B160104

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SI B16 01 04
Fuel Supply Systems
May 2015
Technical Service
This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B16 01 04 dated March 2004.
designates changes to this revision
SUBJECT
E46 SULEV (PZEV) Fuel Tank: Pre-Disposal Procedure
MODEL
E46 (3 Series with the M56 engine)
INFORMATION
E46 (3 Series with the M56 engine) vehicles, in addition to meeting the SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission)
tailpipe emission standard, also conform to the Partial Zero Evaporative Emissions (PZEV) Standard.
To meet these strict standards, these vehicles have fuel tanks constructed of high-grade stainless steel which
are completely sealed.
SITUATION
BMW NA is not requesting that these fuel tanks be returned to the Warranty Parts Return Center (WPRC)
after a claim payment.
PROCEDURE
When performing a fuel tank replacement on an E46 “3 Series with the M56 SULEV (PZEV)
engine” (claim and non-claim related), the following pre-disposal procedure must be performed prior to
scrapping the fuel tank.
BEFORE STARTING AND WHILE CONDUCTING THE STEEL FUEL TANK DISPOSAL
PROCEDURE, FOLLOW ALL LOCAL AND STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING
TO HANDLING OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS.
DO NOT USE ANY ELECTRICALLY POWERED TOOLS OR OPEN-FLAME DEVICES (E.G.,
ACETYLENE TORCHES) DURING THIS PROCEDURE.
1. As a safety precaution, when handling fuel tank
always wear safety goggles and plastic (not
latex) gloves, Nitrile preferred.
2. Remove defective fuel tank from the vehicle and
place it on a workbench in an area where good
ventilation is provided.
3. To prevent fuel vapors from escaping from the
tank, use the plastic covers from the replacement
tank to plug the filler neck and the filler vent
line.
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4. Also use the plastic covers from the replacement
tank to plug the fuel outlet line and tank vent
line.
5. Using a good quality pipe cutter (e.g. Exhaust
Pipe Cutter PN 90 88 6 002 210), cut the fuel fill
pipe at approximately 1” from the tank.
6. Dispose stainless steel fill pipe.
7. Using an air or hand-operated , portable fuel
transfer system (e.g. Tempo 30-FM-3200-GA
listed in 2002 BMW Equipment Program
Catalog), evacuate all fuel from the right side of
the tank through the fill pipe inlet.
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8. Carefully lift up the left side of the tank to allow
fuel transfer to the right half of the tank (the one
with filler inlet).
9. Again, remove all remaining fuel using the airoperated fuel transfer pump system.
10. Evacuate all fuel remaining in the fuel filter and
outlet line by connecting the air-operated
transfer pump to the tank output line.
11. After all the fuel has been evacuated, place the
tank in an upright position (filler inlet up) and
fill it with water until water starts overflowing
from the filler neck.
12. Maintaining tank’s upright position and full
water content, using an air-powered drill with a
2 1/2'” hole saw drill a hole at the bottom side of
the tank (on the filler inlet side).
DO NOT USE ANY ELECTRICALLY
POWERED CUTTING DEVISES.
Dispose water in accordance to the local and
state laws and regulations.
13. After cutting the filler pipe and drilling the
opening in the bottom, the fuel tank does not
pose any environmental threat and may be safely
scrapped.
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WARRANTY INFORMATION
Not applicable.
[ Copyright ©2015 BMW of North America, Inc. ]
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