Petrol smell inside a VW Passat 1.8 , build in 2000 in Germany. The problem is more severe near the back right passenger. Note that the tank is exactly behind the back right passenger. This is a right steering wheel car. I checked the engine compartment and I noticed no leak or smell of petrol. The smell comes around the lid of the fuel tank.

It is inside the cabin at the diver's side, underneath the dashboard close to the pedals.

As a modern car it will run fine on any unleaded gas/petrol and the engine will self-adjust it's ignition timing to suit.

But some Passat variants can additionally take advantage of Super Unleaded, it's a total waste of money and offer no benefits at all for most models. As you haven't given further details of your exact Passat variant I cannot be any more specific, but the recommended grade is usually on a label inside the tank filler door.

vw had a batch of bad coilpacks around 1999/2000 and several thousand cars were affected,they did not recall any cars as some cars were only fitted with one bad coilpack,after all this time you are unlucky to have found three.but 50k is about right anyway....

what the problem then ,apart for mrs actually putting money in tank and not on bingo

THE CARBON CANISTER IS MOST LIKELY OVERLOADED, REPLACE THE CARBON CANISTER VAPOR TRAP, IT IS NEAR THE FUEL TANK.

Yes, that sounds like the problem. The filter is usually attached to the steel fuel lines with a short piece of rubber hose (not sure about vw though) which over time will dry up and split, allowing fuel to leak. I checked, and a replacement is about $30 (much more from the dealer) . If it uses the 2 short hoses, it will come with them, and hopefully that will be the cure. DON'T park car inside a garage until this is fixed, fumes will build up and can ignite in a closed area just by flipping on a wall light switch or starting the car.

I would trust them but make sure it is just not in need of some kind of cleaning.

bad heater core?

i had a similar problem on the front doors .after taking it to a garage for a quote £ 180 i read into it and there are micro swithches in the locks so with a gentle tap with the hand the door unlocks . hope this helps it saved me the money

Pull up front passenger carpet and pad, remove glovebox, 6 or 7 screws in all and unplug lite. Black funnel drains from condensation pan into a flexable rubber boot. Boot is too soft a material for this drain so it squeezes closed not allowing for proper drainage. I have not figured out whether to extend the funnel with a rigid drain tube or pull it up further on the funnel and clap it hopefully opening up the blocked area. VW should have used rigid tubing all the way to the bottom of the car.
There is a transmission module under the carpet which sets in a valley where water collects because of this flaw. VW should recall and repair this if you ask me..