Brake Fluid red indicator came on

[VernonD]

Hi all

I'm in a bit of a pickle.

My brake fluid service light, red indicated, came on this afternoon and on Friday 23 May, I'm going to travel 2100km from Cape Town to Kimberley and back. I still got 2500km before the oil service is due as per the computer however my oil service was last at 132891km and I'm currently on 147980km. This means I'm past the 15000km oil service mark but according to my friends my driving style is so that the computer indicated that I can travel a bit more before the next oil service is due. The car drives fine, I'm getting 18.8km/l and driving in normal traffic conditions. Last brake fluid service was 05/2012 at 93800km.

I want to ask if I can still drive up until the oil service in 2500km and do the brake fluid and oil service in one go as I wont get time to take the car in for a brake fluid change. Ill be back in Cape Town on Monday 26 May. I'm going to take the N7 to Calvinia through Upington on the N14 road on Friday and going to travel 120-130km/h. I am really nervous and thought the brake fluid and oil service light comes on at the same time. Please help

 

[Ralf*]

doesn't this light mean that your brake fluid level is low ?

I wouldn't drive much beyond the first petrol service station that stocks the correct brake fluid, and then fill it up, for fear of loosing all braking ability

however it could also be as simple as a sticky brake fluid level float sensor

 

[DieselFan]

I take it this is for the 320d. You should be doing oil services atleast every 15 000kms. Ideally if you want the car to last every 10 000kms. Check the brake fluid level and possibly top up. It should be changed every 2 years so it is due. But it is not going to break you car. If you plan to drive like a race car then have it flushed with new fluid.

Sent from Samsung S5

 

[Philip Foglar]

It's probably due for a brake fluid flush - every two years according to the service schedule. As long as the oil level is fine it should be fine. I gather the car is out of motorplan, so then it's not really such a big deal if this is done after your trip.

 

[Ralf*]

OK....driving slightly older BMW's, my question is

Is this red indicator a warning that the fluid level is low ?

or

Is this red indicator a cautionary that the brake fluid service is due ?

or

is it both ?


[/quote]

 

[Philip Foglar]

With that said, I would do the following to make sure. Start by checking the service information, since it is an E90, it should tell you when your brake fluid is due for a flush and refill. Then physically check the brake fluid level and top up if necessary.

 

[Ralf*]

Just surfing around to get more "educated" I came across this "hit" with google, and check the last post on this page.....might be worth something to consider

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1399579-Brake-fluid-low

02-15-2010, 05:50 PM #6
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anpmech
anpmech is offline Member

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Figured it out, the red icon was freaking me out and did not make sense. My car had the wrong date. It thought it was June 30th for some reason. I changed the date to today and all the warnings went away. Thanks Mryakan and Critter7r

 

[VernonD]

doesn't this light mean that your brake fluid level is low ?

I wouldn't drive much beyond the first petrol service station that stocks the correct brake fluid, and then fill it up, for fear of loosing all braking ability

however it could also be as simple as a sticky brake fluid level float sensor

Thanks I fear of losing my braking as well but the brakes feel fine.

---

I take it this is for the 320d. You should be doing oil services atleast every 15 000kms. Ideally if you want the car to last every 10 000kms. Check the brake fluid level and possibly top up. It should be changed every 2 years so it is due. But it is not going to break you car. If you plan to drive like a race car then have it flushed with new fluid.

Sent from Samsung S5

I did check the brake fluid level and it is at the top. The fluid look a brownish in color.

---

It's probably due for a brake fluid flush - every two years according to the service schedule. As long as the oil level is fine it should be fine. I gather the car is out of motorplan, so then it's not really such a big deal if this is done after your trip.

Hi yes it is out of motorplan. I only got a warrentee plan on the car. I checked now and the date is 05/2014 and the last brake fluid service was done in 05/2012 so it is about 2 yrs, you correct. I also called SMG BMW and Garage808 in a panic this morning but they are fully booked for 2 weeks. Im going to drive about 120-130km/h only so i wont stop much but I checked that the fluid level is fine, just a bit of a brown color, but it is full.

:rollsmile: thanks for the feedback, I really hope nothing happens on the trip as I cant cancel now, going to a funeral.

---

OK....driving slightly older BMW's, my question is

Is this red indicator a warning that the fluid level is low ?

or

Is this red indicator a cautionary that the brake fluid service is due ?

or

is it both ?

[/quote]

ok it looks like my brake fluid service is overdue, I see now its suppose to be changed every 2 yrs. Im just afraid, seeing the sign is in a red color must mean something bad.

 

[DieselFan]

I doubt your brakes will stop working. Brake fluid has a dry and wet boiling point. The older it is the more likely it has been contaminated with water and will boil at its wet boiling point which is lower than then dry boiling point. Or atleast that's how I understand it. So you won't loose brakes as long as you don't drive like a race car. You can also phone brilliant mechanical workshop. They are in Claremont. But they are also pretty busy. But if it's just and oil change and brake fluid flush. They might squeeze you in

Sent from Samsung S5

 

[Philip Foglar]

As long as the brake fluid level is fine, and it seems it's just the service indicator, then it really is nothing to worry about. Whether it's done now or in a few weeks time is not going to make too much difference. :thumbs:

 

[VernonD]

As long as the brake fluid level is fine, and it seems it's just the service indicator, then it really is nothing to worry about. Whether it's done now or in a few weeks time is not going to make too much difference. :thumbs:

Thanks man, I got no time to go to for a service tomorrow, I need to leave Cape Town at 0200 tomorrow morning and be in Kimberley by 12:00 so its going to be constant driving. Wish me luck :bangdesk:

 

[Philip Foglar]

No problem!! Have a safe trip!! :thumbs:

 

[VernonD]

No problem!! Have a safe trip!! :thumbs:

Thanks the trip was cool. got a flat 120km into the trip but it was sorted in Citrusdal. Did the brake fluid change eon my way back at SMG but I found out they did half jobs on my car awhile back as i looked through the jobcard which i never did. I opened up another thread about this. Thanks

 

[Philip Foglar]

Glad the trip was at least nice! Sorry to hear about the flat tyre - do you have a space-saver or mobility kit?

Yep, really hope that you can get these issues cleared up!

 

[VernonD]

Glad the trip was at least nice! Sorry to hear about the flat tyre - do you have a space-saver or mobility kit?

Yep, really hope that you can get these issues cleared up!

Nope got runflats so I drove 80-100km then stopped in Ctrusdal to repair the tyre. Only realized afterwards I had a tyre spray kit as a temp fix until I get to Calvinia...:blab:

 

[Philip Foglar]

Glad the trip was at least nice! Sorry to hear about the flat tyre - do you have a space-saver or mobility kit?

Yep, really hope that you can get these issues cleared up!

Nope got runflats so I drove 80-100km then stopped in Ctrusdal to repair the tyre. Only realized afterwards I had a tyre spray kit as a temp fix until I get to Calvinia...:blab:

Just be aware that since you have now driven on the tyre "flat", it has done its job and while repairing is not really an issue, it won't be as safe now that it covered that sort of distance. This is the main reason for a space-saver or mobility kit in my opinion - I'd rather use that and save the punctured tyre which can be repaired. But, this is also the problem - in most cases you won't know you have a flat RFT until much later on and the TPMS tells you.

The joys of RFT's! :yuck: