Potential Dangerous Brake issue

[Nat]

For all you X5 E53 people,

I belong to another forum , the M5board. I spotted this , thought best I pass it on, just in case.


http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5 ... -also.html


This is a little off topic for this section but I wanted to post this here so it gets the most exposure. Im a BMW Tech and over the last couple months I have had 2 E53 X5's with a potentially dangerous issue. The brake lines going to the rear calipers rusted and blew out. Both of them experienced the failure in the exact same spot. On the left side of the vehicle there is a long splash panel that runs the length of the rocker. If you remove it you will see the brake lines, there are two there that run down and along the length of the inside of the rocker. Toward the front there is a plastic bracket which holds the lines, two fuel lines, and the vacuum line to the fuel filter. On both of the cars they rotted in the same spot, where they clip in to the plastic bracket. #3 in the pic below is the line and #17 is the bracket they clip into. The strange thing is that these lines are completely covered by the splash panel so they are not getting water/salt/crud constantly flung onto them, though somehow they are rotting. So if any of you guys own an X5 also you might want to take a look .

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=34&fg=17



Best you guys take a look just in case.

Regards,

Nat.

[X5Sport]

We've had a couple of folks on here with MOT failures because of this exact issue - pipe corrosion/pipe leaks - so this is a very good heads up for those who haven't had a look underneath or who don't clean the underside of their cars.

Defo worth a look.

Richard

[Reusch]

On my last mot mine failed on this very thing.

[fenj66]

as mentioned in the original post, getting that big plastic box off from under the car is a pig of a job,
not sure how an mot tester would be able to check anything under there as they certainly dont remove it. but once off its handy for replacing the fuel filter on facelift diesels anyway.

[Johnny-p]

Same here, both sides corroded and leaking..

Indy only noticed it whilst setting mine up for laser alignment that there was a puddle of brake fluid on the floor..

Like it says in the post the area is shrouded in plastic so can go unchecked till it's too late..

Had to have two braided hoses replaced aswell as the whole lot was rotten!!

[shadrack]

i had all new brake pipes through the whole car at 6 yrs old mot, mine never actually blew out but were in a right state everywhere, especially where you say

[Waka]

My last but one MOT failed on corroded brake lines. My indy replaced them with copper ones. Shame the car didn't come as standard with them!