BMW Z4 Fuel Smell and Stalling: Fix This Common Issue Now

Hey there! I had almost identical issues with my '07 BMW Z3 last year. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced, fuel odors, stalling at idle, and that annoying check engine light. Turned out the activated charcoal filter (also called the EVAP canister) was completely clogged. Had it checked at the garage and they confirmed the filter wasn't trapping the fuel vapors properly anymore, which explained the fuel smell. It wasn't a major repair, but definitely not something you want to ignore as it affects emissions and fuel system pressure. The fix involved replacing the charcoal canister assembly and checking the purge valve. After the repair, all symptoms disappeared immediately. The engine ran smooth again, no more stalling, and the fuel smell was gone. Given your symptoms, I'd strongly suggest getting it checked soon, it's not the most serious issue, but running with a faulty EVAP system isn't great for your car.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful as it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Would you mind telling me roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? I want to make sure I budget properly and know what to expect. Been a bit nervous about taking it to a shop after my last experience.

Hey again! Happy to report back! After seeing your message, I wanted to let you know that I paid 275 € for the complete fix, which covered both parts and labor for replacing the defective activated charcoal filter. Honestly, it was totally worth every penny. The best part? Everything's been running perfectly smooth since the repair, no more stalling, weird smells, or that annoying check engine light. It's been about a year now, and I haven't had a single issue related to the fuel system. My Z3 is purring like a kitten! I totally get being nervous about taking it to a shop after a bad experience. Been there! But fixing this particular problem really isn't something you want to put off. The activated charcoal filter plays a pretty important role in the emissions system, and leaving it broken can lead to bigger headaches down the road. Trust me, once you get it sorted, you'll notice the difference right away. The engine runs so much smoother, and it's such a relief not having that fuel smell anymore. Let me know if you need any other info!

Thanks so much for all the details! I actually just got back from the mechanic and wanted to share how it went. You were spot on, it was indeed the charcoal filter causing all the trouble. I bit the bullet and had it replaced, and the difference is like night and day! The final bill came to around 300 for parts and labor, which was pretty close to what you mentioned. The mechanic I found was actually great, super transparent about everything and even showed me the old filter to explain what was wrong. Such a relief after my last repair experience! The car's running perfectly now. No more fuel smells, the engine idles smoothly, and that pesky check engine light is finally off. I probably should've done this sooner, but you know how it is when you're nervous about finding a trustworthy mechanic. Really appreciate everyone's help with this. Sometimes you just need that extra push to get things sorted, and hearing about your similar experience made me feel much more confident about getting it fixed.