BMW 320i xDrive 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 320i xDrive Brake Master Cylinder Replacement is $629 with $447 for parts and $182 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2017 BMW 320i xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1178.48	Shop/Dealer Price$1416.86 - $2119.04
2013 BMW 320i xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1128.14	Shop/Dealer Price$1356.92 - $2031.69
2016 BMW 320i xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1164.06	Shop/Dealer Price$1401.89 - $2103.65
2015 BMW 320i xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1128.14	Shop/Dealer Price$1356.99 - $2031.81
2014 BMW 320i xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1128.14	Shop/Dealer Price$1361.11 - $2039.03
2018 BMW 320i xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1120.27	Shop/Dealer Price$1355.48 - $2055.29

Show example BMW 320i xDrive 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

(22)

Rating Summary

22

0

0

0

0

22

0

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

James

27 years of experience

184 reviews

James

27 years of experience

by prince

BMW 320i xDrive L4-2.0L Turbo - Wheel Hub Assembly Replacement (Driver Side Front) - Antioch, Tennessee

James is excellent. Was very quick about getting the job done and knowledgeable about my car and answered a lot of questions.

Charles

5 years of experience

116 reviews

Request Charles

Charles

5 years of experience

Request Charles

by Caitlyn

BMW 320i xDrive L4-2.0L Turbo - Mass Airflow Sensor Replacement - Nashville, Tennessee

He was great!

Theodore

17 years of experience

1794 reviews

Request Theodore

Theodore

17 years of experience

Request Theodore

by Xiaowei

BMW 320i xDrive L4-2.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Sammamish, Washington

Nice job, great

Joel

12 years of experience

177 reviews

Joel

12 years of experience

by Oscar

BMW 320i xDrive L4-2.0L Turbo - Valve Cover Gasket - The Colony, Texas

Awesome Work

Excellent Rating

(22)

Rating Summary

22

0

0

0

0

22

0

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Headlight Switch

If the high beams, daytime running lights, or headlamps are not working consistently, you may need to replace the headlight switch.

What Does the Brake Pad Wear Indicator Warning Light Mean?

The brake pad wear indicator warning light comes on when the brake pads are detected to be too thin.

B1930 OBD-II Trouble Code: Air Bag Safing Sensor Output Circuit Short To Ground

B1930 means there is a short circuit that is involved with the airbag deployment system's safing sensor, likely due to faulty wiring.

Car has a hard time starting

Hello! On your particular vehicle, the hard start condition is commonly caused by a faulty fuel pump relay, fuel pump, or fuel filter, so I suggest checking the fuel pressure to determine if there is a problem with the fuel...

Our 2005 jaguar ran out of gas Now it won't start we added gas and turn the key on an off four times it sound like it will

When a car has a lot of miles on it, as yours does, running out of gas can damage the fuel pump. Most cars these days have the pump submerged in the fuel tank and the fuel passes through the...

Car noise while accelerating.

Without hearing the noise you may have a problem in the transaxle or axles and bearings. I recommend having a mechanic like one from YourMechanic to test and drive the vehicle to diagnose the problem for you.

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 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com