XSeries-forum

Jumped into the 06 yesterday lunchtime to be met with a low brake fluid warning and a very spongy pedal. Called up my indy who just happened to be out in his transporter and a couple of hours later the car was on it's way to his workshop....with a river of brake fluid under the rear near side.

It appears the pipe has a hole on 1 of the bends and looks pretty ropy all round so new copper pipes are about to be fitted on both sides.

Car was bought in Aberdeen so obviously the sea air is not condusive to keeping the brake pipes in good order, especially considering, after reading on here, that they are a weak point anyway.

Using the Defender for a couple of days so thankfully no long journys.

Not un common at all mine never actually corroded through but my 55reg failed the mot last nov on all brake pipes so that would have been the same age as yours is now!  Anyhow its all ok now for years to come after new copper pipes and flixis were fitted

my 2002 model has perfect condition brake pipes.  My car is a London based car though so has no rust anywhere.

Copper pipes are great as they dont corrode, but the fittings are usually steel so they will corrode.  Probably a good idea to paint the fittings once fitted.

level of corrosion depends on where the car has been used most i guess.

my current e53 as no corrosion.

i've had a previous car which had a lots of corrosion. way too much for its age. it had previous owners who lived in coastal areas.

i always assumed that to be the reason. 

maybe it was used to tow a boat into the sea as well.. in which case it prob reversed knee-deep into the sea once in a while.. who knows..

My car received an advisory about the brake pipes when it went to the dealers recently and a £560 quotation to replace them!! Comedians!


Turks.

Car arrived back yesterday evening with all metal brake pipes replaced and a very solid pedal. Also the wallet is £300 lighter and that's £60 worth of parts, including all the BMW trim clips that had to be replaced, and the rest is labour, almost 5 hours.

Seems a lot but I trust my indy implicitly and I would not even consider scrimping on something as important as brakes.

It'll now be good for the rest of it's life.

[quote="Denis O"]
Car arrived back yesterday evening with all metal brake pipes replaced and a very solid pedal. Also the wallet is £300 lighter and that's £60 worth of parts, including all the BMW trim clips that had to be replaced, and the rest is labour, almost 5 hours.

Seems a lot but I trust my indy implicitly and I would not even consider scrimping on something as important as brakes.

It'll now be good for the rest of it's life.
[/quote]

5 hours is ok, i did mine with my brother and their all to bend, the end fittins have to be put in with the crimper thing but the biggest problem with the x5 is the amount of plastic trim underneath that needs removing to get at the pipes!!

Just to resurrect a (slightly) old thread.

Mine has just failed its MOT on corroded brake lines.
My indy has quoted me £668 to replace them with copper ones.
I do trust him and he has seen the car for the 3 years I have owned the X5, but that seems a bit steep compared to some of the prices mentioned above?

[quote="Waka"]
Just to resurrect a (slightly) old thread.

Mine has just failed its MOT on corroded brake lines.
My indy has quoted me £668 to replace them with copper ones.
I do trust him and he has seen the car for the 3 years I have owned the X5, but that seems a bit steep compared to some of the prices mentioned above?
[/quote]

That does seem a bit steep for an Indy. If you're anywhere near Maidstone in Kent I can put you in touch with my guy. He's probably got some copper pipe and clips left 

The price depends entirely on what brake pipes are corroded, and how many. 

The £668 might replace all of the pipes on the car.  Find out what exactly what pipes you need before comparing quotes with other posted.

Also copper brake pipe is cheap, so they cost is 90% labour, but its a long job if you want it done tidily and clipped in with the original BMW routing and clips, then they have to bleed the entire braking system which can take time.

Thanks for the replies chaps. Good point rjkc600, Denis were all your pipes replaced? 

Does anyone now what a normal main dealer and indy labour rates are per hour (I assume I'm paying the usual 'South-East tax'!)?

I don't think it is the coastal air. It's the salt that councils put on the road in the winter particularly as it has become a media issue (lack of "gritting") and they are petrified of bad press/litigation so shovel out massive amounts.
I had some pipes burst in my place in the Highlands last year and drove up to get them fixed on Boxing Day.
I was astonished at the crud that had built up in the wheel arches and under the front grill.
In the winter I do a weekly wheelarch/underside hose.

Hi gobiman, by South-East tax I meant labour costs etc. are usually higher than in the rest of the country.  :blink:

Good point about the salt/grit though. My car was registered (and spent the first half of its life) in Scotland 

Denis what was the name of your indy please?

I use an indy in Essex.  £50 per hour is there charge for work ive had done.  Very happy with the service and the guys always let me have a peek at whats going on which i love, as i like learning about the cars i own.

I use an indy near bury st edmunds and his rate is £35 per hour