Brake pad warning

F31-340i · 12-22-2010, 02:29 PM

Just had a strange warning

Both front and rear pads are showing 33,000 miles left in the idrive service section (all discs, pads and sensors were changed about 6 months ago), but a red 'brake pads worn' error has just come up on 'check control' in idrive. Any ideas? My local garage changed them and I assumed it reset the indicators correctly - maybe something else needed to be done? As the wear indicators are presumably ok, I'm not sure what could have caused this, unless there is some sort of sensor fault maybe?

Car just done 75k and is also just started showing 'inspection' overdue (-500 miles). What would such a service cover? Can't find the old insp I and II definitions like for an E46

Car is 2006 330d E91 auto

mjh93sa · 12-22-2010, 05:32 PM

From memory (as the book is in the car and it's damned cold) yellow is for pad wear. Red would therefore most likely be low fluid.

F31-340i · 12-23-2010, 01:29 AM

Thats a good thought - thanks. The fluid is overdue changing by a couple of months - but I would have thought a low fluid would produce a suitable warning, not something about pads. Maybe the system equates low fluid to worn pads and assumes the sensors maybe faulty - that would make some sense as a reversionary warning logic.

AlwynMike · 12-23-2010, 03:22 AM

On my 5-er, there is an i-drive warning when the brake fluid is due to be changed - could that be it??

F31-340i · 12-23-2010, 03:43 AM

It is a separate warning to the fluid change (time based) in the service list - this is a 'check control' message (different area in idrive - same area as e.g. Washer fluid low)

F31-340i · 12-24-2010, 08:55 AM

Popped into dealer - quotes only...

£95 for brake fluid change

£99 for inspection - was not very clear what this covered - 'safety items' was all that was said.

SA not sure what red pad warning was - mentioned that there maybe an issue with a sensor.

F31-340i · 01-05-2011, 05:53 PM

Got this fixed today.

Turned out the rear wear sensor cable had become damaged due to it catching on the inside of the 17" winter rims I'd put on - these were E36 rims that have a slightly different offset to E90 rims - not a problem normally (never catches on the arches etc. as they are narrow wheels/tyres), but obviously in this case they were a bit tight for the cable on the inside of the rim. All sorted now with new cable held clear with a tie wrap (official BMW main dealer mod

)

BMW Malton did the business - and were cheaper than some others for the brake fluid and inspection work - for this it was £158 all in, inc VAT (D Lovett wanted nearly £200 for the same work).

Final point - after fitting and removing them myself for the last 4 years, turns out I got a bit careless this year in another way when fitting my winter tyres - I got the rotation reversed on the rears - big Homer DOH! I used to check rotation carefully when I first had them - but its easy to forget when you're in a rush on a job you've done several times before.

12-22-2010, 02:29 PM	#1
F31-340i Colonel 156 Rep 2,475 Posts Drives: BMW 340i Touring Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ... iTrader: (1)	Brake pad warning - but pad sensors ok? FIXED - winter tyre related... Just had a strange warning Both front and rear pads are showing 33,000 miles left in the idrive service section (all discs, pads and sensors were changed about 6 months ago), but a red 'brake pads worn' error has just come up on 'check control' in idrive. Any ideas? My local garage changed them and I assumed it reset the indicators correctly - maybe something else needed to be done? As the wear indicators are presumably ok, I'm not sure what could have caused this, unless there is some sort of sensor fault maybe? Car just done 75k and is also just started showing 'inspection' overdue (-500 miles). What would such a service cover? Can't find the old insp I and II definitions like for an E46 Car is 2006 330d E91 auto Last edited by F31-340i; 01-06-2011 at 05:55 AM..
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12-22-2010, 05:32 PM	#2
mjh93sa Major General 147 Rep 5,080 Posts Drives: 530d Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [10.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [5.50]	From memory (as the book is in the car and it's damned cold) yellow is for pad wear. Red would therefore most likely be low fluid. __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman - M135i Now: 530d
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12-23-2010, 01:29 AM	#3
F31-340i Colonel 156 Rep 2,475 Posts Drives: BMW 340i Touring Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ... iTrader: (1)	Thats a good thought - thanks. The fluid is overdue changing by a couple of months - but I would have thought a low fluid would produce a suitable warning, not something about pads. Maybe the system equates low fluid to worn pads and assumes the sensors maybe faulty - that would make some sense as a reversionary warning logic.
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12-23-2010, 03:22 AM	#4
AlwynMike Lieutenant Colonel 337 Rep 1,660 Posts Drives: F36 440i GC. Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lincolnshire Flatlands iTrader: (1)	On my 5-er, there is an i-drive warning when the brake fluid is due to be changed - could that be it??
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12-23-2010, 03:43 AM	#5
F31-340i Colonel 156 Rep 2,475 Posts Drives: BMW 340i Touring Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ... iTrader: (1)	It is a separate warning to the fluid change (time based) in the service list - this is a 'check control' message (different area in idrive - same area as e.g. Washer fluid low)
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12-24-2010, 08:55 AM	#6
F31-340i Colonel 156 Rep 2,475 Posts Drives: BMW 340i Touring Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ... iTrader: (1)	Popped into dealer - quotes only... £95 for brake fluid change £99 for inspection - was not very clear what this covered - 'safety items' was all that was said. SA not sure what red pad warning was - mentioned that there maybe an issue with a sensor.
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01-05-2011, 05:53 PM	#7
F31-340i Colonel 156 Rep 2,475 Posts Drives: BMW 340i Touring Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ... iTrader: (1)	Got this fixed today. Turned out the rear wear sensor cable had become damaged due to it catching on the inside of the 17" winter rims I'd put on - these were E36 rims that have a slightly different offset to E90 rims - not a problem normally (never catches on the arches etc. as they are narrow wheels/tyres), but obviously in this case they were a bit tight for the cable on the inside of the rim. All sorted now with new cable held clear with a tie wrap (official BMW main dealer mod ) BMW Malton did the business - and were cheaper than some others for the brake fluid and inspection work - for this it was £158 all in, inc VAT (D Lovett wanted nearly £200 for the same work). Final point - after fitting and removing them myself for the last 4 years, turns out I got a bit careless this year in another way when fitting my winter tyres - I got the rotation reversed on the rears - big Homer DOH! I used to check rotation carefully when I first had them - but its easy to forget when you're in a rush on a job you've done several times before.
	Appreciate 0 Quote