MOT fail...rear brake line - HELP

[autoalex]

Does anyone know of a good garage or anyone who could help me replace a rear brake line - not flexi pipe...

It involves taking the fuel tank out and won't be easy, so I'm told.

Been quoted over £350 for it, which I really can't afford.

I'm in London by the way

Cheers

[bimanut]

Cant comment on a garage for you,but the tank doesnt have to be removed to be done.Not an easy job but doable.
Tried to find a post for you that was up the other day,where mr mooore commented how to do it
Sadly i couldnt

[harry_p]

tank doesnt need to come out, although it would make the job easier, there have been a few threads about this lately, and e30s are of an age where they will either be failing soon, or will have been done already.

the easiest way is to give up on the idea of saving parts, buy a new set of flexies, and new spring clips. snip the hard pipes just behind their unions, twist and snap the spring clips that hold the pipes to the brackets, and pull the unions through the holes.

once removed, use the old pipes as patterns to make nice new ones from a reel of brakepipe.

it'll cost you a little more in pipe and clips, but it saves a huge amount of labour as the nice shiny new fittings will go together easily even with the restricted access you have between tank and subframe. wrestling with the old corroded fittings will make most people lose the will to live

i'm sure someone who knows e30s could do the job in a few hours for a lot less than £350

[sag]

mate which ones are corroded i might be able to help you(pending were ur based) i done all of the rear brake pipes on my e30 last week
u dnt need to drop the tank off at all

[autoalex]

Hi guys,

Cheers for the replies! Pretty glad to hear that the tank doesn't need to come out! And thanks Harry for your suggestion of flexies and spring clips - makes sense.

My only trouble, though, is getting the car high enough off the ground to get it all done. Axle stands at the side of the road will be a mission...

Sag - I'm in Ealing, mate. And from what I can see, it's the rear n/s lines that need replacing.

Cheers again, guys!!

[Kieran_n22]

My one has gone aswell. Me and my mate will be doing it.

[capri_rob]

The spring clips are a few pence each from the dealer.

Is it the metal brake pipe that is mounted on the trailing arm that has failed or the one from the T Piece to the flexi pipe ?

The individual metal pipes from BMW which are the correct length and have the fittings already on are about £10 each - all you need to do is bend them.

Or you can get some made up probably cheaper than that.

As already mentioned probably the easiest solution is to chop the lot off and start again - you may as well replace the flexi's whilst you're at it - theyre not expensive and it will save you having to take it all apart again - a set of Goodridge braided hoses with stainless fittings which should last indefinately can be had for about £90.

Soak the bleed nipples in penetrating oil for several days before you start the job and if your budget will stretch to it order new ones if there is the slightest sign of them being rounded off before you start - if they won't budge you may ned to get some heat on them. they are about £5 each from the dealer but you can get them cheaper off ebay.

[daimlerman]

If you stick to standard parts from your local motor factor(flexi's,kunifer pipe,brass three way connector,handful of pipe fittings and spring clips)the lot will cost less than £30....tools to do the job,pair of side cutters to slice the front/back pipe at convienient point,8 or 10mm socket for the three way,11mm and 14mm open ended for the pipes,a pipe flaring tool another £50 at the most,some garage is pulling your trousers down!

[sag]

im free on sundays mate iv got most of the marterial (kunifer pipes and pipe fittngs) jus sort me out a drink if u need them..... iv got a flaring tool and all tools required for the job also iv got used braided hoses for sale 6 piece one for £50 in good condition (goodbridge)... let me know if u need me im not far from you

[autoalex]

I had a look again and both lines on each side look pretty fooked. They're rusty as far as I can see going under the fuel tank.

Sag, if the offer still stands for the tools and help, I'll gladly take you up on that. I'll obviously give you generous beer money for the help, too

[sag]

yh thats kool mate and a small donation to the zone
im up for sunday if ur kool with that .. i can come around 9am(early we start the better we dealing with 20+year old turds anything is expected!! ) jus pm with ur adresse and phone number or drop me sms on 07791978997

[sag]

i forget to add make sure u get the brackets if memory serves me rite i had 6.it cost me around £6-8 ....but it all depends if u have drum or disc brakes at the rear