XSeries-forum

Visited relatives over Christmas and I now have a small clock symbol appearing by the service indicator lights when I start the ignition

I thought this may be an annual service light, but I am also seeing replies for a brake fluid service light

Can anyone please confirm which it may be ?

I do have the manual but its buried behind Christmas tree and I am not moving that for another 8 nights  :xmaswink:

Hi,
I had the same symbol recently. It is for the brake fluid.

As above.  It comes up every two years for time based service/change of brake fluid.

Richard

[quote="X5Sport"]
As above.  It comes up every two years for time based service/change of brake fluid.

Richard
[/quote]

It came up on mine just before the oil change service, as it had only done 10k since it was changed 2 years previous, I had the garage do a boil test on the fluid and it was still good as new I reset the timer by pressing the odometer button as explained on YouTube, this extinguished the light.

Thank you, 'Boil test' is that something any decent garage can do/check ?

Should be.  If the system is well sealed you should not normally get much extra water getting into the fluid over two years.  Brake fluid grabs water from the air and that's why they change it - but it's mainly a 'just in case' need.

Richard

You can change it yourself, it's very simple.

Brake fluid is Hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture. This moisture can cause pistons and bores to corrode and cause issues.

Just because the fluid in the reservoir is ok doesn't mean the rest of it is.

I've never heard of a garage doing a "boil test".
You can use an optical refractometer to gauge the amount of water in the fluid, but I'd rather just change it for the sake of £100 at BMW or £40 at home.

Actually having it done in 40 minutes for £53.04 

[quote="Ant"]
Actually having it done in 40 minutes for £53.04 
[/quote]

Blimey that's a no-brainer