Is this a Vaccum or Fuel Line?

[Tidybuoy]

This is not a 914 question but there is virtually no activity on the BMW board - So, I thought I would ask here.

I am replacing the fuel lines on my 1988 528e. I'm wondering if the 3 7mm lines that run from the fuel filler neck to the expansion tank (in the trunk) are fuel lines or vaccum lines.

The dealer says they are fuel line, my local German auto repair says they are vaccum lines.

I have about 20' of nice cloth covered vaccum line that I could use or I could buy fuel line from the dealer. The problem: both the dealer & german auto parts only sell 3' sections for $12. I need 6ft.

Any advice would be great!..............................Vern

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

In some ways, they are both. They are fuel vapor lines. They do not have to stand up to high-pressure gasoline, but they do have to stand up to all of the lovely chemicals that are in fuel vapor.

If I didn't mind changing them every other year, I'd use the cheaper vacuum hose. If I did mind, and wanted to only change them every four or five years, I'd use the more expensive fuel hose.

You could probably get away with using fuel hose from your FLAPS, even, instead of the $tealer. (Hey, I sometimes pay attention on the Bimmer boards; my mom has an E36 3-series! )

--DD