[m328XI]

My wife brought her 2011 in for service today it has about 40K miles and it's been 2 years and 10K miles since the last brake fluid flush.

The car has about 14 months left on the CPO and the dealer is telling her if she doesn't do a broke flush the CPO warranty will be void.

It appears from the CPO inspection form that the car received all new rotors and pads before she bought it as they were marked vibration and pitted. I'm not sure if this car sat for a while or what happened.

Oh, $257 to replace the cup holder that won't pop out, you have to pull it out manually. I passed figuring of it broke this soon it will probably break again

Any thoughts ?

Thanks

[derrick603]

I would assume you need to follow factory maintenance intervals for the CPO warranty to remain in effect for the relevant parts.

As for the cupholder, they're pretty easy to replace, and cost around $50 on Amazon.

[AllBlackBimmer]

I would just do it... brake fluid is one of the most neglected items on most common cars... I know people that have owned vehicles for 5, 6, 7+ years and have never done it.

BMW recommends every 2 years... I do it at the dealer for I think $160... expensive I guess, but they are also checking over the brake and suspension systems while they are in there.

Not surprising they said it would void the CPO.... Most warranties and even CPO have strict guidelines to follow in order to meet the warranty and any possible claims.

Cupholders... blah, these are BMWs... we don't need no stinkin' cupholders!!!... oh wait... haha! Buy from amazon or ebay ... do not pay $250 for a cupholder! Ha

[Wolf 335]

Contact BMW Corporate and inquire about this issue. I don't think you're required to do that.

[John 070]

What do they charge, $120? It's a nasty job, just let them do it.

I DIY'd it for the first time using the Motive, imho if it costs $120 just let it go. There is a benefit to having new fluid. In other words, it's not a bogus service, like if they said, let us do a Bosch motor flush or some BS....

[m328XI]

Thanks for the replies. I'm just going to have it done to be safe.

I have never replaced brake fluid on a car ever, Vettes, Infiniti, ect.

My 2016 Maxima says the brake fluid is good for 60k

Seems like a way for BMW dealers to make $$


Are you guys buying the trim tool to pop the plastic off to replace the holder or will a small screwdriver work and not do any damage ?

[Footdeep_milelong]

I used harbor freight trim tools to change out the cupholder: http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece...set-67021.html

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by m328XI

Thanks for the replies. I'm just going to have it done to be safe.

I have never replaced brake fluid on a car ever, Vettes, Infiniti, ect.

My 2016 Maxima says the brake fluid is good for 60k

Seems like a way for BMW dealers to make $$

The fluid used in BMWs is a newer type which is more prone to boiling point decreases due to absorption of water. Since BMW does not want your brake fluid to boil if you should need to use them in emergency situations or at very high speeds (which some BMW owners insist upon attaining), they have adopted the 2 year interval. So has Mercedes. Even Nissan says every two years. Ferrari says to do it EVERY year.

Brand new DOT 3 brake fluid must have a dry (no moisture) boiling point of at least 401 degrees F, and a wet (moisture-saturated) boiling point of no less than 284 degrees. Only one percent water in the fluid can lower the boiling point of a typical DOT 3 fluid to 369 degrees. Two percent water can push the boiling point down to around 320 degrees, and three percent will take it all the way down to 293 degrees, which is getting dangerously close to the minimum DOT and OEM requirements.

DOT 4 fluid, which has a higher minimum boiling temperature requirement (446 degrees F dry and 311 degrees wet) soaks up moisture at a slower rate but suffers an even sharper drop in boiling temperature as moisture accumulates. Three percent water will lower the boiling point as much as 50% (vs. 27% drop for DOT 3 fluid)!


Other cars and earlier cars may use DOT3 brake fluid with is more tolerant of contamination due to absorption of water.

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by m328XI

Are you guys buying the trim tool to pop the plastic off to replace the holder or will a small screwdriver work and not do any damage ?

I used a small screwdriver with a piece of paper towel wrapped around the tip.

[m328XI]

One last question, I believe BMW maintenance is based on time and/or miles.

Does anyone know the time/mileage to change Brake fluid for a 2011 328 ?

