Afraid someone might have poured something into my fuel tank

jmares · 11-22-2008, 12:08 AM

Hi all,

I came back to my car and it had been vandalized. It had several bumps and depressions in different directions (not from a car collision). The fuel tank door had been forced open.

My main concern is whether they have put anything into the fuel tank, shortening the lifetime of my engine or some other part of the car. The car worked fine for about 5 miles, from where I found it vandalized to my garage at home.

What should I do?
Thanks
Javier

deletedelete · 11-22-2008, 12:11 AM

Unbelievable! Go buy a pump at the local auto shop and pump out the tank. Although if they put something other then liquid you may have a problem.

Universal_Magnetic · 11-22-2008, 01:00 AM

i've heard of people putting ping pong balls in gas tanks, works in the same concept as styrofoam mixed with gasoline...definitely wouldnt be good if someone did that

Deda · 11-22-2008, 06:37 AM

i guess they wanted to steal you gasoline...if that isnt so,and they put something in,that put your car at truck and go to bmw center to clear reservoar(tank).

CD · 11-22-2008, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deda

i guess they wanted to steal you gasoline...

that sounds more like it to be honest, with the price of fuel these days its easy money for them

SoYank · 11-22-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CD

that sounds more like it to be honest, with the price of fuel these days its easy money for them

Actually, that would have probably been more of a motive during the past summer. Now the prices are back where they were more than a year ago. Fuel theft wasn't a widely reported problem when the cost was high. Not to say it didn't occur, it just wasn't rampant enough to be reported in high numbers.

Barmats · 11-22-2008, 10:35 AM

That's pretty crappy. I wouldn't take any chances - have it checked or drained.

rmorin49 · 11-22-2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmares

Hi all,

I came back to my car and it had been vandalized. It had several bumps and depressions in different directions (not from a car collision). The fuel tank door had been forced open.

My main concern is whether they have put anything into the fuel tank, shortening the lifetime of my engine or some other part of the car. The car worked fine for about 5 miles, from where I found it vandalized to my garage at home.

What should I do?
Thanks
Javier

I always thought Europeans were more civilized. I guess I was wrong.

92tripleblack · 11-22-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CD

that sounds more like it to be honest, with the price of fuel these days its easy money for them

Guess that's in England. Right now its about $2 per gallon in the US for 93 octane.

samurai1200 · 11-22-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 92tripleblack

Guess that's in England. Right now its about $2 per gallon in the US for 93 octane.

What the hell? No? Really...?!

alq80 · 11-22-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samurai1200

What the hell? No? Really...?!

i can attest! $2.29 for 93 out here

stickypaws · 11-22-2008, 01:54 PM

Somebody stuffed a ham sandwich into my Fiat 128's gas tank once. Seriously. Had to have the tank pumped. Mechanic showed me the remnants. You could see the ham and bread. No tomato, no cheese.

Car never did run well after that. Of course, it was a Fiat.

Kev · 11-22-2008, 04:05 PM

Jeez, the cheese probably melted in the gas. It's hydrophobic!

deletedelete · 11-22-2008, 04:07 PM

ham sandwich!

darkphantom · 11-22-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samurai1200

What the hell? No? Really...?!

1.59 son =D for regular...

jmares · 11-22-2008, 05:41 PM

Thanks guys. Any obvious or short term damage should be covered by my insurance, it's asymptomatic, long term damage to the car that might shorten its lifespan that worries me.

Is there any way to test for this? Can BMW service discard long term damage?

Thanks again.
Javier

Boost Gomez · 11-22-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkphantom

1.59 son =D for regular...

You better not be putting in Regular in your Bimmer, that's for damn sure.

And that ham sandwich in the fuel tank..

Mk23 · 11-23-2008, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alq80

i can attest! $2.29 for 93 out here

It's $2.29 here in Florida for Shell's Premium.

kamek · 11-23-2008, 01:31 AM

$2.60ish around NYC for prem... Hope nothing was put into your tank and all is resolved.

Seminole · 11-23-2008, 09:31 AM

I would invest in a car alarm if that type of thing is prone to happen where you are from.

