Blue fluid in passenger footwell...

[SHAKEELE30]

took my carpet out not too long ago, and recently got back in the car and noticed blue fluid in the passanger side footwell, cleaned it off with a cloth, and few days later its back....

just to clarify, the car has blue brake fluid...

but how is this getting into the car, could it be the brake servo...

if so, how difficult of a job is it to change this over for another???

[SHAKEELE30]

mmmm not tasted it...

[gromgsxr]

anti freeze?? matrix or heater valve?

[Speedtouch]

Sounds like it could indeed be the brake servo leaking. Have you noticed any drop off in the braking performance/a heavier to operate pedal?

[SHAKEELE30]

yeah brake pedals goes pretty much right to the bottom and is lightish, and the breaking isnt that good to be honest...

[Brianmoooore]

Taste the stuff and determine whether its DOT 4 or coolant!
Makes quite a bit of difference to the repair procedure.

[SHAKEELE30]

right then, managed to get a picture of what it may be....

the top circle is where the blue fluidis dripping, and the other 2 circles, the bolts have blue corrosion around them....

would this mean a new heater valve or can they be replaced...ie; gaskets???

or would i need to change the whole matrix system???

[Motorhole]

New heater valve bud Fairly easy to replace - although I don't know what access is like to the smaller screws in the left of your picture - I don't have any of the brake transfer bar/clevis gubbins in my car.

[SHAKEELE30]

is this a dealer only or can i get it from ecp etc...

can i not replace any gaskets/rubbers etc,

would the new ones come with them?

[Motorhole]

Expensive from a dealer! like £120 or thereabouts. You'll get a good used one on here for about £25-£30 or so.

The leak at the top of your pic can't be remedied with gaskets etc, it's a leak integral to a sealed unit.

[Speedtouch]

K-seal FTW!

[SHAKEELE30]

tbh if i cant get one from ecp might just have to get it from bmw depending on the cost of them. as getting another 2nd hand one, might give me the same issue later on, and its not a nice job to do first time around....

[Brianmoooore]

A major cause of failure of these valves is a coolant pressure cap that still hasn't been replaced under the '97 safety recall. Check that yours is the new type.
A good second hand one is at least as reliable as a new replacement.The failure isn't age related.
The "smaller screws in the left of your picture" are accessed with a 1/4" socket through the grommet from the engine bay. It's the one at the bottom, behind the brake linkage bracing bracket that's difficult, but made easier if you use a hex. headed self tapper to replace the standard cross head one.
Hold the little square nuts in place by wrapping electrical tape around the flange when refitting.

[SHAKEELE30]

i replaced the bottle and cap around a year or two ago for brand new ones...