Anyone have any idea what type of brake fluid the modern VWs use?  The owner's manual is written so that you take it in for service or go to VW and buy the fluid from them.

DOT 4.

Can't you simply buy their DOT 4 fluid at the VW dealer's parts department? I wouldn't think we are talking major $ difference. 

DOT 4 can be bought at any auto parts store

Be sure to read the warning label concerning DOT- 4.

Ron 45,

What warning lable for DOT-4? It is pretty much just an upgrade of DOT-3 with a higher temperature tolerance.

Now DOT-5 is an entirely different formulation which is incompatable with DOT-3, DOT-4, and DOT-5.1.

Surprizingly, DOT-5.1 is compatable.

Thanks guys. I asked at another forum I monitor and they said DOT 4, as well. Yes, Bompa, I could just buy it at VW, but I don't live near a VW dealership - well, not by about 50 miles. The VW brake fluid is DOT 4 ATE and comes in two different colors: Gold and Blue, so you'll know you've thoroughly bled the brakes every 30k miles. This particular brake fluid has a dry boiling point of 536 degrees and a wet boiling point of 396 degrees.

That blue and gold stuff is available on-line (mail order). I saw it the other day while researching your question. It is not the same packaging as the 'official' VW stuff but I am quite certain it meets the VW specs.

http://www.blauparts.com/vw/vw_flui...luid.shtml 

http://www.vw.com/en/owners/parts-a...fluid.html 

It's a VW.  I've never had a problem, though, using DOT 4 in my Harley, or my Suzukis.

I picked up some DOT 4 that I plan on using later in the week. Yeah, Blauparts is where I saw the blue and gold fluids. VW replaced the fluid last year around Mother's Day, so I'm pretty good about following the manufacturer's instructions.