Evening,
I have just joined the mini world having bought a 1996 SPI and I am getting to know it very well already! Anyway, a few weeks ago I discovered a small amount of fuel pooling in the boot and could see that it is stemming from underneath the tank. I also investigated the fuel lines underneath and the engine bay but it is clear that the source of the leak is behind the tank...somewhere. I am in the process of removing the tank in order to investigate further but have come across a problem. I can't get it out! I have disconnected fuel lines, electrical items, gromet and the tank strap but yet to remove the breather pipe. The issue is that the tank strap anchor/hinge is stopping the tank being removed. I can move it only so far up the anchor before the top of the tank fouls on the underside of the parcel shelf. I am thinking of cutting the anchor in half and bending/lower the other part in order to stop it fouling on this (it seems unnecessarily large but there might be a reason for this). I just wondered if this was normal practice as it seems quite extreme, if the half anchor left would be ok to hold the tank strap bolt and if I went down this route would I have issues in an accident with insurance etc. I have searched for a solution in this forum but can't find anything relating to fuel tank removal issues.
Many thanks in advance. I have been struggling with this for the last 2 weeks so hopefully there is a solution out there.
Regards,
Chris