M3 E46 rear brake lines
- Thread starter Eliot
- Start date
Soldato
Yes fuel tank needs to be dropped. An indy will probably charge £400 using genuine bmw lines. Or it can be done cheaper if they make the lines from copper pipe as I believe they can be poked through instead of dropping the fuel tank.
Indeed the tank needs to come down. There supposedly are ways around it but that's the correct way to do things.
My 330i will need this doing in the next few months and not looking forward to the resultant bill.
If you're in London you can try Indytech in N18, or Highams Park Motor Company in E4 who are very knowledgeable but dear.
Please post how you get on and what quotes you are given!
My 330i will need this doing in the next few months and not looking forward to the resultant bill.
If you're in London you can try Indytech in N18, or Highams Park Motor Company in E4 who are very knowledgeable but dear.
Please post how you get on and what quotes you are given!
Last edited:
Yep, Sodding horrible job! 
(It is actually embarrassing, as an indy, to tell prospective customers that it is actually going to cost as much as it does!)
(BMW should hold their heads in shame over the design!)
Depends on which ones need replacing, mostly the OSR can be replaced this way but the NSR cannot always be done so.
Best to pre-empt it by smearing grease over the steel brake lines on a regular basis to ensure they do not get rusty in the first place.
(It is actually embarrassing, as an indy, to tell prospective customers that it is actually going to cost as much as it does!)
(BMW should hold their heads in shame over the design!)
Depends on which ones need replacing, mostly the OSR can be replaced this way but the NSR cannot always be done so.
Best to pre-empt it by smearing grease over the steel brake lines on a regular basis to ensure they do not get rusty in the first place.
Soldato
Eurgh. Sounds like a rubbish job. I'm just lucky they did mine when they repaired the subframe.
Do you definitely need yours doing? Quite a few places have a habit of quoting for them when really a piece of wire wool and 10 minutes sees them looking brand new again as it was only surface rust.
Do you definitely need yours doing? Quite a few places have a habit of quoting for them when really a piece of wire wool and 10 minutes sees them looking brand new again as it was only surface rust.
Was just about to say that. Rub it down with wire wool and assess if there is any actual corrosion. If not, then just apply grease all over.
Copper pipe would be my preference because you don't have to worry about future corrosion and you don't need to drop the fuel tank.
Associate
I'd replace with copper, if you can get lines from dealer they are still going to rust at some point
Soldato
I believe a good indy will feed cunifer pipe through (no-one uses actual copper pipes anymore afaik), rather than drop the tank. As someone said above, the NSR isn't a surety. Best find a trustworthy (and busy ;p) indy and see how you go.
Man of Honour
How common is common? How do I know if mine need doing, or when they need doing?!
It's not if, it's when it corrodes. So it will happen eventually. You can check yourself but it's better to get a garage to put it on ramps to check for you. A good indy will know the difference between surface rust and penetrating corrosion.
Man of Honour
Ah right thanks. My indy guy is carrying out the MOT on 6th July so will mention this to him.