[RagingKileak]

Gents,

I have a rear brake pad sensor warning coming up.... I cant tell from the service indicator in I-Drive if its the pads, or the sensor itself.

Clearly my car is in warranty still so I dont mind if its a problem...

What I am wondering is - realistically, is this the time to be considering an upgrade?

Shall I just pop to BMW and have them sort it for (probably) the cost of rear pads plus fitting, and then let them fix any problems if there is one under warranty?

I realise there is no BMWP rear brake disk kit etc, and the front is far more important in relation to breaking etc so I am not really considering an upgrade.

However, as I have the capability to change the rear pads myself, is it worth it on a car still in warranty etc?

Also, I am confident Tony has mentioned before that its impossible for me to A)Reset my service indicator and B)reset the brake pad warning doo-da.

So realistically its the stealer for me right?

Matt

[zltm089]

just fyi ...

Cost of brake pads and disks ...all round...bmw stealership prices around London £870-£1011 circa...I've been calling around!

[RagingKileak]

I think I just need rear pads...

Matt

[dxb335d]

Ive just had front discs,pads and sensor fitted for 57 quid!

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Ive just had front discs,pads and sensor fitted for 57 quid!

On your second car, a Fiat 500 I take it?

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

On your second car, a Fiat 500 I take it?

Nope, it was on my D.

[scooba0010]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Nope, it was on my D.

you supplied the parts ???

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by scooba0010

you supplied the parts ???

Yes thats why i said, Fitted...

[RichardM]

Last week my rear brake pad sensor triggered, the hand brake warning light lit up orange and computer said it needed new rear brake pads. It was like that all weekend but then tonight driving home everything is fine and no reported errors or warning lights. Weird.

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by RagingKileak

Also, I am confident Tony has mentioned before that its impossible for me to A)Reset my service indicator and B)reset the brake pad warning doo-da.

So realistically its the stealer for me right?

Matt

You can reset the indicator and brake pad warning yourself, but only after the wear sensor has been changed for a new one. Otherwise the car will come up with brake warning codes. The reset is done via the dash/mileage button - hold it down until it cycles into the service menu, then repeatedly press until the relevant option comes up (in your case rear brake pads), then hold down the BC button on the indicator stalk until the RESET bargraph shows as being completed. Turn the car off, turn it back on and the reset is complete. But remember - only do it when you have a new and unworn sensor fitted.

With regards to upgrading the brakes, don't upgrade the rears without doing the fronts as otherwise you'll throw off the brake balance. There is a Performance kit rear, but it'll be a cosmetic upgrade as opposed to a real-world performance boost. Better off just replacing the rear pads/discs with standard OEM.

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by RichardM

Last week my rear brake pad sensor triggered, the hand brake warning light lit up orange and computer said it needed new rear brake pads. It was like that all weekend but then tonight driving home everything is fine and no reported errors or warning lights. Weird.

Not so weird - the sensor is probably just on the threshold of being worn. You'll probably find over the next couple of weeks, depending on your car usage, that the warning will come back.

[coodem]

E92FAN

I assume this reset only works for non-idrive? Cause I tried on mine and I get all sorts of other options, but nothing to do with brakes

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by coodem

E92FAN

I assume this reset only works for non-idrive? Cause I tried on mine and I get all sorts of other options, but nothing to do with brakes

No, works with iDrive cars too. Don't understand why you don't see the brakes option - did you hold the mileage reset button down for long enough ?! The key has to be in the slot, and you need to either turn the engine on, or push the start/stop button once so the circuits are powered up

[RagingKileak]

Thanks Tone,

I am guessing I wont have to bother with disks though - I dont drive like a nutter and if the pads are just worn I am reckoning I should be able to just swap them out?

Its as I suspected really, I had no intention of upgrading the rears on their own, I just wanted to see if it was going to justify considering an upgrade all round, but I dont think so.

I reckon when the fronts come up... I will think about it!!

Matt

[coodem]

Just tried again, keeping the mileage reset button pressesd. The first thing that appears is the triangle with the exclamation mark, Still pressing the mileage reset, a car appears with a double S above it, then after that I get the following 01.00, then each push of the mileage reset, gives the following in sequence.

01.00
FG STNR
VD91577


01.01
K-ZAHL W/T
78827/78028


01.02
BMWTNR
000009166863

01.03
COD D/A
0008h 08Dh



01.04
Kl HSTL DATUM
24.08.2007

01.05
HW AE1
0CdEh 000Dh


01.06
SW
79.50.C1

01.07
KODIERDATEN
08.11.35.15


01.08
CAN
00 23 107


My brakes are only due to be reset in 8000 miles, could this have something to do with it?

[NFS]

Originally Posted by RagingKileak

Gents,

I have a rear brake pad sensor warning coming up.... I cant tell from the service indicator in I-Drive if its the pads, or the sensor itself.

