Brake fluid flush. Mileage or time-based service?
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From: Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2025 E53 Hybrid
Brake fluid flush. Mileage or time-based service?
I expect to hit the 20K mile mark in January after owning the car for only 11 months. With my other MBs, I changed the brake fluid at the two-year mark regardless of mileage or to meet inspection requirements prior to MBCA track events. Is it okay to wait another year before changing the brake fluid? I expect to have about 35K miles at the end of two years.
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
I've always done brake fluid based on time. Miles don't matter to the fluid, but water gets absorbed over time. I would say it's safe to wait for the 2 year mark regardless of mileage.
Full disclosure, I'm not a professional mechanic.
Full disclosure, I'm not a professional mechanic.
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
I expect to hit the 20K mile mark in January after owning the car for only 11 months. With my other MBs, I changed the brake fluid at the two-year mark regardless of mileage or to meet inspection requirements prior to MBCA track events. Is it okay to wait another year before changing the brake fluid? I expect to have about 35K miles at the end of two years.
Here is a simple solution: if you worried about water in your brake fluid and a catastrophic brake failure, buy a water gauge meter to measure the amount of water in your brake fluid. This is what I did. Cost under $20!
Guess what: as I suspected after nearly 4 years and 35,000 miles there is hardly any water in my brake fluid and hence no need for change: my brakes are just fine.
See:
MBWorld Fanatic!
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2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
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I have posted many times so I will be short and brief: Only the German's change their brake fluid every 2 years or 20K miles whichever comes first. I do not. People have posted many derisive comments about my position, basically saying there is or may be water in the brake fluid and you are risking catastrophic brake failure if you do not follow the recommended changing schedule - even though 99% of the cars on the road, not German, have much longer intervals or no interval at all and there is no catastrophic brake failure!
Here is a simple solution: if you worried about water in your brake fluid and a catastrophic brake failure, buy a water gauge meter to measure the amount of water in your brake fluid. This is what I did. Cost under $20!
Guess what: as I suspected after nearly 4 years and 35,000 miles there is hardly any water in my brake fluid and hence no need for change: my brakes are just fine.
See: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=brake+flu...ps-ranker_1_11
Here is a simple solution: if you worried about water in your brake fluid and a catastrophic brake failure, buy a water gauge meter to measure the amount of water in your brake fluid. This is what I did. Cost under $20!
Guess what: as I suspected after nearly 4 years and 35,000 miles there is hardly any water in my brake fluid and hence no need for change: my brakes are just fine.
See: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=brake+flu...ps-ranker_1_11
Thread Starter
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From: Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2025 E53 Hybrid
Originally Posted by JTK44;9209996
....Guess what: as I suspected after nearly 4 years and 35,000 miles there is hardly any water in my brake fluid and hence no need for change: my brakes are just fine.
See: [url
....Guess what: as I suspected after nearly 4 years and 35,000 miles there is hardly any water in my brake fluid and hence no need for change: my brakes are just fine.
See: [url
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=brake+fluid+tester&crid=3EELHACSHEV5M&sprefix= brake+fluid%2Caps%2C122&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-expert-pd-ops-ranker_1_11[/url]
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
The 1-star reviews for the brake fluid testers at the link you provided do not instill much confidence in these devices. I would not trust any of these testers made in China. I unsuccessfully tried to find one that explicitly indicated that it worked with DOT 4+ brake fluid. Relying on one of these devices without having a way to calibrate it against a known sample seems too risky, Ever since I repeatedly got overheated brake fluid messages in my 2008 SL550 I have routinely had the brake fluid changed. I plan to do time-based brake fluid changes every two years in my W214 E53. It's one of the least expensive services, even at an MB dealer.
If you are looking for a tester not made in China, then go ahead. As to the expense: with hourly rates at Mercedes now just south of $200 an hour, count on the brake service with tax between $250/$300.
I do realize that some people will never feel comfortable not following the manufacturers recommendations. I guess you are just one of them. Myself, I sit back and try to analyze why things are done and if they do not make sense try to make sense of them. As I posted 99% of cars out there do not recommend changing brake fluid every 20K miles or two year whichever comes first, with zero ill effects. Why are German cars unique?
The brake fluid I tested was DOT 4, which almost every modern car uses. Are you relying on a 17 year old car as to what to do today? All fluids, including brake fluids have come a long way in the past 20 years. 20 years ago oil changes were every 2500/3000 miles, today 10K miles. Spark plugs every 20/25K miles. Today 100K miles (again German cars excepted). Anti freeze every 3 to 5 years. Today, lifetime. Same with transmissions, power steering, etc.
Hope this clarifies!
Last edited by JTK44; Sep 5, 2025 at 11:19 PM.
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From: The Middle of the Fairway
2025 E450 All Terrain Wagon, Nautical Blue Metallic, Macchiato Beige/Black Interior
Duh. They built the car and know what it needs. If they say to change x or y at interval z, I'm going to do it. I am not smarter than M-B engineers. If it costs me more, so be it - I entered this ownership with eyes wide open. I did not buy an expensive car to then be all worried about what this or that costs. If I wanted a cheap car I would've bought one and I would then be p****d that I cheaped out on myself.
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2023 E 450 Sedan. 2018 GLC 300. 2013 E 350 Coupe (retired)
It has nothing to do with being cheap or not having the money, it shows wisdom to differentiate what is needed versus what is not necessary, and to find ways to reduce pollution and the unnecessary use of resources. If you have money to burn give some to a soup kitchen not the dealer. Every three or four years is frequent enough. In the good old days we never changed brake fluid and somehow the car did not explode and managed to stop when required. Better to buy good gas and change oil snd engine air filter more frequently than required if you want to be good to your car.
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From: DFW Texas
GL450, E450, Porsche 718 GTS
It has nothing to do with being cheap or not having the money, it shows wisdom to differentiate what is needed versus what is not necessary, and to find ways to reduce pollution and the unnecessary use of resources. If you have money to burn give some to a soup kitchen not the dealer. Every three or four years is frequent enough. In the good old days we never changed brake fluid and somehow the car did not explode and managed to stop when required. Better to buy good gas and change oil snd engine air filter more frequently than required if you want to be good to your car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
see: https://www.google.com/search?q=when...t=gws-wiz-serp
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 482
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From: DFW Texas
GL450, E450, Porsche 718 GTS
Of course you are not serious: Antilock braking systems have been standard on Mercedes since 1992.
see: https://www.google.com/search?q=when...t=gws-wiz-serp
see: https://www.google.com/search?q=when...t=gws-wiz-serp
