BMW Z3 Stalling and Fuel Odor: Fix Guide Inside

Hey there! I had nearly identical symptoms with my 1997 BMW Z4 last summer. The fuel smell and stalling were exactly what I experienced. After getting it checked, it turned out to be a defective activated charcoal filter (part of the EVAP system). These symptoms are pretty typical when the charcoal filter gets saturated and can't properly handle the fuel vapors anymore. The stalling happens because the system can't regulate the fuel tank pressure properly, and those vapors are what you're smelling inside. I took mine to the garage, and they confirmed it with a smoke test. The repair wasn't particularly complex, just needed the charcoal filter replaced and the whole EVAP system checked. Wasn't a serious issue, but definitely not something you want to ignore because of the fuel vapors. Based on your symptoms, I'd bet you're dealing with the same problem. Best to get it checked soon before it starts affecting your fuel efficiency or causes other issues. Hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's exactly what I was worried about, and it's somewhat reassuring to hear someone else had the same issue. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other related problems pop up? I'm trying to get a better idea of what I'm in for here.

Hey again! Yes, I can tell you exactly how much it cost, I paid 275 € to get it fixed. The mechanic replaced the defective activated charcoal filter, and I'm happy to report everything's been running perfectly since then. No more stalling, no more fuel smells, nothing! It's been about 8 months now since I got it fixed, and honestly, it was worth every penny. The car runs so much better, starts right up, idles smoothly, and that nasty fuel smell is completely gone. I actually noticed my fuel efficiency improved a bit too, which was a nice bonus. You're smart to get it checked out now. These things can get worse if you leave them too long, and nobody wants to deal with fuel vapors in their car! My mechanic told me it's a pretty straightforward fix once they know what they're dealing with. Just make sure whoever works on it knows BMWs well, these systems can be a bit tricky if you're not familiar with them. But once it's fixed, you should be good to go! Let me know how it turns out for you!

Thanks so much for the detailed info! I actually went ahead and got it fixed yesterday. You were spot on, it was the charcoal filter. My repair came in a bit higher at 340 €, but they also did a full system check while they were at it. Funny story at the shop though, while waiting, I got chatting with another BMW owner who had the exact same issue last month! The mechanic I found was really thorough, showed me the old filter and explained everything. Could actually see how gunked up it was. The difference is amazing, no more stalling, no fuel smell, and the engine's running super smooth now. Such a relief it wasn't something more serious. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it helped me know what to expect and not get taken advantage of at the shop. Thanks again for your help! Case closed on this one.