Rear brake pipes

[A1BMW325iSport]

Hi guys,
just wondered if many of you have had problems with rusty brake pipes above the rear subframe?

i`m going to replace the whole lot, whats the best way...

buy from bmw?

or make some up?


are bmw expensive for brake pipes?

[smithy318i]

wouldn't dealer ones be steel again? Not sure on the price.
My copper ones cost Ԛ£13.
The biggest problem is the T piece under the rear subframe to the trailing arms (nightmare).
I had my subframe down while i was doing the bushes, so there was loads of space for the brake pipes.

You may also want to consider replacing your fuel lines at the same time.

[Brianmoooore]

Make your own pipes from "cunifer" pipe. Dead cheap - about Ԛ£7 worth will do all the brake pipes on a car and a half.
Join the pipe from the front just in front of the rear left wheel arch.
Remove the fuel tank for access, unless your rear beam bushes need changing anyway.

[A1BMW325iSport]

thanks for replies,

yeah the t piece is a bit rusy as well, i`m just going to replace the lot.
funny enough the fuel pipes look mint, they must have been done at some point

i thought of bmw ones as they will be the right shape with all the unions on and would save me time,

i haven`t had much experience in making brake pipes before

[smithy318i]

making them up isn't a DIY job (unless you have a tool to flair the ends).

[jpboost]

I'm pretty sure the bmw ones will not come bent to shape.

I bought a clutch static line recently and it was just straight. (it was also about 10mm to long!!!) and I had to bend it myself.

Pretty cheap though. IIRC about Ԛ£3 which is not much different to having one made up at a motorfactors.

[smithy318i]

If you do decide to have your local shop make them up, the lengths are:

O/S & N/S Rear brake pipe 55cm
2 x Inner rear brake pipe 35cm
Front to rear brake pipe 305cm
all with male connectors

I don't know the fronts because mine were already done.

[Brianmoooore]

The advantage of NOT using genuine BMW pipes, is that the replacements can be non corroding cunnifer, instead of steel.

[A1BMW325iSport]

thanks guys, wouldn`t it had been nice if bmw had fitted decent pipes in the first place

[kevin316i]

I had to get all the brake pipes and flexible hoses replaced on my 318iS. There were bought from the main dealer and they came bent in the proper shapes and were relatively cheap. Will they last?
Seeing as we don't have salt on Irish roads they should be OK for the next 10-15 years.

[A1BMW325iSport]

thanks dude, i`ll ask them friday