Anyone every use one? What's the best one to get?

 

A neighbor and a 6 pack.... This one has always worked best for me!

 

I use the Motive power bleeder. See link below. The standard European threaded adapter to the reservoir works great. The cost of this unit, $55, is a fraction of the cost of the bi-annual fluid flush recommended by BMW/MINI. I use this on my own vehicles as well as a number of friends from the MINI club and it is simple and does a good job. Follow the directions, you can do it without a helper and pedal is solid as a rock when done.

http://store.motiveproducts.com/euro...-0100-p34.aspx

 

I do it the opposite way. I have a mityvac power oil sucker and with a clear hose adapter, I vacuum the calipers from the bottom with it.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...il+change+pump

 

Ok, here's what I've learned from owning BMW's/MINI's for the last 25 years.


1.) To properly bleed the brakes, you need to activate the ABS pump. The dealer has a service program that does that while they use a pressure bleeder. Most people at home can't do this. What to do?

Well... Bleed the brakes then drive the car and engage then ABS a couple of times, then bleed them again.

2.) All of the pressure bleeders I've seen look nice and have a plastic hose that connects the pressure vessel to the adapter cap. While all well and good, the plastic will be attacked by the brake fluid and will crack and leak, spraying the engine compartment with brake fluid. It's not a question of if, just a question of when. You can prevent this by buying about 3 feet of brake fluid hose and replacing the clear hose.

3.) don't exceed 2 bar (25psi ish) of pressure, you will damage the reservoir.


I've had the Movit/Bavauto bleeder for a long time now, just replace the hose. and check the gasket...

 

I have the BavAuto bleeder and didn't know the above. Thank YOU!

 

You're welcome..

 

Can you activate the pump using the bavtech tool?

Also, (maybe something is broken and I don't know it) I flushed my wife's car
which has ABS and it seems fine. 08 SX4. Perhaps there was a little in the pump
I didn't get. I hope to do it often enough that it does not matter.

I use the one way valve kit, run back and forth, pumping the brakes.
I would like to upgrade my system lol

 

Motive bleeder is a great tool. I used it on the MINI and Subaru. Well worth the money.

 

Bleed them, find a dirt road and slam on the brakes a few times to pump out the ABS pump, then drive home and bleed them again.

 

what happens if you bleed without activating the ABS pump? Just leaves old fluid in there?

 

Well yes. But if you take it out for a drive and activate the abs, it will move fresh fluid in there. Then just bleed them a little more.

 

I made my own;

http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed...atech/bleeder/

 

Any method above works, however I have not had good luck with vacuum bleeding. It seems to pull air around the bleed fitting unless you can seal it with something.
I also got the bavauto pressure bleeder, I like the quick disconnect for the cap and also used it to fill the transmission on my truck!

 

okay, I think I'll be getting a motive power bleeder here. I guess for a "flush," I would need to bleed out all the old fluid? Kind of seems wasteful to bleed, activate ABS, and bleed it all out again just to get that out, no?