M5 Touring bought "BMW Approved Used" @ 2,500 miles, car now 5,100 miles showing brake fluid needed

willbrocklebank · 19th April 2009, 15:01

I bought my M5 Touring from a BMW dealer in the UK in February with 2,500 miles on the clock - it came to me in perfect condition with full BMW Approved Used status.

It has now done 5,100 miles. These have been a mixture of in-city and motorway miles.

At around 4,800 miles my Service Due indicator came on and when checking the service warnings it told me that Brake Fluid was needed.

I have not been driving particularly aggressively, especially not on the brakes and have done no track days etc.

1) Is this in any way normal?

2) Can one add one's own brake fluid (I think I know the official answer but just wondering if you can give me any other steer)?

Thanks for any help!

AvusAndy · 19th April 2009, 18:06

I would bring it to the dealer right away, I have 19,000 miles on mine and no lights for brake fluid has ever come up. Maybe when you bought it it was a bit low or something else. I have been on this board for about a year now and I havent' seen anybody complian about brake fluid light coming on ( NON-Tracked ). so there might be somehting else causing this. I'm interested in what happens keeps us posted. cheers

AFC1 · 19th April 2009, 18:14

It was probably low when you bought the car. Like AvusAndy, I have not seen any thread regarding this in a non-tracked M5. Hope the problem gets easily resolved.

afc1

zetec115 · 19th April 2009, 20:01

I've also experience this. I purchased 2 months ago, a BMW X5 as an AUC from Bmw with only 3800 miles and after a few hundred miles of use, the brake fluid and engine oil change warning came on. (yes on 3800 miles).
I took it to the dealers and they said that these need changing regardless of mileage of the vehicle, but with age. So he tells me that the service items are now based not only on mileage but on time also.

SO if ur car is over a year old it will probably be due.

Fluid levels being low etc... as fellow board members have suggested is not the the reason, that is for sure.

What i suggest is speak to supplying dealer, and ask them as a good will gesture, do the relevent service free of charge.
I'm sure they will, because i managed it easily enough!!!!!

gud luk!!!!

willbrocklebank · 19th April 2009, 20:08

That is very interesting - my car was registered in June 2008 and obviously now it is April 2009 - wd this sort of time frame fit with your experience?

zetec115 · 19th April 2009, 20:17

yes,my x5 is jan 08 build date. So its about right. Like i said its nothing of major concern, just needs doing. Hopefully you won't have to part with any cash!!!

willbrocklebank · 19th April 2009, 20:29

Great - I'll give them a call. Trouble is the dealer I bought from is 250 miles from me and I can't go back to them for the service so I'll have to try to get them to pay for a local dealer to do it. Will let the board know how it goes.

Thanks again.

willbrocklebank · 19th April 2009, 20:32

BTW zetec115, where do you trust for servicing in the UK? I was thinking of starting a thread for the UK folks because I am very keen not to get ripped off by new BMW main dealer mechs hired from Fiat garages. (As goes a story I have heard before: the billable labour rate is £110 per hour but the standard is £20 per hour!)

m5_kid54 · 19th April 2009, 22:25

BMW approved used car means nothing for me anymore, i bought my old e39 m5 from an 'approved used bmw dealer' with the clutch slipping on it! I bought my e60 m5 from an 'approved used bmw dealer' and got mr red cog within a week! LOL. Obviously everything was fixed under warranty so no biggy.

Balazs · 20th April 2009, 07:53

I have a december 2007 (model 08) M5 touring, have about 25.000 kms on it, and nothing has been done to the brake fluid ever since I bought it. Have not (yet) tracked it either. I believe brake fluid has 2 or 3 year change interval, definitely not 1 year. Keep us updated on the case.