BMW 6 Stalling and Fuel Smell: Possible Tank Vent Issue

Had the same problem with my 2016 BMW 4 Series last summer. The symptoms matched exactly, check engine light, stalling at idle, and that distinctive fuel odor inside. Took it to the garage and diagnosis confirmed it was a defective activated charcoal filter in the EVAP system. The filter wasn't trapping fuel vapors properly anymore, causing the fuel smell and triggering the engine management system. The stalling happened because the system wasn't maintaining proper fuel tank pressure. The fix required replacing the complete charcoal canister assembly and purge valve. Not a major repair in terms of complexity, but definitely not something to ignore. Running with a bad EVAP system can lead to bigger problems and it's also an environmental concern. My car had about 150k km when this happened. Pretty common issue with these models actually. Would recommend getting it checked soon, those symptoms won't resolve themselves.

Had the same problem with my 2016 BMW 4 Series last summer. The symptoms matched exactly, check engine light, stalling at idle, and that distinctive fuel odor inside. Took it to the garage and diagnosis confirmed it was a defective activated charcoal filter in the EVAP system. The filter wasn't trapping fuel vapors properly anymore, causing the fuel smell and triggering the engine management system. The stalling happened because the system wasn't maintaining proper fuel tank pressure. The fix required replacing the complete charcoal canister assembly and purge valve. Not a major repair in terms of complexity, but definitely not something to ignore. Running with a bad EVAP system can lead to bigger problems and it's also an environmental concern. My car had about 150k km when this happened. Pretty common issue with these models actually. Would recommend getting it checked soon, those symptoms won't resolve themselves.

Hey, thanks for sharing that experience. It sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with now. I'll definitely look into getting the charcoal filter and EVAP system checked out. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since you got it fixed, or have you noticed any other related issues pop up?

Hey, thanks for sharing that experience. It sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with now. I'll definitely look into getting the charcoal filter and EVAP system checked out. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since you got it fixed, or have you noticed any other related issues pop up?

Hey there! Just wanted to follow up about the repair costs since you asked. I ended up paying 275 € for the complete fix of the charcoal filter, and honestly, it was totally worth it. The good news is that since getting it sorted, my BMW has been running like a charm, no more stalling, no check engine light, and most importantly, that annoying fuel smell is completely gone. It's been several months now, and I haven't had a single related issue pop up. The car runs so much smoother at idle now, it's like a different vehicle. If you're experiencing the same symptoms I had, I'd definitely recommend getting it checked out sooner rather than later. The peace of mind alone is worth it, plus you don't want those fuel vapors hanging around in your car. The repair was pretty straightforward and the mechanic had it done in a few hours. Trust me, you'll notice the difference right away once it's fixed.

Hey there! Just wanted to follow up about the repair costs since you asked. I ended up paying 275 € for the complete fix of the charcoal filter, and honestly, it was totally worth it. The good news is that since getting it sorted, my BMW has been running like a charm, no more stalling, no check engine light, and most importantly, that annoying fuel smell is completely gone. It's been several months now, and I haven't had a single related issue pop up. The car runs so much smoother at idle now, it's like a different vehicle. If you're experiencing the same symptoms I had, I'd definitely recommend getting it checked out sooner rather than later. The peace of mind alone is worth it, plus you don't want those fuel vapors hanging around in your car. The repair was pretty straightforward and the mechanic had it done in a few hours. Trust me, you'll notice the difference right away once it's fixed.

I took your advice and finally got my car checked out yesterday. am I glad I did! Turns out you were spot on about the charcoal filter. The mechanic I found was actually super honest and walked me through everything they were doing. Total bill came to about 300 bucks, a bit more than what you paid, but they also found and fixed a loose connection in the fuel line while they were at it. The whole thing took about four hours, but I'd say it was worth the wait. Drove it home yesterday, and what a difference! No more fuel smell, engine runs smooth as butter at idle, and that pesky check engine light is finally off. Honestly, I was pretty nervous about going to a mechanic after my last bad experience, but this turned out way better than expected. Thanks again for sharing your story, it really helped me take that step to get it fixed. Now I can finally drive without worrying about the car stalling at every red light!

I took your advice and finally got my car checked out yesterday. am I glad I did! Turns out you were spot on about the charcoal filter. The mechanic I found was actually super honest and walked me through everything they were doing. Total bill came to about 300 bucks, a bit more than what you paid, but they also found and fixed a loose connection in the fuel line while they were at it. The whole thing took about four hours, but I'd say it was worth the wait. Drove it home yesterday, and what a difference! No more fuel smell, engine runs smooth as butter at idle, and that pesky check engine light is finally off. Honestly, I was pretty nervous about going to a mechanic after my last bad experience, but this turned out way better than expected. Thanks again for sharing your story, it really helped me take that step to get it fixed. Now I can finally drive without worrying about the car stalling at every red light!