TToddlymatic

that suggests frequent brake fluid changes? What make this car so different?

MOBlueTT

If you drive hard / autoX - Every Year, Everyone else every other year - most people don't

OldSchool AG

and causes expensive parts to rust internally. Also, after a long period of time, despite being sealed, brake fluid seems to get dirty (probably the rust!) The Jetta GLI I recently purchased had probably never received a brake fluid flush. I am going to have to replace the master cylinder and the bias valve, as well as probably rebuild all 4 calipers. I just flushed about 10oz thru each rear caliper into a coke bottle and the fluid was not light yellow/gold like new fluid, but BLACK. Many large clumps of nastyness in there as well. Luckily the '88 GLI doesn't have ABS, because a damaged ABS pump would add a whole lot to my repair bill.

Brake fluid is cheap. Flushing is easy. Don't risk it.

BillK

The problem is the hygroscopic nature of brake fluid may also cause expensive ABS components to corrode.

For example, Audi, BMW and Porsche all recommend brake fluid changes every two years as does Jeep for their vehicles with ABS.

msauve

Because the other ones aren't expected to last > 2 years?

TT_Nuge

the system holds. Seemed like it was no time before the fluid changed from old n nasty to new n blue.
And I was also surprised at the amount of crud that came out with the old fluid after only 17k miles on a 2002.

Trent

MOBlueTT

I waited 2 years and same GUNK in fluid - let's not think rebuild yet

jhoeppel

... so the answer to your question is that all your previous cars were either US or Japanese in origin. 2yr brake fluid changes are typical German automotive practice.