Mini break pads! - the big disappearing act!
Discussion
At 18000 miles (on a new Mini) to be told that the rear pads are "US" made me think. To be told that I needed all four rplacing made me gulp.
12 months later at 32000 miles (now older Mini)to be told I need a complete replacement again gets me thinking that these things are made of paper!
I am getting stonewalled with the old "style of driving" foboff, but my driving is no different now than its been for the last 20 years when I have never had the need replaced break pads in cars considerably older and lots more miles.
Its not the £360 they have quoted (Not much!) but the principle. As an older pistonhead trying to get these younger "qualified" reception managers to understand that I cannot see how this is possible and there must be a mechanical or design fault.
Frustrastion is now getting the better of me.
Anyone got comments?
12 months later at 32000 miles (now older Mini)to be told I need a complete replacement again gets me thinking that these things are made of paper!
I am getting stonewalled with the old "style of driving" foboff, but my driving is no different now than its been for the last 20 years when I have never had the need replaced break pads in cars considerably older and lots more miles.
Its not the £360 they have quoted (Not much!) but the principle. As an older pistonhead trying to get these younger "qualified" reception managers to understand that I cannot see how this is possible and there must be a mechanical or design fault.
Frustrastion is now getting the better of me.
Anyone got comments?
irrespective of the rights and wrongs of the pad construction, you must be crazy to be going to a main stealer for a pad change, you can get OE pads from any reputable motor factor and get them fitted for C.£30 at any decent garage, you should get change out of £100 for the lot.
have you seen the pads yourself, do they look worn down? do you know how to check? (serious question, not a piss take) the reason i ask is that i had had my pads changed by my reliable local garage as described above and a week later my car went into the main dealer for a service (got to keep the book looking nice
) and the receptionist called me and said that they needed changing
(as well as a long list of jackanory supplemental work)
ROBBING BA*TARDS
Watch them!!!!! it is stuff like that where they make all their money, there is no money in selling new cars.
HTH
Greg
have you seen the pads yourself, do they look worn down? do you know how to check? (serious question, not a piss take) the reason i ask is that i had had my pads changed by my reliable local garage as described above and a week later my car went into the main dealer for a service (got to keep the book looking nice
) and the receptionist called me and said that they needed changing (as well as a long list of jackanory supplemental work)
ROBBING BA*TARDS
Watch them!!!!! it is stuff like that where they make all their money, there is no money in selling new cars.
HTH
Greg
ITS A MINI NOT A Mini
I assume we're talking new MINI? If so I bought and replaced our fronts myself - really easy to do, cost £40. Try www.mini2.com
lanciachris said:
£360 for pads 
How stupid do dealers think people are!?
£760 I was quoted for mine...
When I got back up off the floor I went to Plans and got pads, hoses and fluid for less than a third of that and with the help of a technically skilled mate (Thanks Ben) we did them in an afternoon...
Im on 34000 miles on my car, which is not that much lighter than a MINI and still on the original pads all round.
The fronts will need done at next service but I will NOT be getting the dealer to do them. I'll order some nce fancy ones and do it my self, £45 all in.
I think you are well entititled to expect more from a small light cars brake pads.
The fronts will need done at next service but I will NOT be getting the dealer to do them. I'll order some nce fancy ones and do it my self, £45 all in.
I think you are well entititled to expect more from a small light cars brake pads.
Plotloss said:
and with the help of a technically skilled mate (Thanks Ben) we did them in an afternoon...
Worth a go - if you can work a knife and fork, you have the actual technical dexterity required - all you need is somebody to help the first time, after that it's a piece of the proverbial... and we all had to start learning somewhere.
I really don't understand why people pay that kind of price for simple jobs...
I had a MINI cooper and drove it hard, left foot braking, etc etc. the OE pads are junk and the calipers (like those on most BMW cars) were not really up to the job.
I would recommend not replacing the OE with OE, and going for Ferodo DS2500 or Mintex 1144 which will offer a better pedal feel and much improved braking performance.
early MINIs suffered from duff rear calipers and discs which allowed the rear brakes to corrode very quickly.
They changed the design, so if your car has the old design and is still in warranty, get them to change the rear calipers and discs.
if they fuss about it, dig through mini2.com and find the recall notice as a lot of owners who should have got the recall didn't get it.
I would recommend not replacing the OE with OE, and going for Ferodo DS2500 or Mintex 1144 which will offer a better pedal feel and much improved braking performance.
early MINIs suffered from duff rear calipers and discs which allowed the rear brakes to corrode very quickly.
They changed the design, so if your car has the old design and is still in warranty, get them to change the rear calipers and discs.
if they fuss about it, dig through mini2.com and find the recall notice as a lot of owners who should have got the recall didn't get it.
This is the first time I have used this forum and I thank you for your comments as it letes me know I am not alone.
These dam new cars with all the electrical warning systems should be all singing and dancing. In reality the warning lights they have installed are there to promote additional service visits to take money off the unsuspecting. If the lights on it must need fixing.
I have changed out pads myself so I would expect to see around 3-4 mm left - dont need to expose the additional costs of a full disk.
The charming phone call for my approval was met with a few terms which I will now have to appologise for but as yet I have not approved the works and will undoubtibly take the car to a more reasonable establishment or even attempt it myself.
However my main interst is to expose the issue of the poor quality against the cost quoted.
Out of interest I have an Audi A8 which has just had its first set of fron discs replaced at 60,000 so I know what my sytle of driving is!
Thanks for the notes and keep them coming.
These dam new cars with all the electrical warning systems should be all singing and dancing. In reality the warning lights they have installed are there to promote additional service visits to take money off the unsuspecting. If the lights on it must need fixing.
I have changed out pads myself so I would expect to see around 3-4 mm left - dont need to expose the additional costs of a full disk.
The charming phone call for my approval was met with a few terms which I will now have to appologise for but as yet I have not approved the works and will undoubtibly take the car to a more reasonable establishment or even attempt it myself.
However my main interst is to expose the issue of the poor quality against the cost quoted.
Out of interest I have an Audi A8 which has just had its first set of fron discs replaced at 60,000 so I know what my sytle of driving is!
Thanks for the notes and keep them coming.
I fitted new pads to a Punto a few years back and then my gf took it into some tyre outlet to repair a puncture where they replaced the pads as they needed doing. I told her to insist on being supplied with the old pads which, as you can imagine, were hardly worn and an official complaint went in.
Anyway, do them yourself, as is said above, it's really not difficult. Alternatively, take it to Halfords or some back street mechanic and get it done far cheaper.
Anyway, do them yourself, as is said above, it's really not difficult. Alternatively, take it to Halfords or some back street mechanic and get it done far cheaper.
Both front and rear pads and discs needed changing on my MINI at 40k miles. Was quoted £700 by a local 'speedy fitters', or £600 at my local garage. I ended up buying upgrades elsewhere instead.
The prices quoted by most high-street garage places are ridiculous, so always try and buy bits off the net and get them fitted yourself.
The prices quoted by most high-street garage places are ridiculous, so always try and buy bits off the net and get them fitted yourself.
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