Leash for the Gas Cap

[Ricky Bobby]

I dont think mine still has a tether - but I do rest it on the little green hole on the fuel door when filling - so convenient!

[Qsilver7]

<Fascinating the things you discover thru mere conversations like this. I never noticed how similar the green mounting thingy & the black thingy where the fuel filler flap's bowden cable moves into to lock the fuel filler door, look alike. From the pics, it almost looks like the only difference is color...go figure. >

Grateful for the tether on my e39 & e53...but also grateful that BMW designed a place to rest the cap on the fuel filler door, as well...especially if/when the tether breaks off.

My e38 didn't come with a "tether"...back then, there was only the fuel cap resting place designed on the fuel filler door:

{E38...no tether and slot for resting fuel filler cap}




{e39 had tether and little green mounting hole}



{e53 also has tether and little green mounting hole}

[TECN1K]

Ok - So I removed my tether because it's against the law in New York (and other states) to have latching gas pump handles. They have removed the little ridged plate you can flip the lever down to "chock" the handle down, so you don't have to stand there while your tank fills up.

You try doing that on a windy, -10ºF day in the dead of winter up here. It suuuuuuucks.

So, when faced with adversity, people become creative. Removing the tether was my way to solve this.




But WAIT!



Oh.

[Ricky Bobby]

So you toss your cap in between the handle to chock it open? Genius!

[TECN1K]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

So you toss your cap in between the handle to chock it open? Genius!

No way man.

That would be illegal

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by TECN1K

... it's against the law in New York (and other states) to have latching gas pump handles. They have removed the little ridged plate you can flip the lever down to "chock" the handle down...

That is amazing. What is the logic behind the law? Is it to encourage you to pay for full service so the gas station attendant has a job? And I thought we were "out there" here in CA.
One of the states around here, Oregon, I think, won't let you pump your own gas. (NJ too?) At least that does not make people stand out in the cold for no reason.

[Ricky Bobby]

^Yep NJ and Oregon are the only ones with paid attendants - nice in the winter time

[TECN1K]

Originally Posted by oldskewel

That is amazing. What is the logic behind the law? Is it to encourage you to pay for full service so the gas station attendant has a job? And I thought we were "out there" here in CA.
One of the states around here, Oregon, I think, won't let you pump your own gas. (NJ too?) At least that does not make people stand out in the cold for no reason.

Honestly I bet it's fire code. Like, automatic vent shutoff failure (no CLICK) and then blam you got gas pouring out all over the place while Joe Schmoe is inside buying a pack of Marlboros and some scratch off tickets. Comes back out, flicks his marb light in a puddle and Kablooey.

[Joshdub]

Yeah getting gas in oregon sucks. The idiots just let the cap bang against the quarter panel. Sometimes I just do it myself.

[jdstrickland]

All I wanted was a $1.50 piece of rubber, I got an education on how to jamb the gas nozzle on when they don't allow the pump handle to hold itself open, and stories of gas caps lining the interstates because people drive away with them laying on the roof.

Bottom line is, I have to get a new gas cap if I want the cheesy piece of rubber.