Clearly my car is in warranty still so I dont mind if its a problem...

What I am wondering is - realistically, is this the time to be considering an upgrade?

Shall I just pop to BMW and have them sort it for (probably) the cost of rear pads plus fitting, and then let them fix any problems if there is one under warranty?

I realise there is no BMWP rear brake disk kit etc, and the front is far more important in relation to breaking etc so I am not really considering an upgrade.

However, as I have the capability to change the rear pads myself, is it worth it on a car still in warranty etc?

Also, I am confident Tony has mentioned before that its impossible for me to A)Reset my service indicator and B)reset the brake pad warning doo-da.

So realistically its the stealer for me right?

Matt

Just for info, there are 2 entirely separate warning systems for the brake pads:

1. The mileage countdown to a brake pad service in idrive is purely an estimate. There are no physical measurements for this and it can be innacurate. This has the green / amber / red countdown you get for all the other service warnings.

2. The wear sensor triggers a separate 'check control' warning, which goes straight to red and also puts a permanent warning light on the dash (handbrake light). There is only one sensor per axle, so again this can also be a little innacurate.

I just had front pads and discs done at the dealers for £300. From memory the parts cost about £ 150 +VAT.

[zltm089]

Just had my front and rear brake pads and disc done today at Bmw Tring Specialist in Hertfordshire....

new pads, discs and sensors for £751.....

Although I think the discs were still good, they "advised" me to change the whole lot....

not sure on how to check if the discs needed replacing....I requested to keep the old pads and discs....

anyone on here know how to check the discs?....i can take pics and post them on here....

[zltm089]

btw, the discs are bloody heavy!!!!...never held one before...

[greatbm]

Originally Posted by zltm089

Just had my front and rear brake pads and disc done today at Bmw Tring Specialist in Hertfordshire....

new pads, discs and sensors for £751.....

Although I think the discs were still good, they "advised" me to change the whole lot....

not sure on how to check if the discs needed replacing....I requested to keep the old pads and discs....

anyone on here know how to check the discs?....i can take pics and post them on here....

The min thickness is stamped on the hub, check with calipers or a vernier.

[greatbm]

Originally Posted by coodem

Just tried again, keeping the mileage reset button pressesd. The first thing that appears is the triangle with the exclamation mark, Still pressing the mileage reset, a car appears with a double S above it, then after that I get the following 01.00, then each push of the mileage reset, gives the following in sequence.

01.00
FG STNR
VD91577


01.01
K-ZAHL W/T
78827/78028


01.02
BMWTNR
000009166863

01.03
COD D/A
0008h 08Dh



01.04
Kl HSTL DATUM
24.08.2007

01.05
HW AE1
0CdEh 000Dh


01.06
SW
79.50.C1

01.07
KODIERDATEN
08.11.35.15


01.08
CAN
00 23 107


My brakes are only due to be reset in 8000 miles, could this have something to do with it?

Yes but you have over run the menu anyway. Cant reset brakes unless coupled to dealer computer unless a certain percentage of wear on pads, cant remember exact % but in one of my previous posts on reset.

[F31-340i]

There are basically 2 checks on the discs.

1. General condition - smooth surface, not uneven, with minimal/zero lip at the outer edge. A bit subjective usually, and less important than...
2. Thickness - this is key - discs must be of a certain thickness (as stated in BMW TIS - this should also be stamped on the disc) otherwise they need to be replaced - this should be checked at various radii across the surface of the disc.

On a BMW 330d - the front discs must be a minimum of 22.4mm, the rears a minimum of 20.4mm when changing pads. (other 3ers are the same, but lower powered cars have smaller rear discs with a 18.4mm wear limit).

These specified thicknesses take into account the fact that you will be fitting pads - hence there is a margin for them wearing below the stated thickness when you use the pads you are fitting. In other words if the front discs on a 330d are greater than or equal to 22.4mm they don't need changing and you can still fit pads and they'll be safe for the life of those pad. By the time those pads are worn out the discs will almost certainly be below min thickness and will therefore definately need changing.

Hence if a dealer says they're nearly down to the wear limit, you'll need new discs soon - this could be misleading as there is potentially another set of pads life left in them!

The TIS also talks about how to machine flat discs - and states clearly that once machined down to minimum thickness, only 1 set of pads can be used with those discs.

[RichardM]

Originally Posted by zltm089

Just had my front and rear brake pads and disc done today at Bmw Tring Specialist in Hertfordshire....

new pads, discs and sensors for £751.....

Although I think the discs were still good, they "advised" me to change the whole lot....

not sure on how to check if the discs needed replacing....I requested to keep the old pads and discs....

anyone on here know how to check the discs?....i can take pics and post them on here....

How many miles had the car done mate? Mine's going in on Monday for new pads and I'm all set for them trying to tell me I need new disks which I'll politely refuse. Might ask to see the car on the ramp and measure them myself if they do.