BMW 5 Series Gas Smell & Stalling: Fuel System Trouble?

Hey there! I had a very similar issue with my 2014 BMW 3 Series last year. I have some experience working on cars, but this problem was a bit tricky to diagnose on my own. Had the same symptoms, fuel smell in the cabin, check engine light, and occasional stalling. Took it to my regular workshop and they found a defective activated charcoal filter in the EVAP system. The whole repair, including parts and labor, cost me about 275 Euro. Fixed all the issues right away. Which engine variant do you have in your 5 Series? This info would help me share more specific details about the repair process and what to look out for. The repair procedure can vary a bit depending on the engine setup.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I have the gasoline engine variant, and my car just hit 101508 KM. Had my last service about 3 months ago, and everything was fine until these issues started popping up. Your symptoms sound exactly like what I'm experiencing. It's reassuring to hear that fixing the charcoal filter solved all the problems. I'll definitely get the EVAP system checked out at my next appointment. Did you notice any other warning signs before the problem got worse? Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything important.

Hey again! Yes, on my 3 Series I actually did notice a few warning signs before things got really obvious. About two weeks before the check engine light came on, I started noticing a slightly rough idle, especially when the engine was warm. The fuel smell wasn't constant at first, it would come and go, usually more noticeable after refueling. Since you asked, I should mention that I also experienced slightly worse fuel economy before the main symptoms appeared. Looking back at my fuel logs, I was using about 10-15% more fuel than usual. I didn't connect the dots at the time, but it makes sense now since the EVAP system wasn't working properly. The good news is that once I got the charcoal filter replaced, everything went back to normal pretty quickly. Honestly, it's a relatively straightforward fix. Just make sure they check the entire EVAP system, not just the filter. In my case, they also found that one of the connecting hoses had a small crack, which they replaced while they were at it. Your mileage is pretty close to what mine was when this happened, so it's probably just regular wear and tear. Don't wait too long to get it checked though, driving with a faulty EVAP system isn't great for the environment or your fuel economy.

Thanks for all the detailed information! That's really helpful to know about the early warning signs. Now that you mention it, I've definitely noticed my fuel consumption going up recently, but I hadn't made the connection. I just checked my fuel logs and I'm seeing about the same increase you mentioned, around 12% more fuel usage over the last month. I'll make an appointment with my mechanic for next week. Really appreciate the tip about getting the whole EVAP system checked, including the hoses. Better to catch any additional issues while they're in there. It's a relief to know this is a common issue at this mileage and not something more serious. I'll update the thread once I get it fixed in case anyone else runs into the same problem. Again, thanks for taking the time to share your experience, it's been super helpful!