BMW ActiveHybrid 5 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 ActiveHybrid 5 Brake Master Cylinder Replacement is $840 with $616 for parts and $224 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2015 BMW ActiveHybrid 5L6-3.0L Turbo Hybrid	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1480.00	Shop/Dealer Price$1798.08 - $2729.64
2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 5L6-3.0L Turbo Hybrid	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1465.58	Shop/Dealer Price$1778.72 - $2706.57
2016 BMW ActiveHybrid 5L6-3.0L Turbo Hybrid	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1501.50	Shop/Dealer Price$1823.69 - $2778.53
2014 BMW ActiveHybrid 5L6-3.0L Turbo Hybrid	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1465.58	Shop/Dealer Price$1778.79 - $2706.69
2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5L6-3.0L Turbo Hybrid	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1465.58	Shop/Dealer Price$1782.91 - $2713.91

Show example BMW ActiveHybrid 5 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

(5)

Rating Summary

5

0

0

0

0

5

0

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Ben

42 years of experience

1589 reviews

Ben

42 years of experience

by Younus

BMW ActiveHybrid 5 L6-3.0L Turbo Hybrid - Oil Change - Houston, Texas

Helpful and Courteous.

Nicholas

12 years of experience

303 reviews

Request Nicholas

Nicholas

12 years of experience

Request Nicholas

by Younus

BMW ActiveHybrid 5 L6-3.0L Turbo Hybrid - Back To School Promo - Houston, Texas

He arrive before time and was very easy to communicate. Extremely professional and knowledgeable. If I had a choice of selecting a Mechanic next time I would pick him

Jeremy

21 years of experience

802 reviews

Jeremy

21 years of experience

by Michelle

BMW ActiveHybrid 5 L6-3.0L Turbo Hybrid - Valve Cover Gasket Replacement - Boynton Beach, Florida

The experience was actually awesome. Jeremy told me I scheduled a service I didn’t need and was super helpful and FAST! I’m not sure why I would ever schedule elsewhere

Andrew

27 years of experience

53 reviews

Andrew

27 years of experience

by Mark

BMW ActiveHybrid 5 L6-3.0L Turbo Hybrid - Brake Pads Replacement (Front, Rear) - Las Vegas, Nevada

Andrew did a great job. Friendly and great to work with. Quickly took care of my service appointment. Would highly recommend.

Excellent Rating

(5)

Rating Summary

5

0

0

0

0

5

0

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

How to Diagnose Your Car's Air Conditioning System

There There is never a good time for your air conditioning in your car to stop working, but it typically seems to happen in the dead heat of summer. If your AC system has either quit working or has stopped...

P2617 OBD-II Trouble Code: Crank Position Signal Output Circuit Open

P2617 P2617 code definition Crank Position Signal Output Circuit Open What the P2617 code means P2617 is an OBD-II generic code for the engine control module (ECM) detecting an open or short circuit in the crank position sensor signal wire...

How Long Does a Main Relay (Computer/Fuel System) Last?

Common signs include the engine not starting, inability to stay running for a long time, and no communication with scan tools.

What are the Different Types of Spark Plugs Available?

Talking about spark plugs (https://www.yourmechanic.com/parts/spark-plug) is a never-ending discussion. Which ones are best? The answer to that question is somewhat trite, but can still be relevant depending on your vehicle and its intended use. Spark plugs (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/are-there-different-kinds-of-spark-plugs) come in two...

How do you store just one phone number from your phone in the HandsFreeLink?

While you can import entire phonebooks (on some phones) into the HandsFreeLink® (HFL) system, you can also add specific names and numbers if you want. This is handy if you only want to store a few close friends and family...

Have a 1994 Chev Suburban 350. TBI flooding, changed out MAP sensor, pressure regulator, EGR valve, temp sensor, thermostat. still floods

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