Brake fluid reservoir cost

[gwb72tii]

Why does a new one cost about $600? For a simple plastic tank. I know BMW parts cost a lot, but for crying out loud $600 is stupid....

[Blue Shadow]

Gotta figure that BMW is running out of new ones and does not want to reproduce them. That and 40 years of storage and the price goes up, way up.  It is hell trying to make a 40-year old car new again especially when the parts suppliers are used to being top of the market in profits.  But wow that is high.  

[milarsky]

I am not sure about cross referencing your model, but can you buy a used one, if yours is indeed cracked?  Yes, the new ones are insanely expensive.

[4DSC]

Hmm... so I'm not sure this is helpful but my initial thought was since the e32 master cylinder is a direct fit and recommended with bigger brake upgrade and has the same inlet dimensions maybe the e32 reservoir could be substituted but unfortunately its a different design and NLA. But the idea still stands -- are there other BMCs with the same inlet dimensions that use a different reservoir that's available for a reasonable price? Surely there has to be something... again with no data my guess is the inlet dimensions and gap between them is fairly standard?

[Mike W.]

Yowzer that's expensive. I figured I'd do a little searching and find it cheap, but no. I found it just under $500 from Scheidmann's, but that's still stupid expensive. Unless you've got to have a pearly white one, just buy a used M/C assy and make sure it comes with it.

[gwb72tii]

I hate to admit this but I just bought a new, package unopened one for $340.
I feel dumb but mine is trashed cosmetically, completely trashed, and everything else (mostly) looks new on Maeve. Opening the hood it would stick out in a bad way.
And if you look at the price on Realoem it was almost $200 way back when. 

Now if I can find a new washer fluid reservoir……..

[stuartinmn]

I've read about restoring under hood plastic tanks that have yellowed by soaking them in hydrogen peroxide and then putting them under UV lamps, although I don't know how effective it is or if it weakens the plastic.  It may be worth some research.

[Blue Shadow]

And if you look at the price on Realoem it was almost $200 way back when. 

Now if I can find a new washer fluid reservoir……..

Now if I had a Windows 3.1 computer or whatever was needed, my ETK CDs with pricing would offer an even lower price.  

Maybe John in VA has the info on refreshing plastic with chemicals but he probably got the info from 2002FAQ and you should have that info, too.  At least I thought that is where I got the info, from John.  

[gwb72tii]

There is a guy on YouTube that uses kitty litter or some other non-soluble medium with bleach to scrub the inside of a washer fluid reservoir. And then a 3M pad with bleach for the outside. It comes out looking ok, better than a dirty/stained one.

[adam_poll]

I ran into this last year, mine was pretty grungy so I figured I'd just grab a new one until I saw the price, nope! I ended up running mine through my ultrasonic cleaner a number of times and it came out really clean but still a bit yellowed, not a problem for my car with lots of patina where a new one would stand out.
It may look like just a simple plastic tank but when you look closely there's actually a lot of baffles in there making sure the fluid stays where it is supposed to even if you lose a line in one of the circuits. 

[Blue Shadow]

It may look like just a simple plastic tank but when you look closely there's actually a lot of baffles in there making sure the fluid stays where it is supposed to even if you lose a line in one of the circuits. 

Yes, all that complication makes it worth about 60 bucks new when mass produced.  Not the current asking price.  

Just another piece of the E28 we should have harvested from the yards back when they were going there after they got damaged in an accident.  

[Mike W.]

Just another piece of the E28 we should have harvested from the yards back when they were going there after they got damaged in an accident.  

Accident hell, here on the west coast they ended up in yards because they couldn't pass smog and were then offered a smog buyout, or maybe even just because the vile clearcoat had failed and they looked like crap.

But yeah, like so much, BMW, E28 and otherwise, if I'd known then what I know now...

[Blue Shadow]

But yeah, like so much, BMW, E28 and otherwise, if I'd known then what I know now...

We would have bought the right stocks and not even be concerned about Ferrari parts prices.

I left CA in 91, my car was only 6 years old so it was still new parts and no yarding for stuff. 

But if we could go back and get parts…that would be a long list.