30k and we need new brake pads

BuzzCut1 · #1 10-09-2009, 07:06 PM

I can't believe we burned through a set of brake pads in only 30,334 miles>

The brake wear display came on mid day. Dropping KOZMO off at East Bay Mini tomorrow morning to get the new pads put in...

Stig One · #2 10-09-2009, 07:18 PM

I wish i could get 5000 miles out of a set of pads.

brightwhite · #3 10-09-2009, 07:29 PM

yeah, that actually sounds pretty darn good. I can barely get 30,000 kms out of a set normally.

MINIdave · #4 10-09-2009, 07:29 PM

30K out of a set of pads doesn't sound excessive to me either.

They're under warranty, so you're good to go for a while now, be glad they did them before you hit 36K!

colejd · #5 10-09-2009, 08:51 PM

Went through a front set at 22,500 miles.

taysan · #6 10-09-2009, 08:57 PM

I gotta read the warranty on my 2008 Canadian Clubman. Are these sorts of things really covered under the warranty?

BuzzCut1 · #7 10-09-2009, 09:04 PM

my Boxster got around 50k, my volvo xc70 70k my Ford F350 75K

frankly 30k is not very good by comparison

Rixter · #8 10-09-2009, 09:22 PM

What do folks recommend when time to replace the pads. If its done at the dealer do they just have one OEM set to deal with? I'm surprise how much brake dust I'm getting on my front rims

Rixter · #9 10-09-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taysan

I gotta read the warranty on my 2008 Canadian Clubman. Are these sorts of things really covered under the warranty?

Seems like the Canajun warrenty is not as comprehensive as the US one. What part of the Great White North are you from?

MINIdave · #10 10-10-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzCut1

my Boxster got around 50k, my volvo xc70 70k my Ford F350 75K

frankly 30k is not very good by comparison

Yes, but I'll bet you drive your MINI differently than any of those other cars - ie: more "spirited"...........

I don't understand why people expect their MINI to be just like every other car they've ever owned. Isn't that why we bought them, because they're "different"?

BuzzCut1 · #11 10-10-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MINIdave

Yes, but I'll bet you drive your MINI differently than any of those other cars - ie: more "spirited"...........

I don't understand why people expect their MINI to be just like every other car they've ever owned. Isn't that why we bought them, because they're "different"?

well the truck does a lot of towing of loaded horse trailers in the hills

the Volvo I had to put really stiff anti sway bars in which I have snapped twice and I did blow the transmission

The Boxster...um I drove that way harder than the Mini...probably why I blew the engine at 110k

I tend to use the transmission and stay off the brakes for mountain driving, using the gears gives better steering. I was really surprised to see the brakes only last 11 months.

Kimbo80 · #12 10-10-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzCut1

I can't believe we burned through a set of brake pads in only 30,334 miles>

The brake wear display came on mid day. Dropping KOZMO off at East Bay Mini tomorrow morning to get the new pads put in...

Unfortunately, this does not surprise me with all the brake dust that accumulates on the front rims, regardless if you push the car or not. The compound of the pads is just way too soft. The good thing is they are covered under warranty.

You can also add my previous car to the list. I changed the front pads on my Accord with around 57k miles. They still had good life on them, but I just decided to change them anyways.

jswerdna · #13 10-10-2009, 01:44 PM

I got 14,000 on mine. Dealer said if you have to pay, after warranty, it's $700 for pads and rotors. My Honda Element has 107,000 on original pads. I tow my Porsche with it and drive it like I stole it and nothing breaks. Being different doesn't give mini the excuse to use crap parts.

BuzzCut1 · #14 10-10-2009, 03:28 PM

so East Bay Mini replaced the Front Pads in an hour n/c

Wife decided to buy the extended warranty/service package [no cash handed over yet]

djmcgill · #15 10-11-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzCut1

Wife decided to buy the extended warranty/service package [no cash handed over yet]

No cash? How much did the "insurance package" cost?

I have had the Ghost for just over a year and 29.5K miles. Brakes are still good. Tires (RFTs) are still good. I do mostly highway driving and don't brake unless I need to. I expect to get 50 or 60K out of the front brakes.

BuzzCut1 · #16 10-11-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djmcgill

No cash? How much did the "insurance package" cost?

