I'm looking at purchasing the extended sevice contract. From what I'm learning, it really only pays off if the brakes/rotors will need to be replaced. Being that I'll only have about 30k miles on the car when the service contract expires, I'm not certain it'll be worth it....

Can some of you tell me at what milage you needed yours replaced?

Thanks

 

Great question...I declined the extended warranty/service contract b/c soooo pricey. Am thinking of purchasing one a little later. I hear that they will come down in price if they are taking a second run at you.

Anyway, interested to hear how brakes and rotors hold up.

 

FYI - had our 2004 S rear pads and rotors replaced when the brake service light came on. ( After 2 weeks past inspection ) Was covered under "One time goodwill " allowance as we were 5-6 days past our delivery 3 years.
An added question is why the rears first??? Anyone may be able to add this to their posts. Thanks.

 

I replaced pads at 27,500 for Hawk pads, but the OEM were only 50% worn.
The milage you get may be very different. Where you live and how you drive will have a big impact on pad life.

 

2003 MCS ... replaced front pads at 112,000 mi ... rotors did not need replacement ... appears rear pads will need to be changed at about 200,000 mi ... I will check all the rotors at that time

 

I am replacing brakes and rotors this weekend. My 04 MCS has 81K on the clock and the OEM brakes are still in good shape.

 

WOW I hope my MINI last this long...

 

There are tons of variables.

If you drive mostly highway miles, you can easily drive say 500 miles distance with just 1 brake application. If you drive in the city, you'll use the brakes up much more quickly.

Find a local person (friend, helpful employee at the dealership, etc) to show you how to visually inspect the brake pad thickness. With most MINI wheels, you can see through the spokes of the wheel and catch a glimpse of the brake pad thickness without removing the wheel. Once someone shows you what to look for, it's easy.

 

my 03 has PLENTY of pad left at 24K....

 

I have 52k miles on my '02 MCS and still running original pads and rotors. I'm not sure how the pads are doing but the rotors are showing signs of wear (the outer edge that doesn't touch the pad is noticeably thicker).

 

I do track days I'm on my 3 set of pads and second set of front rotors 15,000 miles.

 

I got 45,000 miles out of my stock rear pads. At that point the wear light came on and I had both the rear pads and rotors replaced (the rotors could have gone longer, but wouldn't have made it another 45k). My front rotors are nearing time for replacement (I now have 50k on the car), but the pads got replaced at 25k under warranty for cracks so the pads have lots of life left. I drive mostly in the city, so my brake wear is higher than most (Used to live outside of Boston, now in downtown Wichita KS).

 

Shouldn't you replace the brakes at one mile....

Big Brake kit baby!!!

 

Front brakes and rotors, and rear pads replaced after 2 years and 11 months under warranty after 34,000 city miles on an early 2005 MCS.

 

Pads and Rotors replaced at 27K

 

I would say that the average that I have seen is about 40k miles...I have never seen the rotors be above the minimum listed specs, so I replace them on every brake job.

Even if the rotors were just above minimum specs, how worn would they be when the replacement pads were at 50%!!!

 

I replaced my rear pads (only) at about 90,000 miles, and then replaced the front pads and rotors at ~136,000 miles.

Nik

 

I replaced my brakes at 50K at the last inspection before the extended service expired. I hired an independent mechanic to give it the once over because I didn't trust my dealer because they were ignoring broken parts on the MINI and not telling me.

 

I replaced my pads at about 57,000 miles. I haven't touched the rotors though. Out of curiosity, how do I know if I need new rotors?

 

Interested in this answer as well. You can run your finger nail toward the outside of the rotor (be careful they could be warm if just driven) and you may be able to feel a lip on the outside where the pads have worn the rotors. The lip will be rusty. I think (if I remember correctly) that if your finger nail just barely catches then a pad change is all that is needed. If its much thicker than a fingernail then I think new rotors are called for as these rotors supposedly can't be turned as they are too thin. (?)

The rear rotors kind of just hang out there and do not do that much work so I do not think they have to be replaced as often.

 

Minimum thickness is stamped on the rotors...20.4mm

Use a rotor mic to check...Like I said though, Haven't seen any that weren't in need of replacement. They wear just like pads and would be way under specs through the second set of pads. Theyre only for stopping you, not something to go cheap on..

 

At 45,000 miles I didn't like the variations in the rotor surfaces on my '02 and the pads were getting thin in the rears. Then I saw Chad's DT Stage 1 brake kit and well, so who cares how many miles are on those brakes? Those slotted rotors, SS lines and Hawk pads feel so much better underfoot.

I meant Stage 1 1/2, I had to have the bushing kit too.

 

Interesting, guess I'll be looking for some new rotors. Slotted would be nice.

 

Got brake service light yesterday on my 05 MCSC with 20.1K on the clock. I'm surprised at how early it is (mileage wise) and wondering if something else is a problem. Mostly city driving, no track, did dragon this spring and going to MITM in 2 weeks.

Have appt in a.m. to have them fixed. Will post details after I get back.

 

Got full front brake service this a.m. Sensor, rotors & pads. Service advisor said 20K is about right for fronts. Rears are still in spec and he said good for another 15K. Now I should have no worries at MITM the end of next week.