This may be a weird question, so of course I've got to ask it.

For a week or so my R53 has been slow to start, needing to crank for between five and ten seconds before firing up. Then yesterday I noticed that a) there several stains on the driveway where I park, all about the same size, and smelling faintly of gas, and b) faint scent of gas outside the car after a drive. Looked underneath and saw a drip drip drip from right around the rearmost fuel line clip, which stopped after a few minutes. Okay, looks like time for a new fuel line.....

Got her up on stands this afternoon, pressurized the line (turned the key to #2 position a few times), checked underneath - no leak. Started and ran for about thirty seconds. - no leak. Got back underneath to poke around a little...at one point I jiggled the fuel feed line, and SPLOOSH! the line separated from the connector (right in front of the passenger-side gas tank) and blew a good squirt of gas onto the pavement (and a little into my face, but I wasn't in the direct line of fire). I checked for debris and then reconnected the line and ran the pump a few times more. No leaks, and I can't tug the line out of the connector.

So, since this was a very recent issue and the fuel delivery system hasn't been touched in years, I'm wondering what the hell happened/is happening. I can't figure any event that would have loosened or partially disconnected the fuel line connection, leaving it connected but leaking and ready to pop loose, unless this is a sign that something in the connector is nearing the end of its life. Anybody ever had anything like this happen, or have any possible explanations?

 

No - Not on any cars I've owned. I'd suspect you got caught on something. Without seeing a pic of which connection this is, I can't say how it would have happened. I had trouble with a quick connector for an Automatic Trans Cooler line, and these are similar in design. replace it if possible - but get an OE mini/bmw connector if possible.

 

I was just under there while doing a rear hub, and got a good pic:


Top of the photo is forward on the car, pass. side is to the left, just to be clear.

The one highlighted is the one that let go. I just clicked it back together and the problems (leak and slow start) have not recurred. I can't separate the connection with a solid tug.

The only thing I can think of is that, since my area is almost all dirt roads (with a lot of fine clay in the mix) and my cars get plastered with very sticky fine mud when I drive in the wet, I'm guessing enough particles worked their way up into the connector over time that they moved one side of the snap connector out of position. Guess I'll make a habit of hosing/blowing that out a few times a year.