Hi,

I got the Brake System Warning on the way to work this morning (2015 F56 manual with 34k kms).

My questions:

1. Is 34k kms early for brakes? I know it depends on driving habits, but I think I'm an average driver.
2. I got the error while I was going about 80 kph - not even touching the brakes. How can that be?
3. How urgent is this? I would imagine that there is still brake material left when the warning is activated. And the service center is probably booked for a week or two.

Thanks.

 

If you have a brake warning do get them checked now & not later. Your life & those that drive around you depend on you being able to stop.

First thing I would do is make sure your e-brake is all the way off. If it is then open the hood & check that the fluid level is where it should be. If it is swing by the dealer for a diagnosis.

 

I took the car in today for the brake warning and did a scheduled maintenance at the same time. Sorry to say they replaced both front and back pads.

I Googled the average life of brakes, which returned 30k-60k miles. I'm just over 20k so I asked the service rep about it. He said that 20k-25k is about par for the course for Minis and he's even seen a lot worse. Still seems strange.

 

34000 km is only about 21000 miles.
My Mini has well over 50000+ miles or 80000+ km.
My pads appears to have about 30-40% life left when checked during recent tire rotation at home.
My commute is stop and go traffics everyday in Los Angeles area.

Your dealer replacing both fr & rr brake pads at 21000 miles sound very strange.
You should have asked to see the old pads to check how much they were worn.
If you paid for the service, removed old parts are yours.

 

Most of my weekly driving is also bumper-to-bumper.

But you are right. I should have asked for the old ones. Next time I will. I know it was strange. I even asked if it was just a sensor problem. I bought the car with 9k kms and the service history showed a new clutch after the original owner traded it in. So I think, if the guy went through a clutch in 9k, maybe he rode the brakes as well.

Problem is, here in Israel, we really have only two options for service and both places have their issues. We are a captive customer-base with little choice - especially for warranty work. With my previous 2006 Justa (new to me in 2013), I had quite a few garages turn me away, telling me to take it to BMW.

This time the brakes are all mine so if I go through them quickly - I'll know.

Thanks for the input.

 

Glad you got the brakes squared away. No telling how your car was driven before you got it, but the fact it needed a new clutch is kind of telling.

 

after the warning you have about 500 (or more)miles left so don't worry, no need to "DROP EVERYTHING AND GET THE CAR TOWED BEFORE YOU KILL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!"

as for why the dealer takes the pads, it's pretty standard for them to withhold them from you. while there are probably more reasons, the 2 that i know so far is:
- BMW takes the pads and uses them to validate that the service was in-fact done.
- aftermarket companies (G-Loc, carbotech, etc..) offer a service where you can send the brake pad to them, they sand it down and place their pad material on it. this is a huge plus as the base of the aftermarket companies brake pad are usually not the EXACT size nor contain the spring brake tensioner. For example, the rear brake pads have a spring brake tensioner attached to the pad base while the carbotech/g-locks are just a solid piece of steel/metal...the lack of the spring brake tensioner make the proper design difficult as well as the fronts aren't cut to spec....ask me how i know (rattle when i have those pads on). BMW doesn't want them re-using the pad base, so they take them back.

 

Interesting take, yes you could maybe go 500 miles if it is the pads. But those pads could could fail in a high speed stop. The light tells you it is brakes & it could be pads, low fluid, a failing master cyl among other things. If you are too busy to have them looked at please consider others safety & not just your own valuable time that will be lost.

 

the wife's Cooper had the brake warning come on with 30k some miles on it and they said it was a faulty sensor. they said they replaced the sensor, but not the pads.

when i was swapping to the winter tires i took a peek and there was still a ton of meat left on them.

 

Did you check the pad thickness first, ad quick check on the front pads near the sensor will let you know if its the sensor itself or the pad did wear down to touch the sensor.

If you are under warranty have them replaced.