CyberGypsy · 11-23-2008, 09:34 AM

2.10 here in central florida

Kev · 11-23-2008, 09:44 AM

1.89 at Fenway Park, 2.34 for 93 oct

11-22-2008, 12:08 AM	#1
jmares New Member 3 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328i Coupé Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Valencia, Spain iTrader: (0)	Afraid someone might have poured something into my fuel tank Hi all, I came back to my car and it had been vandalized. It had several bumps and depressions in different directions (not from a car collision). The fuel tank door had been forced open. My main concern is whether they have put anything into the fuel tank, shortening the lifetime of my engine or some other part of the car. The car worked fine for about 5 miles, from where I found it vandalized to my garage at home. What should I do? Thanks Javier
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11-22-2008, 12:11 AM	#2
deletedelete Major General 361 Rep 5,873 Posts Drives: m Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: usa iTrader: (14) Garage List 2013 e92 M3 [0.00] 2011 e93 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2009 335xi (sold) [0.00]	Unbelievable! Go buy a pump at the local auto shop and pump out the tank. Although if they put something other then liquid you may have a problem. __________________ ---> Click For xi/xDrive Suspension Compatibility List <---
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11-22-2008, 01:00 AM	#3
Universal_Magnetic Captain 34 Rep 836 Posts Drives: E92 335xi Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto, On iTrader: (3)	i've heard of people putting ping pong balls in gas tanks, works in the same concept as styrofoam mixed with gasoline...definitely wouldnt be good if someone did that __________________ BMS E92 335xi \| PROcede \| K&N \| KW \| VMR \| LUX \| Bastuck \|
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11-22-2008, 06:37 AM	#4
Deda Major General 564 Rep 7,034 Posts Drives: BMW M5 comp Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Croatia iTrader: (0)	i guess they wanted to steal you gasoline...if that isnt so,and they put something in,that put your car at truck and go to bmw center to clear reservoar(tank).
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11-22-2008, 10:35 AM	#7
Barmats Lieutenant 17 Rep 504 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X5 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CA iTrader: (4)	That's pretty crappy. I wouldn't take any chances - have it checked or drained.
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11-22-2008, 01:54 PM	#12
stickypaws Dictator 55 Rep 1,811 Posts Drives: people crazy Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: where you want to be iTrader: (0)	Somebody stuffed a ham sandwich into my Fiat 128's gas tank once. Seriously. Had to have the tank pumped. Mechanic showed me the remnants. You could see the ham and bread. No tomato, no cheese. Car never did run well after that. Of course, it was a Fiat.
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11-22-2008, 04:05 PM	#13
Kev Critical Care Anesthesiologist 481 Rep 8,828 Posts Drives: SMB F83 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (24) Garage List 2009 Porsche 911 Ca ... [9.50]	Jeez, the cheese probably melted in the gas. It's hydrophobic! __________________ kev { divinum est sedate dolorem } "your friendly neighborhood critical care anesthesiologist"
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11-22-2008, 04:07 PM	#14
deletedelete Major General 361 Rep 5,873 Posts Drives: m Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: usa iTrader: (14) Garage List 2013 e92 M3 [0.00] 2011 e93 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2009 335xi (sold) [0.00]	ham sandwich! __________________ ---> Click For xi/xDrive Suspension Compatibility List <---
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11-22-2008, 05:41 PM	#16
jmares New Member 3 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328i Coupé Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Valencia, Spain iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys. Any obvious or short term damage should be covered by my insurance, it's asymptomatic, long term damage to the car that might shorten its lifespan that worries me. Is there any way to test for this? Can BMW service discard long term damage? Thanks again. Javier
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11-23-2008, 01:31 AM	#19
kamek Brigadier General 358 Rep 3,447 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Queens, NY iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 BMW 328xi [8.20]	$2.60ish around NYC for prem... Hope nothing was put into your tank and all is resolved.
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11-23-2008, 09:31 AM	#20
Seminole Colonel 448 Rep 2,032 Posts Drives: Red Flyer Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 38.8977° N, 77.0366° W iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 E90 328i [7.00]	I would invest in a car alarm if that type of thing is prone to happen where you are from. __________________
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11-23-2008, 09:34 AM	#21
CyberGypsy Lieutenant 15 Rep 443 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Key West iTrader: (0)	2.10 here in central florida
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11-23-2008, 09:44 AM	#22
Kev Critical Care Anesthesiologist 481 Rep 8,828 Posts Drives: SMB F83 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (24) Garage List 2009 Porsche 911 Ca ... [9.50]	1.89 at Fenway Park, 2.34 for 93 oct __________________ kev { divinum est sedate dolorem } "your friendly neighborhood critical care anesthesiologist"
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