I have had the Ghost for just over a year and 29.5K miles. Brakes are still good. Tires (RFTs) are still good. I do mostly highway driving and don't brake unless I need to. I expect to get 50 or 60K out of the front brakes.

LOL in other words she made the decision to make the deal, but she has not bought anything yet

FranticFreddy · #17 10-11-2009, 01:38 PM

66,600. And still onthe orginal pads.
Been to the "Dragon" 3 times and Up and down Mt. Washington once. What am I doing wrong? I should be on my third or fourth set of pads by now!

jedm3 · #18 10-11-2009, 07:41 PM

I got 27k miles out of my fronts. New pads and rotors under service contract. I just put new rear pads on at 44k. Will need new rear rotors at next change.
BMW(MINI) brakes are not designed to provide maximum durability. They are designed for maximum feel and performance. However, I am sure that there are other pads that will last longer and make less dust. Just dont expect the same braking performance.
Cheers,
John

hardingsan · #19 10-12-2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taysan

I gotta read the warranty on my 2008 Canadian Clubman. Are these sorts of things really covered under the warranty?

they're not covered under warranty, but under the maintenance plan. the same thing that covers oil changes, wiper blades, etc...

bahollings · #20 10-13-2009, 08:38 AM

don't want to hijack this BUT what brake pads do you guys recommend for someone who doesn't like cleaning the front wheels every three days due to the amount of brake dust? I've got 23000+ miles on my MCCs and am dang tired of cleaning the wheels. I use "Wheel Wax" every three months and it does help a little in the cleaning but there has to be some pads that will eliminate this problem. My wife has an Lexus RX350 fwd and it does not have this problem at all.

brightwhite · #21 10-13-2009, 08:45 AM

Agreed! The stock pads on my MCS are horrendous for brake dust. The wheels look like they are actually gun metal colour because of all the dust.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bahollings

don't want to hijack this BUT what brake pads do you guys recommend for someone who doesn't like cleaning the front wheels every three days due to the amount of brake dust?

ricbow · #22 10-13-2009, 11:14 AM

19,000 on mine . n/c for new brakes

Project Mangler · #23 10-13-2009, 12:57 PM

If you search the forums for brake pads you'll find lots of complaints about how dirty the OEMs are and recommendations for replacements. I don't know if a dealer would replace with aftermarket pads under the maintenance contract, but I will definitely ask when the time comes.

With just 300 miles on ours, the front wheels looked like hell and the rears weren't much better. Stops good though.

hardingsan · #24 10-13-2009, 01:03 PM

obviously it all depends on the dealer, but if you show up with the new pads, i'm sure they'd put them on for you.

now getting them to pay for them on the other hand...

Robin Casady · #25 10-13-2009, 02:41 PM

For my MCS Coupe, I got a set of Carbotech 1521 Bobcat pads from Dustin at AutoXCooper. Dust is no longer an issue. I also like the brake modulation better (they don't grab like the OEM pads do).

The Bobcats are designed for street use. Carbotech has other pads for track. Supposedly, these pads will last much longer than the OEM pads, and are easier on rotors.

With the OEM pads, MINI recommends replacing the rotors at the same time as the pads. The rotors supposedly shouldn't be ground. So, if your pads are gone and you are still under the maintainance maintenance plan, get them to replace everything before you switch to non-OEM pads. (You could ask the dealer if they will install pads you supply, but it would surprise me if they did.) Then go to a local shop that specializes in MINIs and have the pads replaced. You can probably sell the new OEM pads. I sold mine even though they had a couple thousand miles on them.

I got fed up with the dust long before my pads were gone. Also, I don't put a lot of miles on a car and I'm easy on brakes. The chances of getting the OEM pads replaced during the free maintenance period were slim. So I went to the local club forum here on NAM and asked about repair shops that were good with MINIs. Got several recommendations for a guy in Salinas who has a small shop for British cars. He installed the Bobcats for me. My rotors were still in good shape.

The boot of my MCS used to get filthy very fast. Wheels got dirty even faster. The car needed a weekly wash. I assumed the dirt on the rear was just the aerodynamic characteristics of the MINI picking up road dirt. Not so. It is brake dust. After replacing the pads I went about three months without washing the car. The boot was no dirtier than the bonnet.