Chargin55

Cars just been in for a service. They renewed brake fluid and bled the system after only 20,000 miles? Car is a 2010 C63. I can not remember ever having this done on any vehicle I have owned before. I had no complaint about the brakes. Is this normal?

natman316

its on the service manual, but if you are not tracking I dont see why you need to replace it

Chargin55

It showed up on my Tax Invoice as "Customer Instructions: Drain and Renew Brake Fluid" and I didn't instruct anything like that.
If its on the job list for the 20,000 service I don't mind. The way it is described on the Tax Invoice I suspect it is an optional (unnecessary) task that also incurs me overpriced brake fluid, labour and an environmental levy.
Plus $240 for Shell 5W40 229.5. when I can buy 5litres of exact same stuff for $54.98

Roswell

Brake fluid change is recommended every 2 years for our AMG cars. They said moisture can get into the system.. But I'm doing mine every 3 years since I don't put lots of mileage on my car each year (around 2-3k km).

If u track ur car, it is recommended to change it after each track session, or at least more than once every 2 years.

Roswell

Btw, how much did u get charged for the brake fluid change? 240$? That seems a lot. I got quoted 150$ from an Indy shop.

Chargin55

Brake Fluid $81.28 + $95 to bled and drain.
Diff Oil $186.78
Motor Oil $240.00

Roswell

It seems reasonable considering u r in Australia where cars cost double from America. Lol

Pickles

Ain't that the truth!
Yeah, the change is for "moisture" reasons....that's what I've been told with other cars too....and I'm not sure that low mileage has much to do with it....I think that it's just that over a period of "time" that the fluid somehow "absorbs" moisture?
Anyway, I'll be getting ours done per the book.....one thing I will be mentioning to the Service Dept is to "BE CAREFUL". Our last car was a HSV GTO with lovely red AP 6 piston brakes. After changing the fluid, I noticed that brake fluid had been allowed onto the painted red surface of the calipers, leaving marks...not a good look.
Cheers, Pickles.

roadtalontsi

its every 2 yrs on every benz not amg specific. Brake fluid is hydroscopic. which means it attracts moisture. its actually normal procedure for just about every car brand but most dont push it because they dont care and neither do the clients.

motoman

Come on guys. Fundamental, change every two years at least. This time the dealer is right.

khmergod

Rec is 2 years or 30k miles average.

jvanbrecht

It is also very easy to do yourself.

Get a pressure bleeder on Amazon for $50, and $50 ro so in brake fluid (well thats what I paid in teh US from teh dealer). Took about 2 hours, and most of that is jacking up the car and removing the tires.

MIKE ZELL

Toyota recommend changing the brake fluid at two years IIRC.

ddcha

I'm paying $162 for oil change, $106 for cabin filter change, and $124 for brake fluid change. Indy shop that only focuses on MB. The dealership near me is full of douchebags. I believe brake fluid change is somewhat optional, but it starts to break down after 2 years, regardless of miles driven.

Moviela

Brake fluid must be changed every two years. The mileage does not matter. It is an old wives tale that the hydroscopic nature of brake fluid is the reason for change. The brake system is vented to the atmosphere, but it is through a pin hole, and the exposed surface is about 1 square inch. Water in your brake fluid is a trace amount after two years.

The real problem is copper. The fluid absorbs the copper from the metal in the system. There are anti-corrosion additives in the Mercedes specified fluid, but the copper interferes with additives and begins to attack the metal in the system. If you have had a quote for any of the major brake components like the ABS control valve, you know you can buy a new car in some countries with that money.

You guys that are pouring ATE racing blue or gold in the system thinking "it must be better" are wrong. The viscosity of that is too high and will interfere with operation of the ABS. The nooks and crannies in that valve are too small for a highly viscous fluid.

Get the Mercedes approved fluid (check your manual, don't listen to the counter Bob) and change it every two years. Your brakes will work fine, and if you need the ABS it could save a life.

bhamg

^ I've never heard of the copper issue. Where does it come from? The only copper I can think of is the washers and potential for exposure there seems minimal at best.

Moviela

It comes from the brake lines. The inside surface of the brake lines are coated with a copper brazing alloy. Brake lines represent perhaps the largest surface area in the brake system. The amount of corrosion caused by the copper is dependent on the level of corrosion inhibitors in the brake fluid.

motoman

bhamg, moviela is correct, I believe. The companies offering the "litmus" test for used brake fluid include copper in the contaminates.

bhamg

^^ Thx, good to know.

SheryarYO

my dealer does oil changes for $95+tax. I changed my cabin air filter myself, but they charged me about $140 for the brake fluid change. I figured Indy shops would be cheaper than that.