Hi,

I have searched the ShopForums but not found a relevant hit; nonetheless if this has been previously discussed, feel free to point me to the relevant thread.

I am thinking about replacing the stock gas cap on a1997 E420 with an aftermarket lockable gas cap. I don't think this should be a big deal, but I remember from past experience that the gas tank and fuel filler system in this car is a rather finnicky beast. Finnicky in the sense that not fully tightening the (OEM) gas cap would cause the "Check Engine" light to come on, and, sometimes, the low fuel light to flash frantically.

Given the above, I am unsure how "engineered" the OEM gas cap is into the fuel system in this car.

Has anyone had experience (+ve / -ve) in replacing the OEM gas cap with an aftermarket one (on this model [W210]?)

Many thanks in advance.

/alex

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1997 E420

Alex, why would you need a lockable gas cap on your 1997 E420? Doesn't the filler cap cover lock when you lock the doors?

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Fred Hoelzle

Hi Fred,

although I have never seen auto theft discussed on these boards, putting a locking gas cap on is a good way to make it harder (I hestitate to use prevent) for someone who steals the car to fill it up with gas. The theory goes that they would pull up to the gas station, discover that they can't open the gas cap, drive off and ditch the car.

Call me paranoid (I don't even know where the W210 ranks on the list of "most stolen cars"), but I thought it might be a cheap deterrent (not strictly speaking, more like an "after-the-fact" deterrent).

/alex

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1997 E420

That is quite an interesting idea. Like you say it wouldn't prevent a theft but would rather help put it in the shortly ditched catagory as many are. It's good to know it's not the gas you were trying to protect, I wondered where you lived so as not to go there.

My cap is one of the more snug (of many) I have used, appearantly making a strong seal. Which would make me guess that a similar cap that created a similar tight seal would work.

I'm sure you've also figured out that to best impliment this thief foiler you would never want more than a gallon or two of fuel in your car.

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Delsman
92' 400E, 107k
BMW 535i, 165k