I did a brake job on my mini several months ago already and ever since My break senor light will not go off. I did not clip any of the sensor wires i just zip tied them out of the way. I disconnected and then reconnected the battery but it is still on. I even held the key in the first position for 30 seconds but got nothing. Anyone have any ideas as to why this light wont go off? Thanks fot he help as always

 

the brake sensor works by wearing through a wire, so to get the light to go off you either need to replace the sensors then zip tip them out of the way (or install them on your pads if they have the slot) or strip the insulation twirl the two halves of the sensor together and cover the exposed wire with some insulation or electrical tape

 

Was your brake sensor light on before you did the brake job?
If so, that means the sensor wore through and opened the circuit.
As UKCoopeR suggested, you can buy a new sensor or cut off the sensor and connect the two wires together to reconnect the open circuit.

 

yep - confirming....

the brake wear sensor is a consumable, if the light came on the sensor was worn to the break point and the circuit is 'open'

to turn the light off you must close the circuit by either replacing the sensor or dissecting the old one and splicing the ends of the broken wire together. THEN turn the key to on w/out cranking the engine for 30 seconds.....

 

Genius! I just did my brakes, replaced the sensor wires and that light was still on. Turning the ignition to on for 30 seconds before cranking fixed it. This forum is awesome!!!!
Thanks!

 

I must be missing something.

Just did front pads because the light came on on my Wife's 04 Cooper. Replaced the sensor (it clicked into the round plug) and installed in the pad. Drove it around the block, and light is still on, found this post, followed 30 seconds in start (not running) and light still doesn't go off.

Surely at 44k the rear pads aren't gone too?

I agree with Mac, awesome forums. Especially mad props to Octaneguy's how-to!

 

Actually, on my 2003 MCS my rear wore out before the fronts.

 

This car is strictly a street car, purchased new by my Wife (Girlfriend at the time) and never seen a single lap of track time. I know it's kinda sad. :(

Guess I'll look at the rear pads this weekend, then back to the parts store and the dealer for another sensor.

 

I just changed mine (front and rear) at 29K miles - the rear ones had some life left but probably only about 5K. I would check your rear sensor (easy to do with the tire off). OR check your brake fluid level.

 

Well, the rear pads were toast. I would have never thought to look at them (w/out the sensors input) until they would have dug deep in tot he rear rotors.

Thanks again to Octaneguy for the rear how-to too! In reading a few pages deep on that thread, many mentioned that their rear pads were quickly worn too.

Some also said that the rear inside pad came out rather easily, i.e. not clipped on properly. I know both of ours came out rather easily compared to taking off one of the new ones when we didn't get the piston compressed enough the first time. Perhaps that is worth something related to their fast-wearing.

Either way, got a fresh set of Wagner Thermo Quiet's on all four corners and four clean wheels to see if there are any improvement on dusting (won't take much). Also, fwiw, they had the provision for the pad-wear sensor on all four.