So the brake light sensor just tripped in my 06' GP, pretty sure for the front.

Any ideas of what I should replace the brakes with? Pads?
Hope I don't need new rotors as well?

Thanks

 

How many miles on your GP?
Rotors are usually replaced with pads but might not be mandatory. Will need to check thickness of rotors and if enough material left, they should at least be turned. One of the main reasons the rotors are normally replaced with the pads is because the rotors will probably need replacement before the pads need replacing again.
The GP JCW rotors/pads are the same size as stock Gen 2 Mini Coopers S so there are many options for pads.
Pad choice depends on how you use the car. How is car used/driven?
On my first Mini (03 MCS) the rears wore out before the fronts because the rear pads are so small.
Check out

 

okay yea looks like I have a lot of options to go with.

How long is it technically safe to drive with the sensor light on?

 

The ONLY thing the light is telling you is that the ONE PAD, monitored, front or back is very thin....the rears on my 2005 wore out first too...the thinner pad was almost at thecbacker plate, but no light since the pad with the sensor was still pretty thick...
So till you look, you are just guessing....
Same for rotor condition....till measured, just a guess.....gotta look...measure, inspect.

 

Ok cool, yea just visually checked the pads, couldn't measure them.
The rear pads have plenty of life left, like at least 75% or so.
While the front 2 pads have about 1/4 left of the pad before the backing plate.

Checked all the rotors as well, they look decent, but who knows until I can actually measure them.

I have 77k miles on the GP so I know its not on the original pads, rotors on the other hand could be the same ones since factory.

 

While the GP shares its brakes with the R56...R56 pads will not fit on the rears, only the fronts.

Pad choice will depend on how you use the car. I use Carbotech Bobcats....they work perfect for the street, but on track they don't like extreme heat. The nice thing about the Carbotech line, you can easily switch the pads out to one of their more aggressive pads for track use.

 

As Thumper said, Carbotech are nice. I currently use Hawk HPS which have been fine for hard street driving. I switch to different pads for the track.
I have EBC on the rear but would not suggest EBC for the front because many posts of people having problems with EBC.

 

A few thoughts....
Factory rotors tend to be a bit "soft" and usually last for about 2 sets of rotor friendly pads....after one OEM, and one aftermarket they are likely worn to limits...
On a gp, and especially if you drive hard in any way, I might suggest it is prudent to toss a pair of rotors on and start fresh....many shops do this without messureing the old cause machining is usually $20 each, and new rotors are $40-50 each, and if a machined rotor warps then a new set of pads, often the most $$$ of a brake job, must be replaced....
Some vendors sell brake kits, with pads and rotors, and remember to FLUSH the brake system...it uses dot4, and should be done every 24-36 months, since it holds less moisture than dot3.

 

Yeah that light means that the car is no longer good, and that you should have it delivered to me for recycling!

But seeing as how you are a fellow MINI owner, I will not charge your the usual 50.oo$ recycle fee.