MOT Fail on corroded rear brake lines - Anyone else?

[EdButler]

As above, has anyone else had a problem with their brake lines? Mine has just failed on the rears. I'm guessing the exhaust running by them near the tunnel doesn't help things.

After having a search, i've only seen one other thread of this happening. I also find it a little strange as my car was a garage queen before my ownership, having barely seen any water, yet after 2 nasty winters they need replacing?

Any comments would be welcome

 

[cj10jeeper]

Ed,

My X5 failed on the exact same thing last week. Fixed, mot'd, passed and sold

Fairly common issue on cars to fail on rear brakes pipes corroding. Don't think all the salt of the last couple of severe Winters has helped.

 

[EdButler]

Cheers CJ, puts my mind at ease a bit, yeah these winters have been pretty bad! Could you tell me if the you/the garage fabricated the lines, or whether you bought them from BMW?

I'm just praying to god the prop shaft and exhaust doesn't get in the way!

 

[cj10jeeper]

Cheers CJ, puts my mind at ease a bit, yeah these winters have been pretty bad! Could you tell me if the you/the garage fabricated the lines, or whether you bought them from BMW?

I'm just praying to god the prop shaft and exhaust doesn't get in the way!

It turned out to be the ferrules they replaced and I believe they sourced them direct from BMW. Not had a bill yet so not sure, but lines would have been fabricated on site, other parts BMW sourced.

 

[tomTVR]

My MOT just came back withy these as an advisory, probably because of all the salt on the roads the last 2 winters in particular.

Any idea the cost to replace?

 

[dragonhead100]

I had the same on my 3 series coupe this January. i was told the petrol tank may need to come out to access it = loads of hours labour, turned out when the garage looked it was near the brake and replace it with the wheel off! - phew. cost me £40 for the part & 1 hours labour.

It depends on where / what's corroded, I originally was looking at around £300 for the worst case scenario - may differ on a zed though.

 

[oli445]

Had mine changed about 2 months ago because of corrosion, I expected it though, had an 03 e46 that needed them doing last September and my Z is an 04. Don't think it's anything to worry about, just standard maintainence to be expected on the slightly older Z's!

 

[RichardG]

just standard maintainence to be expected on the slightly older Z's!

Not just Z's, just had to replace the pipes on the wifes Focus.

 

[Greeno]

Mines an 03 on about 75K and i had an advisory on my last MOT so im expecting to need to replace them on the next one in about 4 months

 

[oli445]

Mines an 03 on about 75K and i had an advisory on my last MOT so im expecting to need to replace them on the next one in about 4 months

You might be better just getting them done and not waiting until they tell you your car isn't roadworthy because of them! They have endured another winter since it was an advisory and I wouldn't want to be in the car if they break! + it will stagger the cost of your MOT!

 

[ZED_NOT_ZEE]

Make sure you change your brake fluid every 2 years. Glycol brake fluid acquires and retains moisture from the environment from exposure past seals and through rubber lines. This combined with oxygen can erode the brake lines, typically from the inside out. On the outside you'll see a 'rough bubble patch' on the brake line, on the inside it's being eaten away.

Happened to me once in the e36 M3, parked the car and the fluid seeped out... with each press of the brake pedal the high pressure forced more fluid out. On the highway at 120km/h and a traffic jam ahead and the brakes failed. I had to stop the car by pulling the e-brake slowly to avoid complete lock-up and downshifting. I managed to pull on a shoulder and tightly slipped by a few cars as the car came to a complete stop. This was a good 7-8 years ago now. It was a long weekend so I couldn't source a new brake line, I ended dropping the exhaust/fuel tank/driveshaft in my driveway pulling the brake line and welding it closed again. It's been fine ever since but I really should get around to replacing that line one of these days.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Mines an 03 on about 75K and i had an advisory on my last MOT so im expecting to need to replace them on the next one in about 4 months

You might be better just getting them done and not waiting until they tell you your car isn't roadworthy because of them! They have endured another winter since it was an advisory and I wouldn't want to be in the car if they break! + it will stagger the cost of your MOT!

I agree and that's really the purpose of an advisory. It's not a fail now and is perfectly safe, but a warning to get the work planned and scheduled.

 

[pvr]

Annoyed me when I got the advisory on the Golf, AFTER they changed the brake fluid as part of the bi-annual process. I would have dealt with it before the change of fluids, but why wait to tell me until after the £100 event.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Annoyed me when I got the advisory on the Golf, AFTER they changed the brake fluid as part of the bi-annual process. I would have dealt with it before the change of fluids, but why wait to tell me until after the £100 event.

What was the advisory pvr?

I know my local guys tell me that stricltly speaking they are not allowed to do any remedial during the test, but often do, simply because it's a pita to tell the customer the car failed on a brake light bulb then rebook it in 2 days later or supposeldy keep it on premises until fixed then retested.

 

[Ewazix]

Annoyed me when I got the advisory on the Golf, AFTER they changed the brake fluid as part of the bi-annual process. I would have dealt with it before the change of fluids, but why wait to tell me until after the £100 event.

What was the advisory pvr?

I know my local guys tell me that stricltly speaking they are not allowed to do any remedial during the test, but often do, simply because it's a pita to tell the customer the car failed on a brake light bulb then rebook it in 2 days later or supposeldy keep it on premises until fixed then retested.

Correct on the tester not being able to repair anything. I had the advisory on corrosion the ferrule end of a line, I went back and queried it later and the tester agreed that it was light surface discoloration rust only and was not affecting the integrity of the line and was not going to fail an MOT in the foreseeable future. He also said that the rust would, quote "wipe off", but he couldn't do it.

From previous experience if the corrosion lifts as a dust with a soft brass brush then a thin smear of light grease will keep it in good nick and rightly pass the test. If things are pitted or flaking it should fail and will need replacing. Don't be tempted to paint rusty lines.

 

[pvr]

Annoyed me when I got the advisory on the Golf, AFTER they changed the brake fluid as part of the bi-annual process. I would have dealt with it before the change of fluids, but why wait to tell me until after the £100 event.

What was the advisory pvr?

I know my local guys tell me that stricltly speaking they are not allowed to do any remedial during the test, but often do, simply because it's a pita to tell the customer the car failed on a brake light bulb then rebook it in 2 days later or supposeldy keep it on premises until fixed then retested.

The advisory was for the brake lines rust, the MOT was done at the VW garage as part of the annual service I get done on the (classic) Golf. As it was the second year, I do the oil + brake service and I was expecting that if the brake lines were rusting, they would ask to replace them before they do the brake service.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Tricky one pvr as they are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Would have been much better to call and advise you before they did the service work, then you can decide how to proceed and probably reduce total costs.

My local guys do this and it avoids any disappointment or unexpected expenses.

 

[cj10jeeper]

My MOT just came back withy these as an advisory, probably because of all the salt on the roads the last 2 winters in particular.

Any idea the cost to replace?

You asked for costs. My X5 bill came in yesterday for replacement of the rear flexis and connecting ferrules. Was £50 parts (BMW OEM), £25 brake fluid and £100 labour, so just on the £200 mark.

Car now sorted, sold and gone

 

[TheHoff]

Does anyone have the part number for these? I've had a look on RealOEM, but the picture isn't especially clear...to me at least.

 

[Ant]

just failed the mot on this...raging