I was following behind my wife in her 2008 Mini Cooper S yesterday and say a wire dangling from the right rear corner. Looking underneath I see a wide coming from a wire hanger at the bottom of the RR strut. The wire has what looks like a green connector that looks as if it slide into a fitting somewhere. See attached photos.

No codes or lights showing on dash. I can't find anywhere the end of this wire/connector should go. Any help??

https://picasaweb.google.com/m25443/20111126

Thanks. Mike

 

I think that's a rear brake sensor.

 

Looks like the emergency boot release cable ...

 

Maybe. I don't see a similar cable/wire on the other side.

The end of the wire has a green piece on it and looks like it has silver on the sides, like maybe it slides into some connector and the contacts are on the side.

 

Looks more like a wire than a cable. Not very thick and strong like one would expect for a cable that was used to pull on a latch.

 

Brake pad sensors are only on the left front and right rear wheels. I'm pretty sure that's what it is.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...64&hg=34&fg=10

Item # 7

 

That's the rear brake wear sensor. Mine dangled similarly since my brake bars do not have a slot for them.

It was either forgotten during a brake job, the pads didn't have a slot for them (some aftermarket pads) Or someone was trying to save a buck by not having to replace a sensor if the pads ever got worn down that low.

Mine is now zip tied up and out of the way to prevent it from getting stuck on something.

 

Great. Thanks. Just had a local (non-mini) shop do a brake job. They charged me for sensors, so I'm heading back there to get this connected.

Much appreciated!

 

Was your brake light on indicating you needed new brakes? If not they should not have charged you for new sensors. They do need to be replaced once activated, but they are reusable if they weren't worn down.

 

Mine had not come on yet, but when the mechanic tried to reset the service indicator, it wouldn't until he replaced the sensors. He said sometimes even though they have not come on they get so much heat they are essentially useless anyway. Pretty cheap to just replace and be done with it.

 

Then your mechanic is an idiot. It a simple wire. It wears away, and opens the circuit, then the light comes on. It works, or it doesn't. Heat really has nothing to do with the sensors...

 

I'm glad somebody ekes said it.

 

It is possible for the sensor to be partially worn. If this is the case, the service light cannot be reset. It is more than a simple wire that registers on or off.

https://wiki.bentleypublishers.com/d...+R56,+R55,+R57

 

Wouldn't no brake light on the dash indicate no need to replace the sensor? Or do newer MINIs have more than just a light that turns on when the brakes are low?

 

Thanks for the info good to know. At least someone with some intelligence researches the problem as opposed to a moron who unilaterally declares someone an idiot.

I'll take observation any day over any blatant statement. The indicator was not on and the service indicator would not reset. When the sensor was replaced it reset. I know, I watched him while I was there waiting to pick up my car.

 

The second-gen MINIs use a two-stage brake wear sensor - the link in jcausey's post explains it pretty well. Here's a picture from that page:



If you've worn through the first element but not the second, you won't get the warning light on the dash, but you also won't be able to reset the service indicator when you install new pads. The reasoning behind this is that with new pads and an old sensor that's already had the first element worn through, the car's computer can't make any estimates of remaining pad life on the new pads.

So, long story short, you have to replace the wear sensor if *either* of the elements has worn through.

 

Got it. I didn't know that there was more than a simple light like the 1st gens. Oh well one more thing to disconnet (zip tie out of place) when we get a roadster.

 

I was having trouble with mine not resetting one day. As others have said, you can just cut the sensor off near the plug and twist the wires together. Make sure you tape it up good, copper won't last long with winter salt!

 

100% positive that's the wear sensor. I just did a brake job yesterday.

He either didn't install it or didn't fully seat it.

The sensor just sort of slides/snaps on the pad after the caliper is installed, so it's a quick job to fix, but wheel must be removed.

You need to make sure it's seated. I had to use an open ended wrench placed on end to gently tap it solidly into place. Stick a flash light in there, you can see easily if its seated or not.