD BREAK INTO TWO IF IT DROPS ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND AND SPARK A FIRE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, WELDS FOR FUEL TANK STRAPS JUST DO NOT RANDOMLY POP OFF FROM THE CAR, WHAT IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE FUEL TANK BROKE FREE AND BECAME PUNCTURED, I WOULD BE FRIED TO A CRISP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10327251

Incident

Apr 23, 2010

Mileage

120,000 mi

FUEL GAUGE READS 1/4 TANK OFF FROM THE CORRECT LEVEL. THIS CAUSE DRIVERS TO ASSUME THAT THEY STILL HAVE GAS BUT THEY REALLY EMPTY AND IF HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND KILL PEOPLE. IT HAPPENED TO ME GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE SO IT WAS ON LOW SPEED SO THE CAR STOPPED AND LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND KEPT DISTANCE AND COULD STOP WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS. CONTACT THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT BMW SERVICE REVEAL THAT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE ON THOSE YEARS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL GAGE FLOATERS ( THERE ARE 2 OF THEM) BUT BMW DECIDED NOT TO RECALL THEM AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10317771

Incident

Nov 8, 2009

Mileage

64,010 mi