The last change was done 6/2014 at ~ 29,500 miles

It has been 28 months but only 13K miles since the last brake fluid as the current mileage is ~ 42.5K.

Sorry to ask this dumb question but changing brake fluid after 13,000 miles seems like overkill on a car that is driven lightly.

Thanks

[Underground6t9]

Brake fluid to be changed every two years

[VTECaddict]

Originally Posted by m328XI

One last question, I believe BMW maintenance is based on time and/or miles.

Does anyone know the time/mileage to change Brake fluid for a 2011 328 ?

The last change was done 6/2014 at ~ 29,500 miles

It has been 28 months but only 13K miles since the last brake fluid as the current mileage is ~ 42.5K.

Sorry to ask this dumb question but changing brake fluid after 13,000 miles seems like overkill on a car that is driven lightly.

Thanks

2 years regardless of miles

[m328XI]

Then I have to wonder why it wasn't done twice under the factory maintenance or even at 24 months.

In service date was 11/16/2011, car was in for service 12/20/2013 with 25K and then again on 5 /8/2014 but the brake fluid was changed the first time on 6/13/2014 when the car was 3 1/2 years old with just under 30K miles.

Seems when BMW was responsible for the brake fluid it was ok for a lot longer.

Anyway, thanks for the answers

[Fabb]

You can always reset your maintenance record manually without even actually perform the maintenance...

[F30lolz]

Had my e28 for 14 years and never changed the brake fluid. Hurricane Sandy made sure it would never be changed lol.

[Efthreeoh]

2-year brake flush is mandated by the German TUV (DOT).

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by m328XI

Then I have to wonder why it wasn't done twice under the factory maintenance or even at 24 months.

In service date was 11/16/2011, car was in for service 12/20/2013 with 25K and then again on 5 /8/2014 but the brake fluid was changed the first time on 6/13/2014 when the car was 3 1/2 years old with just under 30K miles.

Seems when BMW was responsible for the brake fluid it was ok for a lot longer.

Anyway, thanks for the answers

Blame the dealer's service department AND the owner(s)!!!
My car has had brake fluid interval indication set at each two years, but it was up to me to actually make the appointment to bring it in. And had I not mentioned, "I need brake fluid change" my service adviser SHOULD have told me I needed to have it done, if I brought it in some some other purpose!

[piker28]

I would go to another dealer. My dealer changed my brake fluid under my CPO warranty.

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by piker28

I would go to another dealer. My dealer changed my brake fluid under my CPO warranty.

But technically a 'warranty' does not cover 'maintenance'.

[m328XI]

Originally Posted by piker28

I would go to another dealer. My dealer changed my brake fluid under my CPO warranty.

When you buy a CPO sometimes ( or maybe always) it's still under the 4 year 60K mark and thus still covered under the bumper to bumper factory warranty and the free maintenance.

You can also buy extended maintenance which would have covered it.

Anyway I'll probably have it done but I would love to see BMW deny a warranty claim based on the fact that they haven't kept up on the Brake fluid changes as they should have.

In fact looking closer I see the brake fluid change was done under the inspection for CPO and not under any service visit that the previous owner made.

[Wolf 335]

FYI

[John 070]

Originally Posted by m328XI

Thanks for the replies. I'm just going to have it done to be safe.

I have never replaced brake fluid on a car ever, Vettes, Infiniti, ect.

My 2016 Maxima says the brake fluid is good for 60k

Seems like a way for BMW dealers to make $$


Are you guys buying the trim tool to pop the plastic off to replace the holder or will a small screwdriver work and not do any damage ?

seriously, brake fluid should be changed every 2 years as it absorbs water (hygroscopic). Again, who really knows where 2 years comes from, with my Maxima, I would go to Midas (who charged $49 at the time), and they would say why do you want to do it? Like it's not worth their $49 fee and they're not into it. But they do cheat, they exchange the reservoir and do one caliper, I watched. BMW should be doing all 4 calipers the correct way, which is why $120 is not overboard (fluid is cheap, < $15).

BMW dealers are just by the book, they do the brake fluid every 2 yrs. under free maintenance, and it does appear on the CBS based on time....good luck (if you want pop the cover and take a look at the color of the fluid--it will be very clear when you get the vehicle back)