Can someone explain to me the reasoning behind the 2 year brake fluid flush cycle? I've never had this in any of my cars so I'm automatically skeptical of this $130 service since the car has less than half of normal mileage on it after 2 years.

I don't remember needing to do this on our Hondas and Toyotas...


Thanks in advance.

 

Brake fluid absorbs moisture. There are 2 problems with that.

1 it lowers the boil point of the fluid.

2 the moisture goes to the lowest level in the system making caliper pistons corrode.

Lots of folks do not have the brake fluid changed. I believe in doing it.

 

This is a much better explanation than what I got at the dealership. When you say a lot of people don't do it, do you mean they put it off or that they don't do it at all? I can think of some Civics that I had for 16 years that never got brake fluid changed and never showed any sign of decreased braking performance or issues with the pistons...

 

Before I write this, I ask for forgiveness. Nevertherless, the first thing I thought of was that only 1 in 5 people who smoke will develop lung cancer.

Not all cars will develop rust or have problems if the brake fluid is not flushed regularly. It's called preventative maintenance. If one prefers, repairs can be made after problems arise. Assuming, of course, you can stop in time.

 

This is a Mini.
It is not a Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Kia, Mitsubishi, or anything remotely associated with those brands.
Please stop compareing them to a Mini.
It's an insult to the Mini.

 

Regarding changing out the brake fluids. I do it often since I track the MINI, but I use MINI fluids since I don't track that often.

It may not be needed, but it is cheap preventative maint. on the MINi.

Your warranty should at least cover 1 change if not 2.

As per Crashton, fresh fluid does not boil as fast, if you drive aggressively on twisties or the occasional track day.

Change your fluids. Plus you get some expert eyes looking at your brakes, (MINI techs are pretty good, most times).

If you do a lot (LOT) of track days, then use a high-temp fluid. Multiple types have been mentioned on NAM.

Enjoy, brake well.... Don

 

as already said, covered for the first round too.

Coming from Audi's, the two year cycle has been one of their maintenance elements since like forever. Standard part of my dealer maintenance while they pay for it (as part of the new car purchase price), and then at each later pad change on my nickel.

As for Japanese comparo's, I guess first they are still back at DOT 3 for many. Second, it's a country without a high speed driving heritage--densely populated, low speeds are what prevail. By contrast of course Mini under BMW is building cars assuming they will be driven in at least some cases at up to Autobahn speeds. Having used cars in those conditions, particularly fully loaded with people and bags, indeed overheating brakes and fluid is a real concern. As fluid ages it attracts water, which lowers the fluid boiling point significantly. And if you are on most DOT 3, you don't have as much leeway to start with; with DOT 4 you may, especially on some of the best formulations.

Finally, if you want the Japanese comparo I'll always remember, ask the guys at C&D who stuffed the new fangled high performance Nissan/Infiniti right into the track wall at speed with zero warning in the last few years. When they reconstructed it, guess what--boiled fluid leading to 100% loss of braking. Not a great showing for any of engineering, specs, fluid choice, or real world rigorous testing and use. Thus, why important to have the brakes up to snuff, as well as the fluid.

 

+1 ^

For me brakes are a pretty important item. Preventative maintenance on brakes is money well spent. Just my .02...

 

Is this Mini recommended service or dealer recommended service? If it's Mini service, why isn't it covered by the 3yr free maintenance?

 

Its MINI recommended, the Gen2s track the date and will give you a service warning at the right time. It is covered by the included maintenance.

 

What's this free maintenance that's mentioned above? I don't think we have that in Canada.

 

In the US we have 3 years of free maintenance. The brake fluid flush is covered under that plan.

I'm long out of that plan. I used them for the free stuff & added my own oil changes between their free ones.

 

FWIW, my trusted local mechanic does a flush for $40 if I bring in a liter of fluid. To make it easy, I switch between Ate Racing Blue and Amber.

 

I also alternate between ATE blue & amber. It makes the job easier for me.

 

Also older dot3 fluid can hold more water and is more tolerant of higher moisture levels...
the dot4 that mini and most modern cars use is a higher performance product, and simply is not as forgiving....it holds less water, and degrades in performane faster from that water....so to protect the driver and protect the compotents, flushes are recommended....many drives will get brakes every 2 years and flushing is simple....
Any place that charges $155 for a brake flush should be arrested....even with the best fluid...it should cost much less....

 

I can do a brake fluid flush on my R53 while it is sitting on the garage floor. I takes less than 30 min with a Motive power bleeder ($70) and fluid ($20-$30).

 

where do I check the brake fluid, and how to change it, I just bought a 2007 Mini Cooper, so I'm learning.