My Partners 1997 E36 323i has failed the MOT on brake pipes (N.Ireland, so they don't do repairs). 3/4 wheels are affected, so we need the lot really.
According to my Bentley manual it says needs specialist equipment at the dealer to bleed the brakes on the ABS/AST system. It mentions using pressure bleeding for a non-abs car but again strongly says this cannot be used on a car with ABS/AST.
Is this correct, is this a dealer only job?
-- Tony
"Tony" wrote
As long as you don't let air get into the ABS pump and distribution body, you can bleed the brakes as you would with ordinary systems. You must never let the resevoir go dry.
FloydR
The reason it says you need specialist equipment is that the computer runs the ABS/ASC control unit.
Why don't Northern Ireland do repairs?
I don't understand why this should affect bleeding, its not a problem in my ABS Volvo. It doesn't really make sense except to keep you to the dealer. One service centre I tried says it doesn't need any special equipment, and at least one poster agrees so far.
MOTs are gov't run test-only facilities over here, because the motor trade could not be trusted to issue certs. I guess this is due to a large amount of shady characters involved in the business. I have always felt when 'discussing' a job with a non-dealer mechanic here, one should not take any complaint too far. Hence I have usually done my own repairs and servicing.
-- Tony
And they are both correct. I have the same ABS/ASC system and have always bled my system myself, as I would with any other car. No problems whatever. Go to it and stop worrying. And it does make things easier if you don't let the reservoir go empty, as stated by another poster.
This is bullshit. Don't believe everything written in Bentleys.
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