We had a near-side FRONT coil spring fail 2 days ago (our third) and had the car towed to Dick Lovett BMW in Swindon after we'd taken a picture or two. Dick Lovett's inspection led to the following replacement parts requirement:
... Over £550 for one side only.
As far as we could ascertain, the brake hose had been damaged by the coil's collapse/sudden downward movement. This is borne out by the above parts list and photo.
The broken coil was wrapped around the brake hose (astonishingly). Question is - how can this happen? Why isn't the brake line routed in such a way as to negate this possibility?
BMW Customer Services UK were unwilling to make any concessions/contributions to this repair. Neither did they have any comment on the safety issue (unsurprisingly)
We are lodging a vehicle defect submission to VOSA. This primarily so that a record is lodged with them in case any similar events result in a fatality (which they could). We have asked BMW Swindon to retain the parts for inspection by VOSA.
Same reason for lodging this info on this and other BMW related forums - to make existing owners aware of the potential for a front coil spring failure to cause serious damage to a brake hydraulic line.
Picture of the failed spring below... the oil is NOT hydraulic brake fluid but from a failed seal in the suspension strut - probably caused by the coil failure. The brake hose was 'nicked'
or link here
- COIL SPRING
- SUSPENSION STRUT
- ANTI-ROLLBAR LINK
- BRAKE PIPE (DAMAGED TO HOSE BY COIL FAILURE - ANY DAMAGE, EVEN SLIGHT REQUIRES CHANGE)
- TYRE Worn due to collapsed suspension.
... Over £550 for one side only.
As far as we could ascertain, the brake hose had been damaged by the coil's collapse/sudden downward movement. This is borne out by the above parts list and photo.
The broken coil was wrapped around the brake hose (astonishingly). Question is - how can this happen? Why isn't the brake line routed in such a way as to negate this possibility?
BMW Customer Services UK were unwilling to make any concessions/contributions to this repair. Neither did they have any comment on the safety issue (unsurprisingly)
We are lodging a vehicle defect submission to VOSA. This primarily so that a record is lodged with them in case any similar events result in a fatality (which they could). We have asked BMW Swindon to retain the parts for inspection by VOSA.
Same reason for lodging this info on this and other BMW related forums - to make existing owners aware of the potential for a front coil spring failure to cause serious damage to a brake hydraulic line.
Picture of the failed spring below... the oil is NOT hydraulic brake fluid but from a failed seal in the suspension strut - probably caused by the coil failure. The brake hose was 'nicked'
or link here