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Service bulletin 160104

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
TypeService bulletin
NHTSA id10147919
Published by NHTSA2018-11-13
Manufacturer's number160104
Manufacturer's date2014-03-01
NHTSA componentFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

NHTSA's summary

As a safety precaution, when handling fuel tank always wear safety goggles and plastic (not latex) gloves, Nitrile preferred. 2.Remove defective fuel tank from the vehicle and place it on a workbench in an area where good ventilation is provided. As outlined in SI B01 03 14, starting in March 2014, the initial phase of the E46 SULEV (PZEV) fuel tank remanufacturing process will begin. When this fuel tank is replaced and a corresponding claim is submitted for reimbursement, BMW NA will request that the fuel tank be returned to the Warranty Parts Return Center (WPRC) after claim payment. Please ensure that your workshop technicians and Parts department personnel handle the removed fuel tank(s) properly to avoid unnecessary damage. The fuel tank disposal procedure outlined in the bulletin applies only to non-claim related tank replacements. BMW NA will not request that these tanks be returned to the WPRC. In the case of a non-claim related fuel tank replacement on an E46 3 Series M56 SULEV (PZEV) engine vehicle, the following disposal procedure must be performed prior to scrapping a non-returned requested fuel tank. BEFORE STARTING AND WHILE CONDUCTING THE STEEL FUEL TANK DISPOSAL , FOLLOW ALL LOCAL AND STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO HANDLING OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS. DO NOT USE ANY ELECTRICALLY POWERED TOOLS OR OPEN-FLAME DEVICES (E.G., ACETYLENE TORCHES) DURING THIS

The document

The document is the manufacturer's. This site does not hold it. NHTSA files a document at one of these two addresses; we have not asked NHTSA which.

Components

Fuel system

Vehicles listed
BMW 1600/2
BMW 1800
BMW 2000
BMW 2000A
BMW 2000C
BMW 2000CA
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 3 SERIES
BMW 315
BMW 318
BMW 318A
BMW 318I
BMW 318TI
BMW 320
BMW 320I
BMW 323I
BMW 325
BMW 325CI2003
BMW 325I
BMW 325I2003, 2004, 2005
BMW 325IS
BMW 325IT2003, 2004 (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
BMW 328I
BMW 330XI
BMW 5 SERIES
BMW 524
BMW 525
BMW 525I
BMW 528
BMW 528IA (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
BMW 530
BMW 530I
BMW 530IA
BMW 530ITA (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
BMW 533
BMW 535
BMW 535I
BMW 540
BMW 540IA
BMW 6 SERIES
BMW 7 SERIES
BMW 728
BMW 733
BMW 735
BMW 740
BMW 740I
BMW 740IA (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
BMW 740IL
BMW 740ILA (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
BMW 740ILP (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
BMW 750
BMW 750ILP (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
BMW 8 SERIES
BMW 840CIA (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
BMW 840IA (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
BMW 850
BMW BAVARIA
BMW BMW
BMW BMW MOTORCYCLE
BMW DAKAR
BMW E 31 SERIES
BMW E 36 SERIES
BMW E12
BMW E21
BMW E23
BMW E24
BMW E28
BMW E30
BMW E31
BMW E32
BMW E34
BMW E36
BMW E37
BMW E38
BMW E38 SERIES
BMW E39
BMW E39 SERIES
BMW E46 SERIES
BMW E52
BMW E53
BMW E65
BMW E66
BMW F650
BMW F650GS
BMW K 1200 RS
BMW K SERIES
BMW K100
BMW K1100
BMW K1200
BMW K1200LT
BMW K1200RS
BMW K75
BMW M COUPE
BMW M ROADSTER
BMW M1
BMW M3
BMW M5
BMW R 1200 C
BMW R SERIES
BMW R100
BMW R1100
BMW R1100 RT
BMW R1100GS
BMW R1100S
BMW R1150GS
BMW R1150R
BMW R1150RT
BMW R1200C
BMW R850
BMW SAV
BMW X5
BMW Z3
BMW Z3 COUPE
BMW Z3 ROADSTER
BMW Z4
BMW Z8

