BMW brake caliper replacement, made easy
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How much does a brake caliper replacement cost for BMW cars?
Car model | Fixter price range |
---|---|
Brake caliper replacement - driver side (front) for BMW 3 Series | £177 - £278 |
Brake caliper replacement - passenger side (front) for BMW 3 Series | £177 - £278 |
Brake caliper replacement - driver side (rear) for BMW 3 Series | £177 - £278 |
Brake caliper replacement - passenger side (rear) for BMW 3 Series | £177 - £278 |
Brake caliper replacement - driver side (front) for BMW 1 Series | £177 - £278 |
Brake caliper replacement - passenger side (front) for BMW 1 Series | £177 - £278 |
Brake caliper replacement - driver side (rear) for BMW 1 Series | £177 - £278 |
Brake caliper replacement - passenger side (rear) for BMW 1 Series | £177 - £278 |
Brake caliper replacement - driver side (front) for BMW 5 Series | £163 - £256 |
Brake caliper replacement - passenger side (front) for BMW 5 Series | £163 - £256 |
Brake caliper replacement - driver side (rear) for BMW 5 Series | £163 - £256 |
Brake caliper replacement - passenger side (rear) for BMW 5 Series | £163 - £256 |
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Our expert insights into brake caliper replacement
What does a brake caliper do?
A caliper forms part of the disc brake system, which most cars have in their front brakes. The brake caliper houses the brake pads and pistons. Its job is to slow the car's wheels by creating friction with the brake rotors.
What are the signs of a bad brake caliper?
Below are the top three symptoms that could indicate you need to replace your brake caliper:
If your brake pedal feels softer (less resistance when applying the brakes).
If your car pulls to one side when braking.
If the level in your brake fluid reservoir drops or if you notice a leak. Brake hydraulic fluid is a very pale golden colour, transparent and almost watery.
What happens when we do a brake caliper replacement on your car?
Our certified mechanics will:
Inspect the brakes and determine if there’s a problem with one or several of the brake calipers. They will also advise if other parts of the braking system need replacing too.
They will then replace the brake caliper and other parts of the brake, if necessary.
Bleed the brake system and top up the brake fluid.
Test drive the car and inspect the brake system again.
Make any final, necessary adjustments.
How Fixter works
Simply book online and we'll handle the rest
Upfront, fair pricing, with free collection & return and no hidden costs. Our in-house experts will then choose the ideal garage to work on your car.
A fully-insured Fixter driver will pick up your car, whenever and wherever works for you. (If you’d prefer to drive your car to the garage yourself, that’s not a problem!).
Our in-house experts will keep you updated, and your card is only charged once all work has been satisfactorily completed and approved by our team. Your driver will then drop the car back when it’s convenient for you.
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Want to learn more about BMW brake caliper replacement?
What does a brake caliper do?
Brake calipers are an essential part of your car's braking system. The job of the caliper is to slow the car's wheels by creating friction with the rotors. The most common is floating caliper, but on some cars there are swinging and fixed calipers. It fits over the rotor like a clamp. Inside each caliper is a pair of metal plates bonded with the brake pads.
When the driver presses the brake pedal, the small brake cylinder piston compresses brake fluid in the master cylinder. Because the brake fluid doesn't compress, this force is instantly transmitted to the brake caliper, which clamps the spinning rotor, causing the wheel to slow and stop.
Though only comprising a few parts of your car, brake calipers are one of the most critical parts, enabling controlled braking in various situations. As they are a key safety component of your car, it’s important that your brake calipers are well maintained and fully functioning at all times. If you think there may be an issue with your calipers or braking system, it’s important to get things looked at by a mechanic as soon as possible.
BMW
BMW AG is a German automobile and motorcycle manufacturer that was established over 100 years ago in March 1916. They also own Mini and Rolls Royce, after taking over the two British marques in 2000 and 1998 respectively.
How popular is BMW in the United Kingdom?
BMW makes luxury vehicles and is possibly most famous for its sports saloon models. In 2018, BMW had 1.9m vehicles on the roads in the UK, a number that has been steadily increasing each year for the past decade.
As one of the ‘big 3’ German marques, along with Audi and Mercedes, BMW carries a strong reputation for making high-quality stylish vehicles, and have captured a large section of the UK market.
Luxury family and business models for every driver
Probably most popular for the 3 Series and 5 Series saloon models, BMW has got every possible angle covered for the more discerning drivers.
The full range includes everything from the 1 Series city car to the full-size saloons and sports coupes of the 7 and 8 Series models.
