I have a 2005 VW polo 1.2 twist and it is going in for a service this weekend, VW have offered to changed all the brake fluid but this will cost a whopping 80 pounds! is it worth it?
The car has done 34,000 miles and it is all motorway, this car is very rarley used for any journey under 30 miles.
What does everybody think?
Thanks
Kush
{Subject header given a less vague title - DD}
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Brake fluid is usually scheduled for a change every 2 years as it absorbs moisture.
Last time a main VW dealer did mine it was under £50. Local VW specialist will now do the change for £42 inc VAT.
So yes get it changed but not at £80.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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I Recently had a 2 year. 25,000 mile service on my Focus.
The Ford dealer's price was £48.00 inc VAT for a brake fluid change, their labour is charged at £85,00 per hour .
Hope this comparison helps?
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WOW!
So the labour in this VW Dealer is around 150 pounds an hour!
My head is spinning!
Kush
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Hi Kush
The local National Tyres depot recently changed the brake fluid on my fathers Fiat for £27 which included a brake condition inspection and report.
An attempt to sell new rear shoes was made (correctly as they were worn) but the price at National of the new shoes if accepted was on the high side, turned out to be much cheaper to buy the shoes on the internet and pay a local mechanic £10 to fit them. However I dont think you will get the fluid changed for much less than £27.
(Stands back and prepares to be proved wrong)
As always
Mark
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Was that change at National a complete fluid change just out of interest?
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found a mechaic who will do it for 39 pounds
cheers guys
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confirm to him that he uses right spec fluid on this year
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Yes, my local VW dealer charge this at £75. Since its a 30 min job and uses £5-worth of fluid then that's an hourly rate of £150 - which is insane for a relatively low-skill job - especailly with the mechanic earning well less than £10/hour.
The correct fluid is just standard DOT4 brake fluid. Nothing difficult about this job.
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Am I the only person on this site who thinks that changing the brake fluid every 2 years is a bit OTT? Let's face it most VW's only have a service every 2 years, since when has it been necessary to change the brake fluid this often?
I changed my Passat's brake fluid after 4 years and this was after a trip in the Pyrenees, where the brakes worked perfectly. My wife's Focus is on the original fluid after 4 years and the brakes are OK.
I think changing brake fluid, at the prices quoted in this tread, every 2 years is a rip off.
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having had brake fade first hand i go with the manufacturers recommendations,safety first ,cost second
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personally I think every 2 years is a bit ott.
But certainly every 3 years maximum !
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It is said that brake fluid needs changing because water gets in. Since the fluid doesn't leak out, how does the water get in?
Brake fluid is hydroscopic, so why don't they use fluid which isn't?
If brake fluid should be changed every 2 years, why is it not on the service sheet and done automatically? They don't ask if you want the oil changing.
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This is too expensive, tell them that you can get it done for £35 at an independant, If they wish to do it for the same price ........fine of not, no problem. I watched a mechanic change the Brake fluid on my VW Golf, the the car was on the ramp for 20 mins....labour £30 inclusive.... CASH.
The mechanic used a device which pressurised the brake hydraulics ( via the master cylinder fluid reserve ) went to each wheel in turn & bled off the required amount.
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Hello
When i first got my current Mondeo 2.0 LX i had it changed twice in one year.
The reasons for this are as follows.
1. I wanted to be sure the entire system was clean and drain fully.
2. I wanted peace of mind that the braking system was in top form.
After this it gets changed every two years.
I do this with every second hand car that i purchase.
You may think iam mad but you cannot compare a few £££'s over Safety.
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(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters
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Honda only do it every 3 years - do they use some kind of special brake fluid? I doubt it.
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