Metal fuel lines

[sleepy]

Hi All,

I am currently getting some welding done on my e21 320/6 carb (sills etc) and the metal fuel lines that run on the underside of the car are corroded and one has even cracked where rusty. My question is what am I best making these out of? Can they be replaced with rubber or copper or am I best getting steel again?

BMW want 40 quid for the feed line and another 40 quid for the return line, they would have to be ordered from Germany...I need it get this sorted sooner rather than later so BMW items are not possible.

So yes advice would be appreciated as I was going to replace with rubber pipe but now I am thinking they must have made them metal for a reason. What is best rubber, copper or steel?

Any help appreciated

[nas80]

use copper pipe, if you reutilise the clamping points and make sure it isn't flapping about you will be fine, you have to drop the tanks to do this job

Nas

[Jeroen]

Looks like the original ones are copper as well. BTW if the lines are stocked with BMW in Germany or Belgium they should be with you in 1-2 days, or? Over here if we order before abt 2pm the parts are in next morning.

[Mucka]

be careful with which rubber hose you buy, I replaced some last year that was R9 line and it cracks and split within 1 year of using it

same as this

[sleepy]

Thanks for the reply guys!

I managed to find a place near me that may be able to make the pipes up, I only managed to speak to them on the phone briefly last night but the guy seemed to think they have the right ss pipe and they could make it to shape for me. Just going to head there shortly and if they are unable to help I now know copper if good enough.

Thanks again for the responses

[BertjeConti]

I did my fuellines last year too, the original fuellines are made of nickel plated steel and they do rust.

Copper i won't use because it is to soft. I used "cunifer" which is a copper-nickel-steel alloy. I bought it at ebay, the 7.6 meter was exactly the length i needed:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/8mm-KUNIFER-Leit ... OU:NL:3160

Here is the thread about my fuelline in this forum on the dutch part: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=22537&start=15

It is pretty tricky to bend the fuel pipes and you'll have to fabricate a flare at both ends so the hoses won't come off.
i used a small brake line bender suited for 8mm lines.

[nas80]

Yea meant cunifer.. Not copper.