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replacement rear brake lines

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GSehota View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GSehota Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: replacement rear brake lines
    Posted: 27 Jul 2011 at 11:19pm
My E46 recently failed for having rear brakes lines corroded. Just went back to the garage today, they charged £250 for replacement of rear brake lines. They used copper pipe and said they did not need to remove the fuel tank for access. On arriving home I noticed a leak of the new copper pipes which were joined to the steel pipes, this section was about half way under the car. I am now going to the garage in the morning to get this checked. 
Should they have used copper pipe? Anyone else had a similar problem?
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AShah View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AShah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jul 2011 at 9:53am
Copper pipe is used quite commonly for replacement of brake pipes for the following reasons:
 
1) generally, even though copper is more expensive than steel, it is generic and is cheaper than OEM
2) easy to fit, you can just bend it to where you like, with care, and fit it to any car as long as the bore size matches.
3) it doesn't corrode! once they have been changed, there is no reason to ever change them again! They should last the life of the car!
 
However, it seems that your garage has taken, in my book, a long-shortcut. They should have fitted the copper pipe from the top of the inner rubber hose all the way to the 'T' piece under the fuel tank. If they have cut the steel pipe and put a joint in, then the steel flare in the joint will leak as it is difficult to flare, as it is harder than the copper.
 
I personally have just done this job myself last week, and i replaced the pipe as mentioned above, and no leaks.
 
They didn't drop the tank, as they have rerouted the pipe and held it to the car with some 'P' clips and self tapping screws!
 
 
Hope than helps!
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GSehota View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GSehota Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Aug 2011 at 11:03pm
Dear AShah,
Thank you for your advice and sorry for the late reply back. I went back in the morning to the garage and they resolved the problem and stooped the leak. However I won't being using them again. I now noticed that the yellow light pop up for the oil the other day, the car was given an inspection 2 by BMW in June and since then I have done over 1000 miles. So I gave it a little top up but it did not look as it was low. It did come on just for a second when I started the car. It seems ok, I did for a moment think maybe the sensors gone wrong or the garage had disrupted something, I hope not as I could do without any other expenses. 
What car do you drive?
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AShah View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AShah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Aug 2011 at 10:29am
The oil light coming on briefly can happen if the car isn't used for over a day. Its just the oil draining back to the sump overtime. Once you start the engine the oil pump has to push the oil from the sump round the engine as there is a couple of seconds delay before the light will go out.  As long as it went back out, that should be OK. If it comes back on, then you could have an oil pressure issue, or the sensor has gone.
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GSehota View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GSehota Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Aug 2011 at 9:01pm
Dear Mr Shah, 
Thank you for the advice. The car is generally driven on a daily basis. The light went on when I got back from work and went out again about an hour later, it did go out straight away. It seems fine now so I am hoping its just a tiny glitch. 
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