To provide everything you’d ever need for family motoring there’s a seven-seat MPV, their range of X model SUVs, and since 2014, the introduction of their plug-in electric i models. Top it all off with their M model high-performance supercars, the Z4 convertible and the i8 Roadster—and you’ve got the full package.
BMW: High performance on and off the track
BMW has a successful history in a range of motorsports.
They have been significant performers in touring car racing and rally driving, enjoyed success in Formula One with the BMW Sauber team, and BMW cars have been regular competitors and winners at Le Mans since the race’s early years.
BMW’s reliability and reputation
BMW ranked 16th place out of 30 car brands in the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2018. BMW hasn’t always had the best reputation for reliability but to rank alongside marques such as Honda, Volkswagen and Fiat they’re holding their own alongside plenty of the other big names.
How often should a brake caliper need replacing?
Brake calipers are usually very durable. On modern vehicles, it's not uncommon for calipers to last at least 100,000 miles or 10 years. However, if you experience any of the above symptoms, you should have your brakes inspected by a mechanic as soon as possible. Driving with stuck, damaged or faulty brake calipers is very dangerous as it will impact the effectiveness of your braking, meaning your presence on the road is a danger to all other road users.
It’s also important to keep in mind that bad brake calipers can cause excessive wear to the brake discs and pads, so having them repaired or replaced as soon as possible will be better for your wallet in the long-run.
What happens during a brake caliper replacement?
Our certified mechanics will:
Inspect the brakes and determine if there’s a problem with one or several of the brake calipers. They will also advise if other parts of the braking system need replacing too.
They will then replace the brake caliper and other parts of the brake, if necessary.
Bleed the brake system and top up the brake fluid.
Test drive the car and inspect the brake system again.
Make any final, necessary adjustments.
What causes a brake caliper to break?
In general, brake pads and rotors wear out and need replacement far more often than calipers. Calipers tend to get damaged when a car is driven with worn-out brake pads or warped rotors. If these components are damaged it can cause the calipers to overheat, wear down or crack.
Calipers can also break if the rubber boot that protects the piston splits. Once this occurs, water and grit will seep into the pistons surface and cause pitting, which can lead to the piston getting stuck or damaged.
When should a brake caliper be replaced?
Brake calipers are pretty tough and durable. On modern cars, calipers should last at least 100,000 miles or 10 years. However, if you experience any of the above symptoms, you should have your brakes inspected by a mechanic as soon as possible.
What are the symptoms of a bad brake caliper?
Usually, there a few signs you can look for:
If your brake pedal feels softer (less resistance when applying the brakes).
If your car pulls to one side when braking.
If the level in your brake fluid reservoir drops or if you notice a leak. Brake hydraulic fluid is a very pale golden colour, transparent and almost watery.
If you notice brake fluid on the rims of your wheels.
If you receive an advisory note regarding brake imbalance.
How often should you replace your brake caliper?
If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should have your brakes inspected by a mechanic as soon as possible. Driving with stuck, damaged or faulty brake calipers is very dangerous as it will impact the effectiveness of your braking, meaning your presence on the road is a danger to all other road users.
It’s also important to keep in mind that bad brake calipers can cause excessive wear to the brake discs and pads, so having them repaired or replaced as soon as possible will be better for your wallet in the long-run.
What happens during a brake caliper replacement?
Our certified mechanics will:
Inspect the brakes and determine if there’s a problem with one or several of the brake calipers. They will also advise if other parts of the braking system need replacing too.
They will then replace the brake caliper and other parts of the brake, if necessary.
Bleed the brake system and top up the brake fluid.
Test drive the car and inspect the brake system again.
Make any final, necessary adjustments.
What is the average life of a brake caliper?
Generally, brake calipers are tough and durable. On modern vehicles, it's not uncommon for calipers to last at least 100,000 miles or 10 years. However, if you experience any of the above symptoms, you should have your brakes inspected by a mechanic as soon as possible.
Can you drive with a broken brake caliper?
No, you should not drive with a bad brake caliper. Driving with stuck, damaged or faulty brake calipers is very dangerous as it will impact the effectiveness of your braking, meaning your presence on the road is a danger to all other road users.
The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT
The efficiency and balance of brakes is checked on MOT tests, therefore it's important that every component of your brake system is in good condition, including your brake calipers. Because your brakes are arguably the most crucial safety component in your car, your vehicle will fail its MOT if they are not functioning properly or are damaged.
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