Do I really need new calipers ?

[Silver Smudger]

Been advised by main dealer at recent service that the brake caliper bleed nipples are seized and therefore both front calipers require replacement. They have not yet confirmed a price for this.
Is this absolutely necessary, or is there a way to un-seize them that proper mechanics know, but a main dealer would not be bothered to try?

These are factory option Brembos, so can I avoid what I expect to be a fairly chunky bill?

[TGCOTF-dewey]

BCS should be able to fix them. I had set of brembos done a few years back. Did a great job, and fraction of the cost of new.

[Stiggolas]

I suspect the garage has already snapped the nipples off and hoping you will cough up for new calipers to save them the anguish of repairing the existing ones...

[ian332isport]

I'm going to make an educated guess and say this will be a BMW dealer. They're well known for this sort of thing.

They won't entertain repairing them. They'll only fit new calipers at your expense. If it's still drivable, take it to a decent independent and get the existing ones repaired.

[stevieturbo]

Silver Smudger said:

Been advised by main dealer at recent service that the brake caliper bleed nipples are seized and therefore both front calipers require replacement. They have not yet confirmed a price for this.
Is this absolutely necessary, or is there a way to un-seize them that proper mechanics know, but a main dealer would not be bothered to try?

These are factory option Brembos, so can I avoid what I expect to be a fairly chunky bill?

there are many repair options, and yes most dealers will be clueless.

Some repair options can be done locally by a competent person, some may require the caliper to be sent to a suitable specialist or machine shop. But there are options.

Of course send away options can then take time. Dealers will always want a fast in/out, regardless of how much extra that costs a customer

[Pica-Pica]

We have been here before:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[ssray]

Refurbished exchange ones

[Silver Smudger]

Thanks all -
No, this is not a BMW dealer - My Garage might have helped educate your guesses
No, the dealer did not snap them off or attempt to extort extra paymet
Yes, I have found a decent indy who can attempt to free-up the valves and can also arrange refubishing if required

[Stiggolas]

Result. Hope it goes well.

[Panamax]

The juggling exercise is how many hours of labour trying to sort out the old callipers vs how much cash to buy new ones.

My respected indy reckons it's generally more efficient to just get a complete new calliper and avoid faffing about.

Depends on the cost of the particular callipers, of course.

[E-bmw]

The simple answer to your opening question is no.

The longer answer is generally an application of heat coupled with sympathetic undoing will 99% of the time work just fine, but most mechanics just want to swap old sh!t for new stuff & can't be bothered.