Advertisement
Hey you guys. I've a 1987 325iC, the brake pressure has gone soft. The diagnosis is that the Master Cylinder is busted.
They quoted me almost $800 for the repair, including 4 hours of labor, apparently because the brake cylinder and clutch cylinder are "one and the same". I never knew this, I only knew that BMW master cylinders are double -one for the front brakes, one for the back.
So I have XXXX basic questions, maybe the tinkerers among you can provide some illumination:
1) Would it actually take 4 hours? I remember Brake Master Cylinders are easy-access, & a simple matter of two bolts, two lines, and a bleeding after. Why so long an estimate?
2) Is it really an intergrated Clutch/Master cylinder on that year model, or did they look at the doubled-up design of the bront-back brakes and confuse themselves?
3) There's a product (www.autopartsgiant.com/CAT_FRAMEX.cfm) advertised as a "Master Cylinder Repair Kit". I know that the only real issue with my cylinder is that it won't hold pressure. The cylinder PLUS reservoir would cost me up to $350 and this repair kit is only $50, so does anyone have experience with this kit and would you recommend it?
Thanks to you all for your feedback. Mostly I wanna know if I'm being screwed, and wanna find the most cost-effective repair.
They quoted me almost $800 for the repair, including 4 hours of labor, apparently because the brake cylinder and clutch cylinder are "one and the same". I never knew this, I only knew that BMW master cylinders are double -one for the front brakes, one for the back.
So I have XXXX basic questions, maybe the tinkerers among you can provide some illumination:
1) Would it actually take 4 hours? I remember Brake Master Cylinders are easy-access, & a simple matter of two bolts, two lines, and a bleeding after. Why so long an estimate?
2) Is it really an intergrated Clutch/Master cylinder on that year model, or did they look at the doubled-up design of the bront-back brakes and confuse themselves?
3) There's a product (www.autopartsgiant.com/CAT_FRAMEX.cfm) advertised as a "Master Cylinder Repair Kit". I know that the only real issue with my cylinder is that it won't hold pressure. The cylinder PLUS reservoir would cost me up to $350 and this repair kit is only $50, so does anyone have experience with this kit and would you recommend it?
Thanks to you all for your feedback. Mostly I wanna know if I'm being screwed, and wanna find the most cost-effective repair.
posted by:
|
Las Vegas
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: Brake Master Cylinder repair.... Am I getting jerked?
Sun, April 23, 2006 - 3:12 PMI have a 2002 and mine is like that.
You have a master cylinder for the brake and a master cylinder for the clutch and they both share the break fluid so if there is a leak in one, the other suffers. It is best to replace them both at the same time. I did my clutch first and the added pressure of the clutch on the old worn brake cylinder seals blew it out about a week later. I replaced that too and it has been fince since.
Yes, it would take 4 hours or more, even if you are good.
Hey, do it yourself. The parts are probably no more than $120.00 then you can perform a scientific test and see if you can do it in 4 hours (correctly without cutting your hands up) and then judge if the repair person shoud actually get the remainder of the money as profit.
You could shop for a better price, but if you know you are not going to do it, you may want to fess up the money. New parts are not a bad thing. And having brakes that you know are going to work is even better. -
-
Re: Brake Master Cylinder repair.... Am I getting jerked?
Sun, April 23, 2006 - 4:09 PMalso remember that when you are quoted a price for repair that shop time is around $95 per hour these days; and you are charged full-list price for parts and fluids (mechanics & auto shops have different prices that they pay for parts than the general public walking in off the street.)
-
-
Re: Brake Master Cylinder repair.... Am I getting jerked?
Wed, December 6, 2006 - 1:32 PMI realize this message is 8 months after your original posting. But I had to say that I agree with you that $800 is excesive. I have a similar problem with my '94 530i. I have a leaking Master cylinder that I have to replace. A non-BMW place is charging also about $800 to replace. The BMW dealer charges $438 for the cylinder only. I did not even asj what they would charge for the job. I was searching the web for a repair kit when I came across your blog. I would have definelty bought the $50 kit. There is not much to loose. I have also found very good master cylinders offered by Bavaria Autosports: www.bavauto.com. They are selling good brand cylinders for $160. Not too bad. As you said, the replacement of the cylinder is a piece of cake. Bleading the air of the brakes is what takes a little bit of time. Tks.
