BMW Z4 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 Z4 Brake Master Cylinder Replacement is $299 with $159 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2008 BMW Z4L6-3.2L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1156.16	Shop/Dealer Price$1412.75 - $2168.35
2013 BMW Z4L4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1147.15	Shop/Dealer Price$1400.65 - $2153.93
2003 BMW Z4L6-3.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$463.19	Shop/Dealer Price$545.74 - $786.08
2015 BMW Z4L6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1147.15	Shop/Dealer Price$1400.69 - $2154.00
2010 BMW Z4L6-3.0L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1147.15	Shop/Dealer Price$1403.27 - $2158.51
2005 BMW Z4L6-2.5L	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$463.19	Shop/Dealer Price$545.99 - $786.51
2016 BMW Z4L4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1147.15	Shop/Dealer Price$1400.72 - $2154.05
2013 BMW Z4L6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Master Cylinder Replacement	Estimate$1147.15	Shop/Dealer Price$1400.69 - $2154.00

Show example BMW Z4 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

(151)

Rating Summary

135

6

3

3

4

135

6

3

3

4

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Quint

12 years of experience

21 reviews

Quint

12 years of experience

by Jennifer

BMW Z4 L6-2.5L - Valve Cover Gasket - Hampton, Georgia

Timely, knowledgeable! Replaced valve gasket and gave my BMW an oil change.

Aaron

30 years of experience

132 reviews

Aaron

30 years of experience

by Jackie

BMW Z4 L6-3.0L - Car is overheating - Tallahassee, Florida

Aaron was great. He arrived in a timely manner, assessed the problem and told me what had to be done to correct the problem. It’s great to have a source that’s reliable and can come to you! Excellent resource! Definitely adding to my contacts.

Tinashe

14 years of experience

781 reviews

Request Tinashe

Tinashe

14 years of experience

Request Tinashe

by Cynthia

BMW Z4 L4-2.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Atlanta, Georgia

Tinashe is always great. He shows up on time, does what's needed and explains what he's done. After years of getting ripped off by dealers, I'm glad I found him.

James

20 years of experience

96 reviews

James

20 years of experience

by Billy

BMW Z4 L6-3.0L - Stabilizer Bar Bushings Replacement (Front, Rear) - Phoenix, Arizona

James showed up early for the appointment and made the repairs as promised. Excellent service!

Excellent Rating

(151)

Rating Summary

135

6

3

3

4

135

6

3

3

4

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

What Is the Difference Between Sprung Weight and Unsprung Weight?

Car Car aficionados, particularly those involved with racing, sometimes talk about “sprung” and “unsprung” weight (or mass). What do these terms mean? The spring is the suspension component that holds the vehicle up and cushions it and its occupants and...

How Long Do Windshield Wipers Last?

Your Your windshield wiper system helps you maintain visibility of the road, yet the integral system is so often overlooked. Your windshield wipers: Clear snow and ice from your windshield Remove rain from the windshield glass Clean dirt and bugs...

How to Register a Car in Alaska

All All vehicles must be registered through the Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles in order to be legally driven on the roadways. Vehicles can be registered in person, or by mail if certain requirements are met. The requirement to register...

My car instantly overheats

Hello. This is a common issue when the thermostat is failing. This may also be caused when the coolant fan relays are not working properly. If the thermostat is stuck closed, this may cause the coolant to not circulate properly...

Loud clunking noise when i drive over pot holes and bumps. Any idea what this could be?

Unfortunately, as our vehicles age, the parts will just wear out. There are a few possible issues that can cause a clunk when going over bumps (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/clunking-noise-when-i-drive-over-bumps-inspection), in a vehicle that is getting up there in mileage. Worn shocks/struts, worn...

Second Opinion] when i put my car in drive it just revs up and wont gain speed like it used to, it acts like it is stuck in nutural. i emptied the transmission fluid and its dark and smells burnt. i know how to work on car very well but ive never worked with transmission. do you know what the problem is and what i should do to fix it?

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