[lawrencedchan]

Year: 2013 (F30)
Model: 316iA

So I want to change the brake fluid in my car, and after I have opened the brake fluid cap, I found that there's an orange screen filter in it. I tried using a flat head screwdriver to pry it open. It didn't work. I tried turning the filter, and it still didn't want to come out. I felt like if I used too much force, it was going to break.

This is a video I took:


I can't change the fluid without getting that out.

Could anyone help me?

[bmwchue]

Pry on both sides
Are you not using a power bleeder?

[lawrencedchan]

Originally Posted by bmwchue

Pry on both sides
Are you not using a power bleeder?

I'm sucking the fluid out at the end instead of applying pressure.
It feels like something is holding the filter down. Like a screw or something.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by bmwchue

Are you not using a power bleeder?

Before power bleeding you should use a turkey baster to remove as much fluid as possible from the tank. Then refill it with new fluid of a different color, so when you bleed you'll see the change in color of what comes out of the bleeders and know that the lines have been completely flushed. You can get DOT 4 in at least three different colors.

[Marlinman]

Just leave it in....that's what I did....took a little longer to fill it but not worth the hassle of removing/tampering.

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by lawrencedchan

I'm sucking the fluid out at the end instead of applying pressure.
It feels like something is holding the filter down. Like a screw or something.

There's no screw holding it down. The filter snaps into place. I usually use a pick tool to pry it out. As you've found, it doesn't come out very easily.

I also recommend putting your hand over the reservoir mouth when popping the filter out as I've had it pop out and fall into the engine bay (thankfully still in an area where I could recover it without too much difficulty).

[Orion4]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Before power bleeding you should use a turkey baster to remove as much fluid as possible from the tank. Then refill it with new fluid of a different color, so when you bleed you'll see the change in color of what comes out of the bleeders and know that the lines have been completely flushed. You can get DOT 4 in at least three different colors.

Where can I currently get the different colored Brake Fluids? I used to use ATE Super Blue alternating with their Gold 200, but our fine civil servants made that illegal in 2013.

[Billfitz]

Damn Feds. They still allow yellow or clear, which should do.

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Damn Feds. They still allow yellow or clear, which should do.

OP isn't in the USA, so it's possible he can still get a larger array of colored brake fluids.

[learntocode]

Anyone happen to know the part number for this orange screen filter.. mine got a little bit damaged when removing. Used a pick tool and kind of tear through the screen/filter.

I've checked getbmwparts and realoem websites but no luck finding the exact bmw part#