Bubble flare or double flare. It was pretty simple. NO COMPRESSION FITTINGS!!!

On the issues of rust on brake line: as I mentioned before, this happens to many cars not just X5.

Believe it or not, when parts are exposed, they rust less. When they are hidden, winter salt deposits on them but summer rain cannot get to the part!

Example:

1. 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey REAR AC lines are wrapped in protective rubber, guess what, the lines are corroded after a few winters.

2. The X5

If you spray garden hose to the area under the chassis (no matter what car) in the Spring, around April/May, you will never have rust on the brake lines. Just kneel down and aim the hose upward.

This leads to the next question: the big fat ass cover in the X5...I don't have this cover in my 2005 Volvo XC90 (also an SAV lol).

So, it is safe to assume that if you remove the big fat ass cover and store it (and its some 11 bolts) in the basement of your house, you are ahead because:

1. Fuel Filter DIY is much easier.

2. You can clean the chassis every Spring.

What are people's thoughts are getting rid of this big fat ass cover?

PS: The alternative is to aim water up those 2 holes I mentioned before...

If its not noticeable I wouldn't mine ditching the fat ass cover or at least trimming it so the lines are more accessible to be rinsed and/or accessing the fuel filter is easier.

I would assume that cover is there to protect the fuel filter from being sheared off by road debris and turning your X into a rolling blow torch...lol! It probably also protects the filter and lines in the event of a crash, it's pretty beefy, if you love yourself and your wife and kids I wouldn't remove it.

The Volvo 850, S/V70 as well as the Volvo XC90...the fuel filter is mounted underneath with no protection.

The big fat ass cover can do serious damage too, what if the brake line decides to leak when you are going down the mountain = not fun lol...

I like Ricky Bobby's idea of modifying it: maybe drilling a few 1/2-inch holes to allow a garden hose to spray up there in the Spring, when the birds are migrating north...

Having lived where they used salt on the roads, regardless of the make vehicle, corrosion and rust became a problem even if it was addressed from day one. I always used a carwash that sprayed the undercarriage or did it myself at a coin carwash. Spring cleaning included a trip to the coin wash to spray everything I could get access to from the top or the bottom. Even then, a vehicle 3-4 years old would have significant corrosion and some rust. I suggest that state is to blame rather than any vehicle mfg.

Some states are moving away from SALT and use SAND instead. Nebraska is one of them.

On the issue of Spring cleaning, My 1998 Volvo S70: brake lines look like new because I am very diligent in the Spring...Yes the car is 16 years old and brake lines look good.

VA is using a brine solution not sure all whats in there but that gets EVERYWHERE

Bump for those who are new and live North of the Mason Dixon line, or anywhere where SALT or Salt Brine is used to keep the ice of the streets.

Check Those Brake lines. See images for issues.

Honda Odyssey has the same issue with the Rear AC lines (the shield covers the line trapping salt).

I wonder if the fat-ass cover should be removed and stored in the basement. My 2005 Volvo XC90 has no fat-ass cover.

Also, every Spring, people should get a garden hose and find the holes in the fat-ass cover and shoot water inside to get rid of salt.