Hi everyone,

I bought my mini new last August. When I took it last week for its annual check up, I was told that my brake fluid needed to be changed. When I asked if this was normal, the service rep said that it's normally done every two years.

The fluid change was covered under the maintenance plan, so it wasn't a huge deal to me. I am curious as to what would cause this though. My mini has 13,000 miles on it, which I don't consider to be that high. There's a decent amount of start/stop driving in my daily commute, but nothing excessive.

 

Brake fluid absorbs water from the air. Even sealed systems allow a little bit of air around, so the fluid gradually gets contaminated with water. Wet brake fluid boils more easily than fresh "dry" fluid, and the water can cause corrosion on metal parts inside the brake system.

Replacement of the fluid (or a "brake flush") every other year is a good idea, and has been a relatively standard thing on all cars for several decades. Many people ignore that, of course. They usually wind up paying for it later.

 

Will they only flush every two years under the maint warranty?

 

DOT4 is specced for a 2 year lifespan, so that seems reasonable.

--Matt

 

My experience is that dealerships won't offer to change your fluid. You need to remember it at the two year point and request that it be done. I would be very surprised if a dealership changed the fluid at one year on a one year old car and covered the cost. A - its not necessary and B - service plan does not cover any extra work beyond what is in the agreement.

 

My dealer insisted on changing it at the 2yr checkup and oil change......since it was part of the 3/36 maintenance, I was only too happy to let them!

Now that I have a pressure bleeder, it's part of my routine maint, every 2 yrs, or anytime I've been on the track at HPT.

 

My dealer changed the brake fluid on my MCS at 2 years / 10k miles, covered under the service warranty. I didn't ask for it; they said it was due.

 

My dealership changed my brake fluid at either 20k or 30k miles (don't recall which visit it was) before the 2 year mark. They just did it without me asking.

 

I drove my Miata for 12 years (a 95)

when I sold it in 07

I was on the original pads .... 120,000 miles

and the original fluid . . . . .

 

I'm assuming it used DOT3 and not DOT4 fluid?