My car started crying for brake fluid recently. Picked up some DOT4 the other day but have no idea where it goes? Never had a car that it wasn't obvious under the hood. Help please.

-Gene

 

Pop the hood and take a look at the right side, near the windshield. Theres an access cover; open it and there is the brake fluid reservoir

The access cover on the left side, hides the battery!

 

I think you're asking the wrong question. The correct question should be, "why and where is my MINI leaking brake fluid?" During normal operation brake fluid does not get consumed, if you're running low, it's leaking out of the system somewhere. That is probably not a good thing. In any event, shouldn't brake fluid be covered under the service maintenance plan?

 

If the OP's brake pads are getting thin the brake fluid level will drop & cause the dash warning light to come on. No fluid will leak out in that scenario it just takes more to fill the cylinder in the caliper once the pads are thin. If that is the case the OP needs to take his car to the dealer for a pad change or do it himself.

 

Yea, I think I would be contacting my dealer if my brakes needed fluid after only 8.5 months. Whether it is pads or a leak, it would be covered under the service plan.

 

ahaaaaaaaa! Thanks! I had myself and 6 other motror heads looking for it at the track yesterday with no luck.

Not leaking anything. Saying I drive my car hard is the understatment of the year. I tore through a set of high treadwear front tires in two months without doing a single burnout. Look up my username on YouTube and see how I drove my old car. I knew it was from my pads getting thin. When I spray painted my rims for that promo while they were on the car the rotors got covered in rustoleum. After a few hard stops from 100mph I cleaned off the rotors....and a lot of life out of the pads.

-Gene

 

That, I need to do (too).
My rims are COATED in brake dust after just 600 miles on the odo!

 

I replaced the OEM pads with Carbotech Bobcat 1521 pads, and have had very little dust since then. They are high performance street pads, quiet, easy on rotors, and great stopping.

However, this means that when it comes time to replace the rotors, it will be on my dime, even if it happens in the service program period. I figured it was worth it.

 

If you fill the res. now, then when you do replace the pads you will push brake fluid back up through the lines when you push the pistons back in for new pads and it will overflow=big mess

 

Welcome to German OEM pads.

 

I hear they devour the rotors really fast too huh?

 

That I couldn't tell you. I just know from 40 years of owning German cars that their brake pads are a PITA to clean up after...