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
BMWSEP13132018-12-03. Service bulletin. E46 SULEV Fuel Tank Parts Collection . INFORMATION Starting on October 10th, 2013, BMW will be collecting defective E46 SULEV fuel tanks (P/N 16 11 6 763 569) for a special analysis project. To remove and prepare the fuel tank for shipping, please follow the procedure described below. Your dealer will receive a package addressed to your Shop Foreman, containing the plugs and caps needed to secure the fuel tank. If additional plug kits are needed, please contact Michael Murray via email at michael.murray@bmwna.com.
0103142018-11-13. Service bulletin. "E46 SULEV (PZEV) Fuel Tanks: New Warranty Parts Return Procedure. BMW of North America, LLC (""BMW NA"") will begin offering factory remanufactured fuel tank assemblies for E46 3 Series SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle)/PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) model vehicles with the M56 engine. Starting in March 2014, the initial phase of the remanufacturing process will begin. When this fuel tank is replaced and a corresponding claim is submitted for reimbursement, BMW NA will request to have the fuel tank returned to the Warranty Parts Return Center (WPRC) after claim payment. Please ensure that your workshop technicians and Parts department personnel handle the removed fuel tank(s) properly to avoid unnecessary damage. The E46 SULEV (PZEV) Fuel Tank Disposal Procedure outlined in SI B16 01 04 applies only to non-claim related tank replacements. BMW NA will not request that these tanks be returned to the WPRC IMPORTANT INFORMATION A ""used"" fuel tank is eligible for classification as ""UN3363, Dangerous Goods in Apparatus, 9."" The following requirements apply when shipping: * There are limitations on the amount of liquid which can remain in the tank: It MUST be less than 0.5 liters of fuel. * The tank must be placed in strong outer packaging; this topic is addressed in the procedure section. * This package is a hazardous material shipment; you are required to mark the package accordingly, as noted in the procedure section. * As the shipper, your center is responsible for proper packaging and documentation completion. * The shipping document requires the UN number, proper shipping name and hazard class (UN3363, Dangerous goods in apparatus, 9), the number of packages and total quantity, along with a shipper's certification and a signature. * The person preparing and packaging the fuel tank(s) for shipping must have received the hazardous material training per 49CFR 172.702 and the IATA regulations. Those training records must be on file at your center. The U
B1601042018-11-05. Service bulletin. "BMW NA is not requesting that these fuel tanks be returned to the Warranty Parts Return Center (WPRC) after a claim payment. When performing a fuel tank replacement on an E46 ""3 Series with the M56 SULEV (PZEV) engine"" (claim and non-claim related), the following pre-disposal procedure must be performed prior to scrapping the fuel tank. BEFORE STARTING AND WHILE CONDUCTING THE STEEL FUEL TANK DISPOSAL , FOLLOW ALL LOCAL AND STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO HANDLING OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS. DO NOT USE ANY ELECTRICALLY POWERED TOOLS OR OPEN-FLAME DEVICES (E.G., ACETYLENE TORCHES) DURING THIS."
B1603172018-10-09. Service bulletin. E46 PZEV/SULEV (M56) FUEL TANKS: REPLACEMENT AND PARTS RETURN PROCEDURE: BMW of North America, LLC (ÒBMW NAÓ) will begin offering factory remanufactured fuel tank assemblies for E46 (3 Series) PZEV/SULEV (Model vehicles with the M56 engine).
SIB-13-02-102011-04-26. Service bulletin. BMW: IT IS NOW POSSIBLE TO PERFORM A FUEL QUALITY DETECTION TEST ON VEHICLES WITH AN N54 ENGINE. *RM
SIB-16-03-102011-04-26. Service bulletin. BMW: WARNING MESSAGE ON ABOUT LOW DIESEL EXHAUST FUEL LEVEL AND THAT THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHIN 999 MILES. THE LIGHT COMES ON A FEW THOUSAND MILES EARLIER THAN A RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGE. *RM
SIB-16-08-062010-07-14. Service bulletin. BMW VEHICLES: ENGINE CRANKS BUT DOES NOT START; FUEL LEVEL GAUGE DISPLAYS A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF FUEL, ALTHOUGH THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY; FAULT CODE 2A1C (FUEL LEVEL PLAUSIBILITY) IS STORED IN MSV80. RIGHT SIDE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS DISLODGED FROM ITS BRACKET DUE TO INCORRECT ASSEMBLY. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 4/29/11. *PE
SIB-16-02-092010-07-14. Service bulletin. BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE REPAIR KIT IS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY IN THE ILLUSTRATION, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE PARTS DESCRIPTION. ALL MODELS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE
SIB-16-01-062010-06-21. Service bulletin. BMW: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIR PROCEDURE. THE CASE WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE
SIB-12-24-072010-05-26. Service bulletin. BMW VEHICLE: S54-CATALYST PROTECTION MODE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS LOW ON FUEL. COMPLAINTS THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER DURING HEAVY ACCELERATION. FUEL RESERVE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND THE FUEL LEVEL, WHEN MEASURED WITH THE SERVICE TESTER, IS BELOW 10 LITERS. WITH THE FUEL LEVEL LOW AND UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS (HEAVY ACCELERATION, CORNERING OR RACING), THE FUEL SUPPLY MAY BE INADEQUATE, CAUSING AN INTERMITTENT LEAN MIXTURE TO BE RECORDED BY ALL 4 OXYGEN SENSORS. *PE