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      10-09-2019, 05:32 PM   #1
gkamieneski
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Brake Fluid Reservoir

Is there a thread anywhere here that details how to get to the brake fluid reservoir and check brake fluid level?

I have it figured out for my 430; getting the right section of the black plastic cover removed, but it's not as apparent with our X1.

Also, anyone have any idea what the cylindrical areas circled are for?

F48 Engine Bay

Last edited by gkamieneski; 10-09-2019 at 05:42 PM..
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      10-10-2019, 12:10 AM   #2
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Unsure what those circled parts are.

Here's a link to the newtis.info brake bleeding procedure: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...nes/1VnYucD7qF

The brake fluid reservoir is under the cowl panel between engine bay and firewall. You should see it once you remove the large plastic piece.
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      10-10-2019, 10:49 PM   #3
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https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...der/1VnYDdracD

Gives you a better look as to the location of the brake fluid reservoir (3rd & 4th pic down). Viewed from the front of the car, it's located just to the right of the battery and tucked back a bit .
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      10-10-2019, 10:52 PM   #4
gkamieneski
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Thanks. Biggest challenge was to figure out all the 5 fasteners holding down the black cover above this area.
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      10-10-2019, 11:01 PM   #5
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Should just be a two-piece affair. Just take off the right side cover.
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      10-11-2019, 10:36 AM   #6
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Thanks. Noticed it was 5 fasteners, whereas only 3 for my 430. Amazing how many differences in the engine compartment when both vehicles were assembled in Regensburg.
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      10-12-2019, 12:07 PM   #7
gkamieneski
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The black cover area of my 2019 seems different from all of the illustrations here. I just want to be able to check visibly the fill line for the brake fluid.

Here is what that area looks like on mine. There may be a small section of cover around the battery terminal that can be lifted up.

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      10-15-2019, 06:51 PM   #8
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That's insane amount of work just to take out the battery.
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      10-15-2019, 11:16 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gkamieneski View Post
I just want to be able to check visibly the fill line for the brake fluid.
Still pretty sure that BMW hasn't changed the location. Have you attempted to remove that cover that's right there at the battery terminal post? IIRC, when I installed my Battery Tender charging harness, I removed two bolts and a blind plastic rivet. If you only want to see the level of the fluid, just look thru the bonnet (hood) hinge from the drivers side to see the level (full; half way, right at the molding seam).
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      10-15-2019, 11:18 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 00max00 View Post
That's insane amount of work just to take out the battery.
Not at all, once you remove the plastic cover piece.
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      10-16-2019, 08:06 AM   #11
gkamieneski
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ridin'Dirty View Post
Still pretty sure that BMW hasn't changed the location. Have you attempted to remove that cover that's right there at the battery terminal post? IIRC, when I installed my Battery Tender charging harness, I removed two bolts and a blind plastic rivet. If you only want to see the level of the fluid, just look thru the bonnet (hood) hinge from the drivers side to see the level (full; half way, right at the molding seam).
Thanks, that's all I want to be able to do, check the fluid level. Maybe I did not try looking directly from the side. I know on my 430, this cannot be done, rather you have no choice but to remove the shroud.
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      10-16-2019, 05:17 PM   #12
gkamieneski
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O.K. I can see enough of the reservoir, I guess, from the side near the hood hinge. Or at least I can tell the fluid is up to the "seam" which I understand is between Min and Max.

Beats having to remove some fasteners to just check a fluid level. Thanks.

Question: Why do the manufacturers always make the brake fluid reservoirs of opaque white plastic when a clear plastic vessel would allow seeing the fluid level so much better?
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      04-22-2020, 07:59 PM   #13
gkamieneski
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A little update on my quest to check the brake fluid level on my 2019 X1.

Turns out, I really cannot see the level from the side through the hood hinge area. These reservoirs are made of such an opaque white plastic that even aiming a concentrated flashlight beam does not show me where the fluid level is at.

I did find this page, https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f48-x1-xdrive28i-sav/repair-manuals/00-maintenance-general-note/00-00-maintenance/1VnYtKH5Do that did apply to my 2019 X1. Unfortunately, you have to remove several plastic expansion rivets to remove the rear cowling. Hope this information will help someone else looking to access their brake fluid reservoir.
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      04-23-2020, 01:44 AM   #14
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If the fluid level was low I think you would get a “Brake Level Warning Light”
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      04-23-2020, 07:32 AM   #15
gkamieneski
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beagler View Post
If the fluid level was low I think you would get a “Brake Level Warning Light”
I hope and expect that is true. But it sure would be nice to be able to get to the reservoir and the battery without snapping out plastic expansion rivets. My other BMW has metal "turn" locks to remove the rear cowl.

There's a dearth of information on the procedure for this model.
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      09-06-2020, 06:30 PM   #16
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The answer to OP's second question, about the round holes in the engine bay, is that they are the supports for the hood adjusters, which I guess BMW stopped including in the later models. Part # 51767183752
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