[Guido S]

So I'm pulling into a crowded gas station when I get cut off by a woman doing a u turn to the other side of the pump. She thinks I'm taking her spot; however, I'm headed to the other side. I slam on the brakes and although there is an initial grab there is no hard bite to stop the car. I felt like the car kept going.....

The brakes show 1/2 pads left and rotors that have been ground once. I've owned the car four months and what this has shown me is that I want a pad that will bite hard w/o fading. No matter the dust, I need the car to stop now.
So what are my options guys?

[MightyMouseTech]

Get better tires?

[max_330i]

bleed your brakes

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Fresh rotors, pads and fluid would cover all the bases.

[robthewrench]

I've only had this happen due to two possible conditions:
- The ABS kicks in because you have no traction (gravel, wet, etc...). While you are pressing the pedal hard, the car continues to move.
- The system has air in the lines or is boiling to due overheating. Again you press hard but no stop....

For the 2nd condition, you should trying changing your brake fluid and bleeding the lines.

[Needbmwpartzz]

I've had this condition.....just after washing car....guess some soap or water was still on rotor after leaving car wash....first block after I left I had a hard brake but no initial bite then they slowly kicked in....lucky I got stopped in time.
So careful right after car washes!

[Volasko]

There is no way over heating or fading are issues when you are driving at parking lot speeds! Is the condition repeatable, in a safe environment of course?

[satz]

being a petrol station, could there have been slight spillage of oil/petrol on the ground which resulted in your car sliding a little, despite the ABS?

[Guido S]

Good idea. Trying to replicate the brake behavior. I'll try it today and report back. Are there brake pads that give a better initial bite? Thanks guys.

[motoguy128]

Test them on an open road. Could be a slick surface and ABS kicked in and you had minimal braking... like stopping on ice.

Overheated brakes fluid creates a mushy pedal. When I bedded my new rear brakes, mine were weak until they cooled off completely about 45 minutes later.

Was the pedal very firm, or mushy, long travel?

[tofu?]

Originally Posted by Guido S

Good idea. Trying to replicate the brake behavior. I'll try it today and report back. Are there brake pads that give a better initial bite? Thanks guys.

OEM have the biggest bite if you don't like a linear feel

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by robthewrench

I've only had this happen due to two possible conditions:
- The ABS kicks in because you have no traction (gravel, wet, etc...). While you are pressing the pedal hard, the car continues to move.
- The system has air in the lines or is boiling to due overheating. Again you press hard but no stop....

For the 2nd condition, you should trying changing your brake fluid and bleeding the lines.

...and the boiling is due to brake fluid in the system which is more than 2 years old, and is heavily laden with water content, which is what is boiling (rather than compressing to push the brake pads against the rotors)

[Jozy]

did the abs kick in? did you feel the modulation on the brake pedal?

[Meeni]

That sounds like you have an air bubble in your lines. I'd start with a fluid flush and an inspection of the pads/disks.

[fun2drive]

I think your brakes are fine and were cold. Since you have an 11 you have the newer dustless compound. That doesn't have the initial bite that the older pads do...