BMW 320i 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 Brake Master Cylinder Replacement is $317 with $177 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2013 BMW 320iL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1142.56	Shop/Dealer Price$1376.28 - $2054.76
2015 BMW 320iL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1128.14	Shop/Dealer Price$1356.92 - $2031.69
2014 BMW 320iL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1128.14	Shop/Dealer Price$1356.99 - $2031.81
2012 BMW 320iL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1028.16	Shop/Dealer Price$1232.01 - $1831.85
2001 BMW 320iL6-2.2L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$542.91	Shop/Dealer Price$638.77 - $909.29
1994 BMW 320iL6-2.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$779.73	Shop/Dealer Price$941.66 - $1419.59
2005 BMW 320iL6-2.2L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$542.91	Shop/Dealer Price$635.45 - $903.49
2017 BMW 320iL4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1164.06	Shop/Dealer Price$1399.66 - $2099.75

Show example BMW 320i 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

(65)

Rating Summary

60

2

1

1

1

60

2

1

1

1

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Marco

30 years of experience

329 reviews

Marco

30 years of experience

by Ken

BMW 320i L4-2.0L Turbo - Reset Indicator Lights - Upland, California

I had decided to give your company a second chance since someone was supposed to be here yesterday and canceled with about 3 minutes to go. Marco kept me in the loop the whole time

Andrew

27 years of experience

53 reviews

Andrew

27 years of experience

by Ramon

BMW 320i L4-2.0L Turbo - Oil Change - North Las Vegas, Nevada

Andrew did another good job!

Juan

13 years of experience

55 reviews

Juan

13 years of experience

by Dallas

BMW 320i L4-2.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Vacaville, California

Showed up on time, and had everything completed in the time frame.

Brock

33 years of experience

51 reviews

Brock

33 years of experience

by Yifan

BMW 320i L4-2.0L Turbo - 50 Point Inspection - San Jose, California

Brock provided very professional car service and took shorted time then I expected. Besides, he also gave me helpful suggestions regarding my car's condition.

Excellent Rating

(65)

Rating Summary

60

2

1

1

1

60

2

1

1

1

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

How to Replace Your Air Filter

Before Before it can enter the engine, the engine air filter traps any dust and debris by acting as a shield, blocking its path. Over time, however, these filters can accumulate a lot of dirt and get clogged up (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/air-filter-is-clogged-inspection),...

P0552 OBD-II Trouble Code: Power Steering Pressure Sensor Circuit Low Input

P0552 means there is an issue with the power steering pressure sensor circuit often cause by failure of the steering pump or poor wiring/connection.

The Traveler’s Guide to Driving in Korea

Korea Korea is an interesting country with a strong culture and a fascinating history. There are many different places (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294196-Activities-South_Korea.html) that you may want to visit including the War Memorial of Korea and Gyeongbogung Palace, both of which are in...

Light not turning off

Hello. A common problem for your vehicle is the lights staying on due to a brake switch malfunction. The switch tells the car when to turn on the brake lights and when to turn them off. In most cases, the...

Car wont start but cranks 1998 Nissan Altima

Hey there, thanks for writing in about your 1998 Altima. You may have a crankshaft (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/crankshaft-position-sensor-replacement) or camshaft sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/camshaft-position-sensor-replacement) causing the no start. You can scan the computer and watch the data to see if one or both of...

cylinder 3 and 4 misfire

Hi there. Check the spark plugs (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/spark-plugs-replacement) to see if they have burn spots on them. Switch them out with cylinders that are firing. If the other cylinders do not fire now, then the spark plugs need replaced. If the...

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