whats the average life expectancy of the brake pads and rotors on an R56 S? Mine got changed at 16,000 miles anyone else have them changed yet?

 

I changed my front rotors and pads(changed to EBC ceramics), gonna do the rear pads, I had 22k, but I go on many spirited drives.

 

Got my front pads changed at about 20k with some spirited driving

 

I guess I drove extra spirited????

 

Mine were replaced at about 2K miles. I was fed up with the dust.

 

Have 22k on mine. Mostly highway driving. Just had a service done by MINI and they didn't need replacing. Guess I drive kind of gently.

 

Dealer replaced the front pads at 16,000 miles but not the rotors. Rears are still going with the computer estimating 28,000 miles. They also flushed and replaced the brake fluid at 18,000 miles.

 

Think about this: Driver A drives very conservatively, coast to coast on the interstate, trying never to touch the brakes (downshifting, etc.) and does this continuously for weeks. Driver B drives in town, with stop signs on every block. Driver B accelerates hard after each stop, then uses the brakes hard, to stop at the next stop sign.

You tell me: what's the average life expectancy of brakes and pads? What difference does it make? Depends entirely on how you drive.

It's like putting one foot in ice water at 33 degrees and another in scalding water. On average, the temperature is quite comfortable.

Shouldn't your question really be, "What's the longest anyone has gone between needed changes and what's the shortest? And how did you drive when doing this?"

 

+1

 

The service indicator said my front brakes needed doing at 24k. The pads looked like they had lots of wear left so I decided to wait as I was only only to have one free brake service. Just after I finally made the appointment to have the service with the car at 34k, the "low brake pad" warning came on. Looks as though the service warnings are cautious to the tune of 10k miles.

 

I had the front pads on my R56 replaced at around 25,000 miles. The rears need to be replaced now that I have 46,000 miles. The warning for the rears came on at 38,000, and then I got a second, different warning light last week saying I was 300 miles over the life of the pads. So it can be deduced that the service warning period is 8,000 miles.

The pads themselves only started squealing about 500 miles ago.

 

What kind of pads did you go with. Did it help with the brake dust on the rim problem? I have less than 2k and am already fed up with the dust also.

 

I went with EBC green stuff pads. I am very happy with the performance and lack of brake dust.

 

Does anyone know the minimum specs for the front and rear OEM rotors?

 

I do about 90% interstate driving, and am at 47k miles on my 07 MC (yes I drive a lot). I have an extended maintenance agreement, 100k miles and Mini recommends new brakes at 100k. I assume that is unless they wear out before then. I have a while to worry about it, but I really want to make sure I at least get them changed out once before the 100k is up.

So, my question would be.. is there anyone out there with similar driving habits, that needed brakes according to the obc or your service department before 100k ?

 

It's stamped on the brake disc body. Front is 20.4 mm. I don't know the rears.

 

Acc to my OBC my fronts will need to be replaced at 30k (25k currently). Not sure about the rears, may have to poke the buttons some more to see when they're due to replace.

 

Wow. so there is a way I can check that on the obc?
Guess I'll get my book out and figure it out tonight. I thought the only way to know was when a warning comes up and tells you.

 

Thanks for posting what I was just about to post.

 

the OBC does provide a readout that says when your pads should be changed. But from what I've seen it is little more than a random number generator. There is no sensor actually measuring your brake wear other than the wear indicator that is ON-OFF. When you pads are down to replacement time, the sensor turns the light on.

Just today I checked my pad wear (about 18,000 miles on EBC Greenies). I can look thru the wheel and see the outside pad. Pads should generally be replaced when the pad thickness is less than the thickness of the pad backing plate. This is about where the MINI sensor will kick in. My pads were about twice the backing place thickness. This IS a seat of the pants test tho...

For clarrification, here's a nearly new 07 front pad with some white applied to the backing plate so it stands out:


and here's a worn pad (happens to be an 02S rear replaced at about 50,000 miles) with white applied the same way:

 

Can't wait to try out new brakes! Isn't there a brake upgrade now for the R56? How is it?

 

I've got just a little over 65k on my MC (with MCS brakes) and I've been through five sets of front brakes and rotors and I just changed the rears for the second time.

 

This pretty much answers the question...

 

Actually, it pretty much doesn't answer anything... it just poses more questions.

But I agree, it's really not possible to answer a question like this on a forum - far too many variables. You can only look at other drivers' experiences, and use that knowledge to estimate (guess) your own.

Might be worthwhile to have some kind of a survey form or table of regular maintenance items... for example, a table with columns for "What was replaced" (eg. brakes f or r, clutch, tires (inc. brand or type - runflats, etc.) and any other common maintenance items; a second column for "When?" (eg. # of miles and months); and a third column for "Driving Style" (eg. "city commute", "mostly highway", "track days every weekend", and so on). After some of this data was gathered from NAM members, it would be possible to look at the table and check the maintenance item you're interested in of all the drivers who have a similar style to your own. This way the "When?" column would be much more accurate for your particular car.

Then again, that's a lot of work to set up (more than I want to do), and I don't know how many NAM members would actually use such a thing anyway.

Good idea though, what??

 

33EJB,

I think Red Bull was saying that OXYBLUECOOP's response was the answer to the question (5 sets of pads in 65k miles). I don't think he was referring to my post.