BMW 330i Brake fluid is black or brown Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(175)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(175)

Brake fluid is black or brown Inspection Service

How much does a Brake fluid is black or brown Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a BMW 330i Brake fluid is black or brown Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2018 BMW 330iL4-2.0L TurboService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
2017 BMW 330iL4-2.0L TurboService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2003 BMW 330iL6-3.0LService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$112.52 - $125.67
2004 BMW 330iL6-3.0LService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$112.48 - $125.60
2022 BMW 330iL4-2.0L TurboService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
2021 BMW 330iL4-2.0L TurboService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2005 BMW 330iL6-3.0LService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$117.28 - $130.25
2020 BMW 330iL4-2.0L TurboService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example BMW 330i Brake fluid is black or brown Inspection prices

Your car requires several different fluids in order to operate. Engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and coolant are all essential. Another important one is brake fluid. Like other fluids, your brake fluid will deteriorate over time and eventually need to be replaced with a brake system flush. If you’ve noticed that your brake fluid appears black or brown, it’s well past time for a service.

How this system works:

Your brakes are operated by fluid pressure. The master cylinder and brake booster work to create pressure, which is then directed to the moving parts of the system (the calipers and shoe actuators). In a normal system, the brake fluid is clear or very light gold in color. This is true whether your car requires DOT 3, 4 or 5 brake fluid.

Brake fluid is held in the master cylinder reservoir, but it is also stored in the brake lines that run from the master cylinder to each wheel. You have two types of brake lines – steel and rubber. Over time and through normal use, brake fluid becomes contaminated. This happens on all vehicles, even brand new ones.

It requires only a couple of years for the fluid to build up enough contaminants that the color begins to change. It will darken over time, changing from clear/golden to a darker gold. In severe situations, your brake fluid may appear to be brown, or even black (think used engine oil).

It’s important that your brake fluid is changed regularly, before it turns brown or black. Very dark colors indicate that your fluid has collected a significant amount of contamination, and might have absorbed moisture, as well. This reduces the system’s ability to build pressure, which compromises your braking performance. You may have noticed that your brake pedal feels softer, or spongy. In serious situations, you may have to pump the pedal a couple of times for it to work properly.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Normal Aging Gone to the Extreme: The most common reason that brake fluid appears brown or black is that normal aging has gone unchecked (you haven’t had the fluid changed in too long). Contaminants collect in the fluid, darkening the color and reducing its ability to work.

  • Moisture Contamination: Brake fluid can absorb moisture from the surrounding air. This generally occurs by rubber brake lines allowing moisture to seep in. When moisture accumulates in brake fluid, it causes problems in a couple of ways. Water has a much lower boiling point than brake fluid, and can reach very high temperatures at the calipers and drums. This causes the water to flash boil into steam, causing the brake fluid to darken, but also creating air in the lines. This can cause a soft pedal, or even cause you to have to pump the brake pedal to get the system to work properly.

  • Deteriorating Rubber Lines: The rubber brake lines on your car will eventually deteriorate and need to be replaced. Brake fluid is also corrosive, and while the lines are designed to withstand that corrosion, they’ll eventually begin to break down. Microscopic pieces of rubber and chemicals leaching out of the lines into the fluid will also cause it to darken.

  • Normal Heating: Brake fluid is heated by contact with the calipers, and this heat creates a chemical change in the fluid, adding to the darkening created by moisture and other types of contamination.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office and visually inspect your brake fluid’s condition, the master cylinder and the rest of the system to determine if the problem is simply due to normal age and wear/tear. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

The mechanic will inspect the master cylinder, lines and other brake system components. The mechanic will also determine how long it has been since your brake fluid was last changed, and may need to perform a brake fluid flush to remove the contaminated, old fluid and replace it with fresh, clean fluid.

How important is this service?

Brake fluid darkens as it ages – it’s natural, and due to normal contamination that occurs in all brake systems. However, it must be changed regularly, or you risk reduced braking performance and the deterioration or damage of other brake system components. One of our professional mechanics can inspect your system, change your fluid, and ensure that you enjoy the safety you deserve on the road.

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

(175)

Rating Summary
157
5
3
6
4
157
5
3
6
4

Andrew

11 years of experience
857 reviews
Andrew
11 years of experience
BMW 330i L6-3.0L - Brakes, Steering and Suspension Inspection - Lees Summit, Missouri
Andrew was completely professional, and was able to troubleshoot my issue within minutes. And also checked over the rest of the vehicle to make sure everything was ok.

Christopher

27 years of experience
350 reviews
Christopher
27 years of experience
BMW 330i L6-3.0L - Ball Joint Front Replacement (Lower Left, Lower Right) - Holyoke, Massachusetts
Chris was great as always.

Nathan

17 years of experience
288 reviews
Nathan
17 years of experience
BMW 330i L6-3.0L - Car Inspection - Austin, Texas
Very knowledgeable. Great mechanic.

Colin

27 years of experience
117 reviews
Colin
27 years of experience
BMW 330i L6-3.0L - Alternator - Tampa, Florida
I would recommend anyone with bmw car problems to call him. He was quick to diagnose the problem and had all the tools necessary for the job.

Excellent Rating

(175)

Rating Summary
157
5
3
6
4
157
5
3
6
4
Number of BMW 330i services completed
1925+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT BMW MECHANICS
1100+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Nissan LEAF
The The introduction of the LEAF represented the beginning of an age many car experts were skeptical would even happen – true mass production of a 100% electric vehicle. Not only did it happen but the LEAF was grabbed up...
How Long Does a Radiator Drain Cock Last?
Your Your car’s coolant system is one of the most critical on the entire vehicle. Without it, the engine would quickly overheat, causing devastating damage. Coolant is cycled from the radiator, through the hoses, past the thermostat, and around the...
P2134 OBD-II Trouble Code: Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch F Circuit Intermittent
What What the P2134 code means? P2134 is an OBD-II generic code for the engine control module (ECM) detecting the throttle pedal position sensor F has an intermittent sensor return to the ECM What causes the P2134 code? The ECM...

Car been sitting in garage for over a year. Bad starter.

Hello. There are quite a few things that you should do. The extent to which you do them will depend on need as you prioritize it with the budget you have. After replacing the starter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/starter-replacement), you will also want...

Common ways Oil Filter Housing Cracks

If the crack in the housing is in the plastic part, that can be written off to normal wear and tear. The plastic filter holder gets brittle and cracks easily. Most shops keep them on hand in case this happens...

Normal operating voltage?

Most vehicles require at least 13 volts to operate properly. Ideal voltage is 13.8 - 14.4 volts. 14.5 volts is completely acceptable and should cause no issues.

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