Needs to be done on all vehicles driven on salted roads.

This is a textbook issue that keeps me away from used vehicles driven in winter weather. Dropped the cover last year, light coating of dust with ZERO rust on the lines/fittings. PO and I have never turned a wheel off road/on snow/on treated roads.

Anyone expecting brake lines to last over 10 yrs need to garage thru winter or chassis wash weekly.

Google class action law suits against BMW. Class action law suits are only initiated if BMW blow off enough people with the same problems.

it's not just winter weather, but salty climate such as being near the oceans.

Nobody can be sure of the position or conscience of BMW or what the verdict of a court or jury would be.

Personally, I don't think anyone should be surprised there is rust damage on something that is 10 years old, especially if it has been exposed to a corrosive environment that long. Nor do I think it means it is a bad design, something the maker of the product should have recalled or be weighing on their conscience.

Anyone that has spent any time driving salted roads or lived near the ocean should be well aware of the necessary precautions take to minimize corrosion.

And following BMW service schedule, the cover is SUPPOSED to be removed and lines inspected at recommended service. When significant rust is present, lines are replaced. Road salt or sea air cause is of no consequence.

Don't follow BMW service sched, and BMW recommended chassis cleaning directives, expect rust issues.

Lack of proper maintenance/chassis washes is not a manufacturer responsibility.

I had rusted lines replaced at 5 yrs on an '85 Audi Coupe GT Quattro, due to salted NJ roads.

Class action lawsuits filed or settled are not proof a company sued was irresponsible or they were "blowing off" anything, certainly not proof that is the culture or standard operating procedure of that company.

It is not unusual that class action lawsuits are filed after there has been a voluntary recall or product has been pulled from the shelves--giving the impression that at least those class action lawsuits are opportunistic---(is that an ambulance I hear?).

There are law firms that specialize in class action suits, where that firm is the initiator and then advertises for 'victims' to see if they can gather enough to move forward with the lawsuit. I'm sure you have seen the ads and commercials.

:iagree:

I replaced the Fuel Filter recently and below is the DIY:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...el-filter.html


During the removal of the Big Cover, I realized that there are 2 holes that one can spray some water (garden hose set at medium, no pressure washer as there are fuel lines nearby) in the Spring, such as April or May to dissolve the salt from the winter.

Many people don't realize this but when salt is used, it is not just on the road, tires, chassis, but salt is also in the air and finds its way into the Big Cover and coat the brake metal lines. Then in July/August the hot months, corrosion by salt accelerates.

So every Spring, people should get a garden hose, set it at medium spray and aim it into holes #3 and #4 for in the photo below for a few minutes to get rid of the winter salt...


http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...-filter-02.jpg

This same thing just happened to me yesterday morning on my way to work. My brakes where really mushy when I got to work. After work, its like I had NO brakes. I looked underneath my sav and found a lot of brake fluid on the ground. I drove very cautiously home. Looked up "brake lines" on this site and found this. I then started taking the splash guard off of my sav because the fluid was running out by the spot this section mentioned. And sure enough, a rusted line blew a hole right at the elbow coming downward to run to the back of my brakes.
I ended up cutting off both lines because it was about to happen to the other line. I am about to repair them. I went and got all the parts needed to splice then back together.
Wish me luck.

Added Zinc paint protection on the rear brake lines
 

I inspected my lines at this point and there was slight corrosion. I had my master mechanic look at it and he agreed that it was only surface rust and was not as far along as the others I've seen posted here.

We cleaned the area and added zinc paint coating.

No compression fitting!
Bubble flare only!

PS: While there replacing the metal lines, you may as well replace the Fuel Filter.
I posted the DIY Fuel Filter in forum, you can search for that.