New fuel tank for 76 530i?

[canada karl]

What would it cost?

[CabbageFumes]

Pretty much zero chance that there will be one available new outside of the EU, and at considerable expense. You're better off having yours repaired, or getting a good one from a later car, either e12 or e28, and having the filler neck moved to match the rear filling '76 style tank.

[RonDwyer]

Your best bet is to take it to someone who can make you a new one. Or weld in a pierce to fix yours.

[Mike W.]

It appears to be available, in the US at least, at a breathtaking $544, not including shipping. Realoem shows a price which usually means it's available, but not at the price they show.

https://www.getbmwparts.com/parts/index ... eid=214672

How are your welding skills? More seriously, how bad is it? There are places that coat the inside of tanks to seal up rusty ones, lots of classic cars have far fewer parts options than E12s.

[CabbageFumes]

My local dealer just quoted me $680, two weeks coming from Germany.

[canada karl]

I think it's leaking at the seam where the two halves join. I was working on an Air Force base once .....there was a big boom coming from the truck shop then the sound of an ambulance. Turns out someone was welding a gas tank but had not cleared the fumes properly. Of course there are various ways to make sure the tank is safe to weld but who knows what he did wrong! I repaired the tank once with one of those epoxy rad repair sticks. I see there is another type of epoxy repair stick that is impervious to gas. Might give that a try.
Last time I inquired about repairing and sealing the tank i think they wanted $700CAD...may as well get a new one at that price.

[Mike W.]

My local dealer just quoted me $680, two weeks coming from Germany.

That's list, which is a whole lot less than my local dealer would charge.

I think it's leaking at the seam where the two halves join. I was working on an Air Force base once .....there was a big boom coming from the truck shop then the sound of an ambulance. Turns out someone was welding a gas tank but had not cleared the fumes properly. Of course there are various ways to make sure the tank is safe to weld but who knows what he did wrong! I repaired the tank once with one of those epoxy rad repair sticks. I see there is another type of epoxy repair stick that is impervious to gas. Might give that a try.
Last time I inquired about repairing and sealing the tank i think they wanted $700CAD...may as well get a new one at that price.

You could try doing it yourself. I've never used it, but POR15 products have a very good reputation, and it's not expensive. The seam is the usual place they leak, so no surprise there. I've welded tanks before, but not the seam, it's a tough one. I've also heard of radiator shops doing gas tank work so that may be an option too.

http://www.por15.com/POR-15-Fuel-Tank-Sealer_p_64.html