X3 Brake Bleeding Help Needed

alexdavies82 · Feb 27, 2022

Hi,

I have just put my e83 X3 together following lots of renovation. Unfortunately I ended up having to replace the passenger side rear calliper during the renoovation which means that the brakes are now very spongy when you press the brake pedal.

I have tried to bleed the brakes - basically following this proceedure

1. Check the brake fluid reservoir is full
2. Fit a tube to the first calliper bleed screw - The other end of the tube is in a container and submerged in brake fluid
2. Pump the brake pedal until the resistance increases
3. Whilst the pedal is help down open the bleed screw, the fluid moves along the pipe, if no air bubbles, then close the valve and move to the next calliper

I started on the passenger side rear, then moved to the passenger side front and then finally the driver's side front (unfortunately the bleed screw on the driver's side rear looks to have been broken off previously)

What confuses is me that i dont see any air bubbles in the fluid and yet the brakes are very spongy.

Please could someone give me some advice to resolve the issue? Am i doing something wrong, is there anywhere else to bleed?

Thanks

Alex

Alan G · Feb 28, 2022

I had the spongy pedal after some work.
Brakes worked but pedal would slowly go down.
I put up with it and after a week or 2 the air found it's way out and brakes back to normal.
Or you could get a brake fluid change around £40/£50 and that would be done with power and all air will come out.
Halfords do it as well as many garages.

Johnnyroper · Feb 28, 2022

Give another bleed but instead of holding pressure then opening nipple,open nipple when pedal is up slowly press down and hold,close nipple then release pedal. Do this a few times.
When you changed caliper did you clamp flexi hose off?

alexdavies82 · Feb 28, 2022

Great thanks both - Halfords want £40 pounds to flush it which seems worth it.

Jonny I’ll try your method first just in case. No I didn’t clamp the the flexi to be honest, it’s quite an old brake line and so I didn’t want to risk splitting it - I’m guessing this was a mistake.

BMW325TI · Feb 28, 2022

Also if your car clutch sharing brake fluid, bleed clutch too.

Alan G · Mar 1, 2022

Well worth £40 if you ask me.

X3 Brake Bleeding Help Needed

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