BMW 318i Brake Master Cylinder Replacement Costs

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

See availability

Customer Ratings

Brake Master Cylinder Replacement Service

How much does a Brake Master Cylinder Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a BMW 318i Brake Master Cylinder Replacement is $439 with $299 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
1995 BMW 318iL4-1.8L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$752.82	Shop/Dealer Price$908.58 - $1361.67
1991 BMW 318iL4-1.8L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1223.01	Shop/Dealer Price$1495.47 - $2305.65
1994 BMW 318iL4-1.8L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$743.81	Shop/Dealer Price$896.52 - $1347.32
1992 BMW 318iL4-1.8L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1067.79	Shop/Dealer Price$1291.51 - $1953.18
1993 BMW 318iL4-1.8L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1067.79	Shop/Dealer Price$1294.87 - $1959.05
1996 BMW 318iL4-1.9L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$743.81	Shop/Dealer Price$896.76 - $1347.75
1997 BMW 318iL4-1.9L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$743.81	Shop/Dealer Price$896.54 - $1347.37
1998 BMW 318iL4-1.9L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$743.81	Shop/Dealer Price$896.52 - $1347.32

Show example BMW 318i Brake Master Cylinder Replacement prices

What is the brake master cylinder and how does it work?

The brake master cylinder has a piston that pressurizes fluid in the brake lines to each wheel cylinder as you apply force to the brake pedal. That pressure moves the pistons that are in the wheel cylinders. As the pistons in those wheel cylinders move, they force the brake pads or shoes tightly against the rotors or drums allowing the car to stop quickly.

The size of the pistons in the master cylinder and in the wheel cylinders are carefully selected when designing a car. This allows drivers to apply moderate pressure on the brake pedal when stopping, but creates tremendous pressure applied at the wheel cylinders. A car can then stop quickly even at high speeds. Depending on how much force is applied to the brake pedal, the pressure in a car’s brake lines will typically be in the range of 800 PSI to 2,000 PSI.

Master Cylinder

When to replace the master cylinder?

External fluid leaks. There should be no fluid visible on the external surfaces of any portion of the master cylinder or the plastic fluid reservoir.
Low, slowly falling, or spongy brake pedal. Faulty internal seals on the piston can cause internal leaks and also seepage of brake fluid into the power assist brake booster. Internal leaks will typically be accompanied by a low pedal, a spongy brake pedal, or a pedal that slowly sinks as you maintain pressure. In all cases, you will experience reduced braking abilities.
Discolored brake fluid. No brake fluids, other than those specified for the year, make, and model, are fully compatible with a car’s internal rubber seals in the master cylinder. Discoloration of brake fluid can also occur due to moisture and particulate contaminants in the fluid.
Warning lights on the dash. If the brake system warning light illuminates, there are several potential causes but failure of the master cylinder is in the list of causes that would have to be investigated.

How do mechanics replace the brake master cylinder?

On vehicles with power brakes, the master cylinder is bolted to the metal housing of the power brake booster. There is usually an electrical plug connecting to a brake fluid level sensor on the master cylinder reservoir and that plug must be disconnected.
Once all steel brake lines are disconnected from the master cylinder, the master cylinder is unbolted from the brake booster and removed from the vehicle.
The new master cylinder must be bench-bled to expel air from internal passages that contain the piston. Then the new master cylinder is bolted to the brake booster and the brake lines are reattached. The electrical plug for the fluid level sensor is reconnected.
Whenever a new master cylinder is installed, brakes lines to wheel positions must be bled to remove air, old fluid and contaminants. If your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes, the mechanic may use a bidirectional scan tool during brake bleeding to actuate the ABS pump, thus ensuring that all air is removed from the complex valving in the ABS system.
All brake line connections that were removed during the master cylinder replacement are inspected for any leakage and the vehicle is road tested to ensure normal operation of the brakes.

Is it safe to drive with a master cylinder problem?

No, any fault in the master cylinder, which is part of the braking system creates a safety risk. A fully operational brake system is essential to quickly stopping your car. Driving a vehicle isn’t safe, if the master cylinder is leaking or has other faults, as braking distances might be longer than normal. The braking system on a vehicle is among the most important safety systems and must be fully functional to safely drive your vehicle.

When replacing the master cylinder keep in mind:

The master cylinder is only one component of many in a vehicle’s braking system. During replacement of the master cylinder, all vehicle braking system components should be inspected to ensure maximum braking power is available.
The amount of friction material remaining on the brake pads and brake shoes should be verified.
Brake lines and flexible rubber hoses at each wheel position should be inspected for corrosion and deterioration.
The power brake booster should be evaluated to ensure that power assist is working properly.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee

Meet some of our expert BMW mechanics

Real customer reviews from BMW owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(21)

Rating Summary

20

0

1

0

0

20

0

1

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Clarissa

28 years of experience

251 reviews

Request Clarissa

Clarissa

28 years of experience

Request Clarissa

by marco

BMW 318i L4-1.9L - Camshaft Position Sensor - Coatesville, Pennsylvania

Very happy. I booked a ball joint replacement that a tire store told me I needed. Clarissa checked and that was not really what the car needed; it needed a control arm bushing instead. I appreciate the honesty and saving me from work I did not need. Clarissa was easy to talk to and work with.

Firas

22 years of experience

11 reviews

Firas

22 years of experience

by Marcel

BMW 318i L4-1.8L - Throttle Position Sensor - San Leandro, California

Tom

43 years of experience

205 reviews

Tom

43 years of experience

by Mike

BMW 318i L4-1.9L - Ignition key does not turn - San Jose, California

Tom is an excellent and trustworthy mechanic.

Alika

16 years of experience

14 reviews

Alika

16 years of experience

by Natman

BMW 318i L4-1.8L - Headlight Bulb Replacement (Driver Side Low Beam) - Tucson, Arizona

Great experience.

Excellent Rating

(21)

Rating Summary

20

0

1

0

0

20

0

1

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

P0318 OBD-II Trouble Code: Rough Road Sensor A Signal Circuit

What What the P0318 code means The powertrain control module (PCM) has noticed a change in your crankshaft position. This tells your car that you are experiencing uneven or rough driving. What causes the P0318 code? Any time the PCM...

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Volvo XC90

While While the trend seems to be the bigger the vehicle the better, the 2012 Volvo XC90 proves that you can combine seven-passenger seating with a smaller size – without overly sacrificing comfort. For those who want a smaller footprint...

Are New Car Prices Negotiable?

When When purchasing a new car, you may turn away options due to its price, interest rate and other fees. It is important to understand all these costs up front when you want to buy a new vehicle. Often, you...

How do you get maximum cooling with the Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control?

During very hot weather, you may find that normal air conditioning operation doesn’t quite cut it. There are two ways that you can obtain maximum cooling with your car. Here’s what you should know: Auto: You can use the Automatic...

my 04 sentry has the service engine light on.

If your vehicle's check engine light (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-does-the-check-engine-warning-light-mean-by-spencer-cates) illuminates, there is a malfunction that should be diagnosed and repaired. If the check engine light is flashing, that means there is a serious fault, such as cylinder misfiring, that requires immediate repair....

Very slow coolant leak

Hi there. I wouldn't assume that you have a coolant leak based on coolant being present after the vehicle overheated. In most cases, the coolant will boil out of the radiator cap and cause this type of 'spillage'. If you've...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com