Brake Fluid

The brake system of your BMW uses a glycol-based hydraulic fluid. This fluid is ‘hygroscopic’, which means it will absorb moisture over time. Moisture lowers the boiling point of the fluid and causes internal corrosion in the brake system. That’s why the fluid should be replaced when brake repairs are done- or every two years (regardless of mileage) as preventive maintenance. Munich Motorsport uses a pressure bleeding system to ensure all of the fluid is replaced and no air is introduced. This service can be performed same day with an appointment- just give us a call or schedule an appointment online.

 

Coolant

The coolant in your engine serves three important purposes. One is to protect your engine from damage by freezing, especially in extreme situations such as we experienced with the Atlanta Ice Storms in January of 2018. The second is to keep the engine cool, and in the searing Atlanta summer heat that can be far more important. The third is just as important, and that is to protect the engine from corrosion. One specific measure of protection is pH; if you have ever had a swimming pool, then you know about pH.

pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a scale of 0-14. Liquids with a pH less than seven are considered acidic, while those with a pH greater than seven are considered basic (alkaline). A pH of 7.0 is neutral (like pure water).

The coolant pH in your BMW starts at 8.5 and, after a couple years, will dip into the 6 range; at this point it’s doing more harm than good. Gaskets, hoses and seals are no longer being protected- they’re being eaten! It’s a slow process, but irreversible. It’s very important to replace the coolant with the correct type every three years or so. At Munich Motorsport, we use factory zero phosphate coolant, and can replace it in about an hour with an appointment.

 

Power Steering Fluid

The power steering fluid of your BMW is just as important as the coolant or brake fluid. This fluid is used to assist the driver when steering, but just as importantly, it lubricates the steering gear that turns the wheels. The fluid, when new, helps condition the hoses and seals within the system. After time, the conditioners break down, resulting in hoses and seals that become hard and brittle.

Power steering fluid is pumped from its reservoir by a belt-driven hydraulic pump through hoses and then to the steering gear. After the fluid passes through the gear, it goes through more hoses to the cooler and then back to the fluid reservoir. The absence of a filter can cause problems; if a pump or gear starts to fail, the debris is sent through the entire system, resulting in an expensive repair.

Power steering hose replacements are among the most common BMW repairs. BMW has no recommended service interval for replacing the power steering fluid. At Munich Motorsport, we recommend changing the power steering fluid every 30,000 miles.

 

Transmission Fluid

Since 1993, BMW has been sealing automatic transmissions and recommending “no servicing for the life of the transmission.” It is true that transmission fluids do not live in the same harsh environment as the engine oil, so extended services are reasonable. However, it may be more prudent to replace the transmission fluid and filter every 75,000 miles to provide additional assurance that the BMW owner will not experience transmission problems. As with most repairs, Munich Motorsport can perform the transmission service the same day with an appointment.

 

 

 

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