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The service warning light came on this morning and yesterday it showed a service was not required for another 15,000 miles.

When I investigated further the manual shows that service light was for the brake fluid.

Question - Is this just warning that the fluid levels need topping up or completely changing as part of the BMW service requirements?

The light coming on will be for a fluid, I think the car will ask for it every 2 years

Nictrix wrote:The light coming on will be for a fluid, I think the car will ask for it every 2 years

It's for a change & not a top-up
Rob

The car is just over 2 years old so that would explain it. Is it a dealer thing or can an independant do it or better still a novice in such matters like me?

Smartbear wrote:

Nictrix wrote:The light coming on will be for a fluid, I think the car will ask for it every 2 years

It's for a change & not a top-up
Rob

Doh! Thats what I meant, I just missed the word change after fluid.

Nanu wrote:The car is just over 2 years old so that would explain it. Is it a dealer thing or can an independant do it or better still a novice in such matters like me?

It's not hard to flush the system through but without dealer type equipment you can't pulse the abs unit & it's also going to miss the stamp in the book?
An independent is a middle way I'd say
Rob

Of course you could just cancel the service light to the next service. Like I had to yesterday.
I changed the fluid last year.

Thanks guys for all the advice.

Rang around 4 dealerships and the price quoted varied from £80 to £126. Also got confirmation from BMW UK that you don't need to use the dealerships to retain the warranty as long as they use BMW approved parts.

Shopped around and Halfords did it within 90 minutes of making the call for £37 with BMW approved fluid (Confirmed on the invoice) inclusive of VAT. They even reset the computer

Very brave using Halfords, I'm surprised they didn't use washing up liquid
Rob

Smartbear wrote:Very brave using Halfords, I'm surprised they didn't use washing up liquid
Rob

I think some Halfords branches get a bad rep and not all of them are the same. Its not like its the guys who change wiper blades that are working on your car.
I used the local branch in the past when I had the Mini as I knew a couple of the mechanics and they changed the clutch which required the engine and gearbox removed from the car. No complaints really and much cheaper than main dealer.
For a fluid change I dont really see a problem using them. if they were to mess anything up you would possibly have a better outcome than using a small indy garage for getting it fixed.
Dont use them now as I felt it would be better to use a localish BMW indy for both cars.

Blimey for £37 did they actually bleed all the callipers or just suck out the tank and replace.

flybobbie wrote:Blimey for £37 did they actually bleed all the callipers or just suck out the tank and replace.

Did everything by the book and gave me the empty bottle of fluid used after. I was only a few yards away watching through a glass wall. Would use an Indy BMW garage for the servicing or bigger jobs but yet to find one nearby

They did quote me for tyres at £230 each fully fitted but my good lady wife has just found them for £367 a pair fully fitted.

Nanu wrote:

flybobbie wrote:Blimey for £37 did they actually bleed all the callipers or just suck out the tank and replace.

Did everything by the book and gave me the empty bottle of fluid used after. I was only a few yards away watching through a glass wall. Would use an Indy BMW garage for the servicing or bigger jobs but yet to find one nearby

They did quote me for tyres at £230 each fully fitted but my good lady wife has just found them for £367 a pair fully fitted.

Ditch the runflats and you could get a full set for not much more.

Nictrix wrote:

Nanu wrote:

flybobbie wrote:Blimey for £37 did they actually bleed all the callipers or just suck out the tank and replace.

Did everything by the book and gave me the empty bottle of fluid used after. I was only a few yards away watching through a glass wall. Would use an Indy BMW garage for the servicing or bigger jobs but yet to find one nearby

They did quote me for tyres at £230 each fully fitted but my good lady wife has just found them for £367 a pair fully fitted.

Ditch the runflats and you could get a full set for not much more.

Thought long and hard about just that. Intend to replace the rears and as a new is no longer an option thisone is a keeper. When the rears are due again then the fronts will also need replacing and perhaps that's the time tochange all four to non RF's