My (http://My) wife tells me the brake pedal went to the floor on the X3 today with no warning light. I check and the fluid is very low. Further investigation reveals a puddle of brake fluid under the left rear tire. I jack the wheel up and the brake line is in contact with the half shaft hub wearing a hole through the brake line. It would appear the line is too short not providing the clearance between the hub and brake line. This is an '05 X3 with 53k miles. The last inspection was 5 weeks ago. Has anyone had or heard of a similar circumstance?

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Look at the bracket that holds the line to the trailing arm. Its probebly bent to a different angle because she snagged something on the road, resulting in the line being routed into the axle shaft.

We've seen that happen once or twice with the bracket getting bent after running over something, and the way the bracket bends sends the hose toward the axle.

I inspected the bracket and there was no obvious change to my untrained eye. You would think you would know if you ran over something hard enough to cause that kind of damage.
The dealer has it now for "evaluation". I'll bet I'll have to pay considering the X3's 3k over Warranty.

If the bracket is holding the hose in such a way that it's touching the axle, then there's been a change. it may not look "deformed" or mangled, but IIRC, it's just a 90* bend in the bracket and when it gets snagged on something, it just straightens out a bit and can put the hose into contact with the axle.

And you wouldn't have necessarily driven over something "hard enough", it could've snagged on a sheet of cardboard (as an example) that lifted off the ground as you drove over it, striking the bracket with the edge.

The dealer tried to tell me it was damage from a tow truck hooking up incorrectly but the X has never been towed. So I'll right it off as road hazard (good guess guys). The damage? $375 to replace bracket and brake line.

The dealer tried to tell me it was damage from a tow truck hooking up incorrectly but the X has never been towed. So I'll right it off as road hazard (good guess guys). The damage? $375 to replace bracket and brake line.


At least not prior to this incident, right? You did have it towed to the dealer after you found the brake hose was cut, right? (please say yes) :eek:

At least not prior to this incident, right? You did have it towed to the dealer after you found the brake hose was cut, right? (please say yes) :eek:

Yes it was towed in. I used the BMW Roadside Assistance. They didn't say what the charge was for that. It should be ready today so I will see the total bill.

If it's under warranty, there's no charge for Roadside Assistance.

That really sucks...53k miles and this happens! I remember I had 50 miles left on my warrenty of my 330ci and the rain sensing wipers went. I drove straight to the dealer and told the guy that I didn't have an appointment, and didn't necessarily want this fixed today, I just wanted him to log down my mileage and that I was coming in with the problem before my warranty was to expire at 50k miles. He said "what else do you want me to fix under warrenty now that you are here?" :buttrock