BMW 530e xDrive 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

(6,607)

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

(6,607)

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 530e xDrive 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
2020 BMW 530e xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo HybridService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
2018 BMW 530e xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo HybridService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2022 BMW 530e xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo HybridService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2019 BMW 530e xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo HybridService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
2021 BMW 530e xDriveL4-2.0L Turbo HybridService typeBrake fluid is black or brown InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
Show example BMW 530e xDrive 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

(6,607)

Rating Summary
6,159
203
60
44
141
6,159
203
60
44
141

Chris

22 years of experience
2229 reviews
Chris
22 years of experience
BMW X3 L6-3.0L - Brake fluid is black or brown - Laguna Niguel, California
Chris is a rockstar. He arrived right on schedule and was super communicative throughout the whole process. I was out of the country at the time, so unfortunately I couldn't meet him in person. But he made quick work of the job and handled everything like a true professional. He even saved me some money by advising me to remove one of the services that I requested but wasn't necessary after his initial inspection. I really appreciated that. He could have easily charged me for that work and I would've been none the wiser. I'd recommend Chris to anyone in a heartbeat.

Keith

18 years of experience
372 reviews
Keith
18 years of experience
BMW 535i L6-3.0L Turbo - Radiator - Kissimmee, Florida
Best experience. Highly skilled mechanic who definitely knows about foreign vehicles. Will forever use Keith as my mechanic. If you want the job professionally done in a fast and neat manner. Keith is the guy. Will recommend. Fixed my radiator and lower control arm. On my twin turbo 535.

Michael

16 years of experience
606 reviews
Michael
16 years of experience
BMW 325xi L6-3.0L - Oil Change - Atlanta, Georgia
Showed up earlier than expected & did an excellent job. Also let me know a lot of things about my car that I didn't know. If you need a mechanic in the Atlanta area, he's the guy you need to call!

Robert

22 years of experience
283 reviews
Robert
22 years of experience
BMW 320i L4-2.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Keller, Texas
Robert was very competent and friendly. He saved me a lot of time.

Excellent Rating

(6,607)

Rating Summary
6,159
203
60
44
141
6,159
203
60
44
141
Number of BMW services completed
72677+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT BMW MECHANICS
1100+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

How Long Does a PCV Valve Hose Last?
Your Your car’s engine requires both air and gasoline in order to operate. During the combustion process, it also creates gases. These gases contain traces of gasoline and can be re-burned by injecting them back into the intake manifold. This...
10 Best Car Air Fresheners
Air fresheners keep your car pleasantly scented while masking any odors. Ozium's freshener gel is adjustable if you prefer a strong or subtle scent.
P0877 OBD-II Trouble Code: Transmission Fluid Pressure Sensor/Switch “D” Circuit Low
P0877 means that the transmission fluid pressure that is above or below factory spec due to low fluid level, overheating engine, or faulty sensors.

My car has no spark - 1992 Audi 100

First thing to check is what diagnostic codes the engine management system contains. Yes, even pre-OBD-II cars can have on-board diagnostics. In the fuse box, there are a pair of 2-pin connectors: one white and one black. With the ignition...

Abs lite is on major problem?

Second opinion] My car drives fine for a little bit and has a issue where it won't accelerate and rapidly overheats. After the [engine](/topics-engine-chevy/) cools down it drives normally again. Is it bad [spark plugs](/topics-spark-plug-chevy/)?

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