Hi all, was lucky to have experienced this problem out at slow speed and just damaged a number plate!!  I had a rapid loss of brake fluid which only alerted immediately prior to a full soft pedal. On inspection it appears a brake pipe had failed in a completely inaccessible area under a range of covers under the front engine bay fuse box. Never would be picked up on an MOT as you cant remove such covers.

Anyway it seems this may be a type fault on the vehicle, water collection area,  and I would recommend you get the area inspected. Garage said they had only ever seen this on 5 series also. Pics attached, Pipes under the front right fusebox area.  

OK, further info - the brake pipe in question, 1 of 3 as seen in the pics, is the one running close to an area of foam. It seems the foam has provided a source of constant wetting which has resulted in the pipe failure. The other two pipes are perfect. For those 2006 onwards 6 series owners out there, you might want to check this out and just visually check the condition of the pipe in this location.

Very lucky indeed.   

Wow lucky boy that could have had some serious consequences !! Do the Lottery quick 😁

Great pics and information Paul as BMW tend to stick to patterns with layout I think I will check the E70 tomorrow

Dave

 

1 hour ago, Greydog said:

Wow lucky boy that could have had some serious consequences !! Do the Lottery quick 😁

Great pics and information Paul as BMW tend to stick to patterns with layout I think I will check the E70 tomorrow

Dave

 

 

will do...... as you can see from the photo it is the area under the fuse box to the right side of engine compartment looking from the front. Hope the experience has value to someone out there.. The previous experience I mentioned of an inaccessible brake line fail was on an X5 not a 5 series.   

Well I have wince heard of an X5 having exactly the same issue. Seems the foam sections used to prevent scratching are acting as contact water reservoirs and corroding the brake pipe which runs nearest to them. Check em out people as normally would not be picked up on MOT. Sounds like a real design flaw that BMW need to get changed and quickly.