brake fluid
An essential part of your BMW braking system.
when to change YOUR brake fluid
Newer generation BMWs produced from around 2001 onwards are fitted with a digital service book called “CBS”, otherwise known as Condition Based Servicing.
This essentially means that your BMW vehicle will tell you when it needs a Brake Fluid service. If the last service was carried out to the correct standards, a digital alert will appear on the speedometer dash area or on the idrive screen if your vehicle is fitted with one, to indicate when the next service is due.
Importance of brake fluid
Your entire braking system depends on the fluid to transfer the force that is created when pressing the brake pedal, directly onto the brake pad which is pushed against the brake disc to cause friction.
As most of you already know, braking creates a tremendous amount of heat energy, especially prolonged hard braking which causes the fluid to heat up rapidly to the point that it may even boil and vaporised forming air pockets in the system that could lead to brake failure.
It also acts as a lubricant for all moving parts such as your ABS pump and Caliper Cyliners and Pistons and prevents corrosion. It is also formulated in such way that it is fully compatible with rubber seals and hoses therefore allowing long service intervals.
When should I change
It’s all about the boiling point of the fluid. Brake fluids are hygroscopic humectants in nature which basically means that they attract and absorb water molecules / moisture when they circulate the brake system. With the help of other formulated additives, it also protects your braking system parts from corrosion.
As the water content in your brake fluid increases over time, its boiling point decreases significantly which reduces your braking performance. Other contaminants from rubber and metal parts also suspend in the brake fluid which further reduces its boiling point. Since your brakes are subjected to extremely high temperatures, a contaminant free brake fluid with a high boiling point is absolutely crucial if you want consistent braking power.
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WE RECOMMEND 18 month INTERVALS
BMW recommends that you change your brake fluid every 24 months, however, this is largely dependent on your driving style and how hard you use your brakes.
parts & cOMPONENTS
Your BMW braking system is only as strong as its weakest link, so don’t ignore your brake fluid. You did not compromise on the rest of the components, so why compromise on the quality of your brake fluid. You want to make sure that your brakes will be there for you every time you need to stop, even under extreme conditions.
We use BMW recommended grade brake fluids manufactured by highly respected brands in the industry and would not hesitate to recommend them to our clients. Brembo, ATE, Pagid and Castrol all produce high performance brake fluids that surpass even BMW requirements.
We also use genuine BMW brake fluids as they still supply quality fluid which are light in viscosity for smoother operation of ABS and DSC systems.