Brake pads on a M135i 2020
Discussion
I was told by the BMW dealer that my front break pads need replacing after 12k miles....Is this normal?
Please note my driving style is relatively normal. No track days and certainly not driving like a yob. All the other cars I had in the past (BMW M3, Z4M, Merc, etc) I never had to change pads this frequent. Also rear break pads lasted 27k miles before the sensor came on.
Any advise?
Please note my driving style is relatively normal. No track days and certainly not driving like a yob. All the other cars I had in the past (BMW M3, Z4M, Merc, etc) I never had to change pads this frequent. Also rear break pads lasted 27k miles before the sensor came on.
Any advise?
Yes, it is perfectly normal for a dealer to tell you that uneccessary work needs doing 
Ask them to provide the pad thickness (for each pad) and what the minimum thickness is stated in the service manual. Cue the... well they are consumables...if you drive 10k miles and do lots of trackdays they might be worn out before the next scheduled service excuses!
You should also be able to check the minimum pad thickness online if you don't trust them.
Ask them to provide the pad thickness (for each pad) and what the minimum thickness is stated in the service manual. Cue the... well they are consumables...if you drive 10k miles and do lots of trackdays they might be worn out before the next scheduled service excuses!
You should also be able to check the minimum pad thickness online if you don't trust them.
Well, they just send me a video (inspection video) showing that the pads are down to 95% worn....They used some sort of measuring devise (red/green) placing it next to wheel apparently showing the wear on the pads.
Unfortunately I am no expert therefore they could have shown me anything and I would still be none the wiser. Bottom line is, in my 30+ years of owning cars I never had to change pads after 12k....even in the days that my driving could have been considered as more adventurous...
Unfortunately I am no expert therefore they could have shown me anything and I would still be none the wiser. Bottom line is, in my 30+ years of owning cars I never had to change pads after 12k....even in the days that my driving could have been considered as more adventurous...
BMWs should tell you when they need new pads, and normally those are a bit cautious.
I once was down to about 1000 miles til rear pads needed, and when it went into the dealer for some warranty work they picked it up, checked the pads then reset it to 6000 miles as they could see the sensor was flagging too early.
I once was down to about 1000 miles til rear pads needed, and when it went into the dealer for some warranty work they picked it up, checked the pads then reset it to 6000 miles as they could see the sensor was flagging too early.
I have just had a ‘health check’ with video, just before my MOT. The tyre, pads and disc wear values were just where I expected them to be (pads 10% worn at 11.5mm left. Nothing underhand or untoward there. Mine is a 335d and the only time I earnestly use the brakes is prior to any MOT to clean any slight corrosion on the braking surfaces of the discs. My front pads were first changed at 46k miles, along with front discs, and only becasue lock-down led to a lack of use and corrosion, causing brake judder.
Anticipating the road ahead does substantially reduce pad wear, which is also affected by traffic density and movement.
Anticipating the road ahead does substantially reduce pad wear, which is also affected by traffic density and movement.
Edited by Pica-Pica on Friday 24th November 15:34
proteas said:
Thanks all for the responses.....£560 for front and rear pads.....The car needed rear ones (at 27k the sensor came on) and whilst in the garage they told me I needed front ones as well....Nice Black Friday present from BMW....
The dealer is not BMW but that's another story. I hope you haven't agreed to the work. It doesn't take any expertise to check the pad thickness yourself, just look. Or take one wheel off at worst, but you shouldn't need to. Just shine a torch light and at worst take a photo of the pad and post it here.This pad replacement thing is annoying, I got told that they were down to 5mm and would need replacing in 6 months maximum.
Load of hot air, 9 months later, still on 5mm. I don't get how they can try and put a time scale on it when they have no idea of how the car is driven, although the mileage being sub 15k in 3 years should have been an indicator.
Load of hot air, 9 months later, still on 5mm. I don't get how they can try and put a time scale on it when they have no idea of how the car is driven, although the mileage being sub 15k in 3 years should have been an indicator.
Sebring440 said:
proteas said:
Please note my driving style is relatively normal. No track days
LivLL said:
Has it been on track at all?
LivLL said:
Sebring440 said:
proteas said:
Please note my driving style is relatively normal. No track days
LivLL said:
Has it been on track at all?
It's a 2020 car, perfectly reasonable to assume it's had previous owners, owners who may have tracked the car.
He's talking low miles for rear pads to wear completely to the sensor and really low miles for the fronts to wear to a level on inspection advice is to replace. This doesn't happen with a fully serviceable brake system when driven gently.
Perhaps a previous owner tracked the car and the wear was already substantial leading to early replacement or maybe poor quality cheap pads have been fitted don't know my crystal ball is broken.
I do know the OP asked for suggestions and I gave one to try to help, you in turn have offered nothing but snide comments aimed at me for no apparent reason. Odd behaviour.
OP,,how many miles has the car done and how long have you had it?
He's talking low miles for rear pads to wear completely to the sensor and really low miles for the fronts to wear to a level on inspection advice is to replace. This doesn't happen with a fully serviceable brake system when driven gently.
Perhaps a previous owner tracked the car and the wear was already substantial leading to early replacement or maybe poor quality cheap pads have been fitted don't know my crystal ball is broken.
I do know the OP asked for suggestions and I gave one to try to help, you in turn have offered nothing but snide comments aimed at me for no apparent reason. Odd behaviour.
OP,,how many miles has the car done and how long have you had it?
ScoobyChris said:
On BabyBMW I've read of people having the pads wear quickly, although 12k miles seems ridiculous (my M140i is about to hit 40k miles on original front/rear pads!). If you do replace them, may be worth going for something other than OEM to get a bit better longevity?
Chris
Mines on 32000 and just had brake fluid change, pads still have 5 or 6mm.Chris
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