The documented fault
BMW describes possible leakage at a welded cover on the plastic fuel tank in the listed early applications. A warning light and stored faults can accompany the problem. A smell alone does not establish that this weld is the source.
Sources 1
Useful information for diagnosis
Tell the workshop when the smell appeared, whether it followed refueling and whether fuel was visibly present. Preserve the fault report. Do not remove a rear seat or open a tank access point to investigate vapors yourself.
Sources 1
Verify the individual vehicle
The cited bulletin describes VIN-specific component coverage, not a blanket recall. Diagnosis must establish the actual leak. Fuel-level display or transfer problems are not automatically the same issue, and a chassis/year match alone does not confirm coverage.
Sources 1
Sources / references 1
- BMW SIB 01 03 22 — Plastic fuel-tank leakage, April 2022 ↗Reviewed Sep 27, 2026
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