Coming back from a meeting tonight while driving through another white out, my reserve light on the fuel gauge comes on. I have never let the tank get this low before, but letting the car warm up while cleaning it off really eats gas. I was forced to pull into a gas station otherwise I wouldn't make it home. I had to prepay and when I came back to the BMW I unlocked it and went to fill up. The gas door wouldn't open so I fussed with the locks for a few minutes and that didn't work. I use the handy dandy light on the master key and shine that through the gap between the fuel door and the rear panel. I don't see any ice but the lock on the door was still in the locked position. I pound on the door and around the door a few times to try to break it loose but that didn't work either. Breathing on the lock didn't work, plus made me look crazy so I was forced to use the emergency unlock in the trunk.

The people at the station must have thought I was crazy because I have my trunk ripped apart and I'm hitting the fuel door and breathing on it... After searching in the cramped space in the trunk I find the locking mechanism. I tug and tug on it but it won't budge. I was forced to go into the gas station and ask for my money back and explain that my fuel door lock was frozen and I can't get it unlocked (the look the attendant gave me was priceless:-)).

I take a ride to the auto parts store down the road to get my lubricant for the rear doors and asked the clerk if they had anything to get my fuel door unthawed and it was an emergency. I ended up buying lock deicer but I didn't have high hopes over the situation. I used a generous amount of the deicer on the lock (paint safe and I cleaned up after to be on the safe side) and after waiting a few minutes for it to melt (standing in a white out) I tried the locking and unlocking the doors. Didn't work. I spayed a little more deicer on and used the emergency unlock in the trunk again. I gave it a few tugs and it broke loose, but because it is a cramped area, I had my hand rapped around the 'handle'. What I didn't know was that the slightest move of the fuel lock will cause the motor to engage, moving the mechanisms fairly quickly, and causing it to pinch two of my fingers.

I went back to the gas station and the same clerk was at the register and gave me another priceless look. A 'why are you back' look (you can't help but laugh :-)). I'm glad I got more gas than I needed because it took me three times the amount of time it usually takes to get home because the snow plows don't do their jobs (no offence to any snow plow drivers or any one who knows snow plow drivers). I was on a main road too.

I love the lockable fuel tank, but not in the winter when I need gas.

What feature can you live without on you E32, if any?

Nick

1989 735iL
Build date 10/7/88
VIN 3318643

• There is one feature on the E32s that I can live without. Semi-funny story... - nostness 2007-01-25 19:34:40 (282 views)
  • Re: There is one feature on the E32s that I can live without. Semi-funny story... - shadetree/pete 2007-01-28 12:33:30 (199 views)
    • Re: There is one feature on the E32s that I can live without. Semi-funny story.. - runoutmick 2007-07-25 06:42:00 (54 views)
  • I tell you feature I love - dipping mirrors in reverse - sinij 2007-01-26 11:54:26 (196 views)
    • Re: dipping mirrors - shadetree/pete 2007-01-28 12:38:14 (200 views)
  • I did the same damn thing.. - mick 2007-01-26 09:32:02 (230 views)
    • Re: I did the same damn thing.. - nostness 2007-01-26 10:03:54 (207 views)
  • Can't think of anything on mine. I love everything about my 750 (nt) - bcweir 2007-01-25 22:00:11 (204 views)