The Car was Carping about Brake Fluid
Jul. 20th, 2025 06:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canyonwalkerThis past week I posted about driving an 18 year old station wagon as a loaner car. (BTW, I've updated that post with pics of what it looked like, so maybe check it out again!) The reason why I had a loaner car, particularly a three-generations-back BMW, was that our BMW was in the shop for repairs. What needed fixing? It turned out to be just a brake fluid flush.
The first indicator the car needed service was a warning light that flashed on the dashboard briefly at ignition. It disappeared so quickly (each time) that it was difficult to read. But it seemed to say "brakes". Okay, but what about the brakes? Diving into the car diagnostic menu via the main computer screen elaborated that it needed "brake service".
Oh, thanks, Sherlock, brake service! For a moment there I wondered if maybe it just wanted brake appreciate. Y'know, like buy-your-brakes-a-cupcake day at the office. 🙄
Then there were the emails I started getting from a local BMW dealership.
Okay, brake fluid; that's at least a bit more helpful. But I've got to say I am not a fan of my car phoning the dealer to tell them what service I need. Especially when I'm persona non grata with the service manager at one local dealership— and I think he's a dishonest shit.
Mindful of the meme about $700 oil changes for a BMW I decided I'd see if there was something here I could fix myself. The first thing I did was check the brake fluid.
...No, actually that was the third thing I did. The first thing I did was search YouTube for how to open the hood. 🤣 Yes, seriously. Because there's a trick to opening the hood on this model BMW I haven't seen on any previous car I've owned or driven.
Second, I searched YouTube for how to check the brake fluid— because the brake fluid reservoir is not visible under the hood. And it being a BMW, all the various fluid reservoirs are labelled with hieroglyphics rather than names. 🙄
It turns out the brake fluid reservoir is in a corner of the engine bay under a plastic shroud. Why that one fluid is under a shroud, or why there even is a shroud, I don't know. Oh, and it took an unusual tool— a 10mm hex socket— to remove the shroud. Though I figured out after I removed it I didn't technically need the 10mm socket driver to loosen the three bolts locking it on. Those bolts had been left in the unlocked position by the last person who serviced it... likely because having touse find and then use a 10mm socket is a PITA.
Long story short, after what felt like an adventure I found the brake fluid seemed fine. The reservoir was still full, like filled to the top full, and the fluid was light and clear. But since brakes aren't a part of a car you really want to play, "Weeeell, let's drive it until it actually fails" with, I scheduled a service visit with my local specialist mechanic.
Based on mileage it seemed like the car was probably coming due for new brake pads and rotors. But when the (honest) mechanic checked them they told me there was still plenty of life left. No, it was just the car's computer deeming it's time for a brake fluid flush. Supposedly the service interval for that is every 20,000 miles. Though it's been probably 33,000 miles since that was last done so... IDK. The car was already in the shop so I figured "JFDI".
In hindsight I've got to say that the process of taking the car to the shop involved probably less wailing and gnashing of teeth than even trying to diagnose the problem myself. I dropped the car off Tuesday mid-afternoon, got the estimate Tuesday COB, and picked up the car over lunch on Wednesday. That not-so-clunky old loaner? I wound up driving it no further than home from the shop and back.
And as far as brake pads and rotors... I'll probably get those replaced when the car needs its next regular service interval in 6,000 miles.
The first indicator the car needed service was a warning light that flashed on the dashboard briefly at ignition. It disappeared so quickly (each time) that it was difficult to read. But it seemed to say "brakes". Okay, but what about the brakes? Diving into the car diagnostic menu via the main computer screen elaborated that it needed "brake service".
Oh, thanks, Sherlock, brake service! For a moment there I wondered if maybe it just wanted brake appreciate. Y'know, like buy-your-brakes-a-cupcake day at the office. 🙄
Then there were the emails I started getting from a local BMW dealership.
We're following up about the alert your BMW 230i sent us recently. Thanks to Proactive Care, your BMW monitors your service needs and transmits the information to us in real time, in this case that your BMW needs:
• Brake fluid
• Brake fluid
Okay, brake fluid; that's at least a bit more helpful. But I've got to say I am not a fan of my car phoning the dealer to tell them what service I need. Especially when I'm persona non grata with the service manager at one local dealership— and I think he's a dishonest shit.
Mindful of the meme about $700 oil changes for a BMW I decided I'd see if there was something here I could fix myself. The first thing I did was check the brake fluid.
...No, actually that was the third thing I did. The first thing I did was search YouTube for how to open the hood. 🤣 Yes, seriously. Because there's a trick to opening the hood on this model BMW I haven't seen on any previous car I've owned or driven.
Second, I searched YouTube for how to check the brake fluid— because the brake fluid reservoir is not visible under the hood. And it being a BMW, all the various fluid reservoirs are labelled with hieroglyphics rather than names. 🙄
It turns out the brake fluid reservoir is in a corner of the engine bay under a plastic shroud. Why that one fluid is under a shroud, or why there even is a shroud, I don't know. Oh, and it took an unusual tool— a 10mm hex socket— to remove the shroud. Though I figured out after I removed it I didn't technically need the 10mm socket driver to loosen the three bolts locking it on. Those bolts had been left in the unlocked position by the last person who serviced it... likely because having to
Long story short, after what felt like an adventure I found the brake fluid seemed fine. The reservoir was still full, like filled to the top full, and the fluid was light and clear. But since brakes aren't a part of a car you really want to play, "Weeeell, let's drive it until it actually fails" with, I scheduled a service visit with my local specialist mechanic.
Based on mileage it seemed like the car was probably coming due for new brake pads and rotors. But when the (honest) mechanic checked them they told me there was still plenty of life left. No, it was just the car's computer deeming it's time for a brake fluid flush. Supposedly the service interval for that is every 20,000 miles. Though it's been probably 33,000 miles since that was last done so... IDK. The car was already in the shop so I figured "JFDI".
In hindsight I've got to say that the process of taking the car to the shop involved probably less wailing and gnashing of teeth than even trying to diagnose the problem myself. I dropped the car off Tuesday mid-afternoon, got the estimate Tuesday COB, and picked up the car over lunch on Wednesday. That not-so-clunky old loaner? I wound up driving it no further than home from the shop and back.
And as far as brake pads and rotors... I'll probably get those replaced when the car needs its next regular service interval in 6,000 miles.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-21 08:18 am (UTC)Brake fluid is hygroscopic; it pulls water out of the air. In modern cars it isn't exposed to very much air, but there has to be some exposure because the volume of unused fluid changes as the brake pads wear thinner or get replaced. As a general rule, brake fluid should be replaced every two or three years for this reason. You don't want water in your brake system.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-21 02:53 pm (UTC)