F55 rear brake pad sensor - warning after 16k

[uk66fastback]

Mrs uk66’s 2018 Cooper had the rear brake pad warning light illuminate about a month ago. Then, this week she had the red ‘Brake warning. Drive moderately’ sign come up when switching on.

I refuse to believe these pads are worn to such an extent that they need changing. The fronts maybe, if the car is ragged for 16k, but on the back?

So what’s the solution? Could this sensor be faulty and able to be replaced under warranty, or do I skip all the palarva daring to try and get blood from a stone at the local dealer where we bought the car new and just buy a new sensor and replace and reset? I presume that will cure it ...

[stevemcs]

It will need pads, ours were throwing the warning up at 11k. The Mini uses the rear brakes as part of the stability control system and for cruise control.

[uk66fastback]

Thanks Steve. Modern cars eh? I had no idea the rear pads did that much work. I have booked it in ... it’s only £100 or so.

[un1eash]

Have you visually checked the pads both inside and out? They may not need doing, our old 5 series said it needed new pads after 7k miles, they were still like new so I just reset the front pad service item.

[SHIFTY]

First service on wifes Countryman at 18,000 miles rear pads down to 4mm (new are 9mm), rear pads are a lot smaller than the front and has been said handle a lot more than just braking.

Local car parts were £36 with new sensor cable for the rear and the same for fronts so done them all at 25,000 miles last week, about an hour in total.

[vikingaero]

On both of our F57 and R55 MINIs, the rear brakes have worn twice as fast as the fronts.

Reading the forums, "it's normal". Even my Ace Romanian mechanic says he does far more rear brakes on MINIs than on the front.

[kevs]

The rear brakes also work when the wipers are on intermittent to wipe water off the disc. Just a slight dab that you won’t notice as the driver. Beats me, only reporting what a dealer told me, I guess this can only happen with electric handbrake vehicles?