[hsk1610]

My car currently has 34500 miles and have owned it new and approaching 3.5 years of ownership now. I do see quite a bit of surface rust on the hubs and the brake pad clips. Recently noticed that my pad life has been increasing instead of decreasing. Was down to 22000 miles then 23000, and yesterday up to 24K. Wondering if the increase is due to rust and oxidation. I still am under the maintenance plan and the new factory warranty till end of September so I can always take the car to the dealer. Just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced something similar.

[jd_perspective]

I dunno, mine still says 50K - since day of inception.... but I noticed some squealing lately at 19K miles.

[bimmer456]

The sensor is bad. You should take pictures of the odo and the I drive showing pad life increasing. They should replace it under warranty and inspect the pads for wear beyond limits.

[hsk1610]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

The sensor is bad. You should take pictures of the odo and the I drive showing pad life increasing. They should replace it under warranty and inspect the pads for wear beyond limits.

Thank you for the info. Isn't the sensor embedded in the pads? If so, I suppose a new pad replacement?

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by hsk1610

Thank you for the info. Isn't the sensor embedded in the pads? If so, I suppose a new pad replacement?

Nit sure if it's imbedded. That would mean aftermarket pads would have to be made specifically for BMW and possible model specific. Should be covered and they'd have to give you new pads and rotors. It may have worn past the sensor causing an incorrect reading.

[hsk1610]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

Nit sure if it's imbedded. That would mean aftermarket pads would have to be made specifically for BMW and possible model specific. Should be covered and they'd have to give you new pads and rotors. It may have worn past the sensor causing an incorrect reading.

Just looking at it, seems the pads still have plenty of thickness, but will make an appointment to see what they say. Thanks.

[Orion4]

The wear sensor is seated in a groove/notch in the pad (Front Drivers & passenger rear,I believe) and is removable/replaceable. That sensor only triggers an alert when the pad wear is sufficient for the sensor contact surface to make contact with the rotor. The sensor does not play any part in determining the remaining mileage to pads/rotor replacement- that is a function of the cars systems monitoring your driving techniques and some magical BMW algorithms.

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by Orion4

The wear sensor is seated in a groove/notch in the pad (Front Drivers & passenger rear,I believe) and is removable/replaceable. That sensor only triggers an alert when the pad wear is sufficient for the sensor contact surface to make contact with the rotor. The sensor does not play any part in determining the remaining mileage to pads/rotor replacement- that is a function of the cars systems monitoring your driving techniques and some magical BMW algorithms.

This is correct.

I just took my car in because the brakes were squealing loudly, iDrive showed 16,000 miles left on my front pads (and more on the rear), outer pads looked like they had plenty of life in them, and the pad wear warning was not on. Turns out my inner pads had worn much more quickly than my outer pads indicating uneven clamping force. My outers have 5-6mm thickness left but my inners were at like 1mm. Front pads were replaced under the maintenance plan and my brakes feel much better now.

[Orion4]

That is unusual. They only replaced the pads and found nothing else wrong? Normally that type of uneven wear is a sign the caliper housing is frozen and not sliding on the caliper pins which lets it center on the rotor so both pads are exerting the same amount of pressure.

[hsk1610]

Well brought my car to the dealer about increasing brake life in iDrive, and the tech checked it out and brought out a SIB about road conditions, brake pressure, temp, etc that might affect pad life. The shop foreman said the F30 brake sensors are notoriously bad at determining pad life. That said, picked up my car, drove home, and then iDrive says I need new rear brake pads- went from 18000 miles to 1200 miles. Drove back, and they looked at the car again, and the inner pads on the rear had been worn down and had just triggered the sensor. They did the rear brakes. My day spent at the dealership.

[MickAv8r]

As was said above the sensors ONLY detect that the pads are in need of immediate replacement ie they are completely worn out. What is displayed in iDrive until the sensor triggers is pure speculation based upon how you are driving the car.