I was recently informed by my local Mini Dealership that I would soon need to replace my brake pads and rotors. It seemed kinda early to do the rotors, especially given that I'm not that rough on them. They told me it would be $432 and needed to be done within the next two months. Does this sound right?

 

I just replaced mine at 46K. They were very close to being out of spec with the micrometer.

My suggestion would be do the job yourself and save over 50% of that cost. It's really easy on the MINI to do a brake job.

 

I did mine at about 50k. Fronts are super easy. Maybe $150 for parts and a hour in the driveway is all you need. Rears are a little different.

 

Any how-to's on the brakes? And if I'm doing it myself I might as well get a rotor/pad upgrade... any reccomendations on crossdrilled vs. slotted vs. crossdrilled and slotted? And how about on brake pads? Lemme know if you can please!

 

Here you go.....

It's really not tooo very hard to do.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=38346

 

I'm guessing you are now, or will soon be out of 'pre-paid maintenance? Duh, cuz otherwise the dealer would have simply replaced these parts.

Curiously, the first time my car went back to the dealer for a problem after I was out of PP-maint' I was told "your pads and rotors are shot" and how much it would cost to replace them ... gee what nice guys.... I didn't even ask them to look at the brakes.

But wait, didn't I replace the pads and rotors a month ago myself? How can it bee that I've gone thru them in so little time???? (and there's no evidence they took a wheel off to look)

Or did the dealer check his records and see HE'D not replaced my brakes yet so FISH ON THE LINE?????

Sadly not an isolated incident as in our little local MINI group there were multiple cases where folks were told 'trashed' and ordered replacements and as they pulled thing apart to DIY they discovered their pads were FAR from gone..... (harder to get away with on later MINI tho....the 02 didn't have wear sensors.....next question, has you wear sensor lit? .. but I agree, better to replace b4 it does)

Look at your pads....if they are less that the thickness of the pad backing plate you should be thinking about pads .... technically you should get a gauge to measure the thickness of the rotors but the stock MINI ones do seem soft and I doubt will last thru more than two sets of stock pads anyway. It doesn't take much more effort to replace the rotors and as a DIY they don't have to cost much.

The linked instructions are excellent - if you have all the tools......


MINI dealer manager, "we don't make any money selling cars. Profit is all in the service department."

Last thought, The dealer identified another problem which I had checked by a mechanic I trusted.....he verified it WAS there, then fixed it with a better quality part then the factory one for less than half the dealers estimate. (how better? It was a rubber bushing and it was subsequently replaced with poly.....)

 

My Min is an 05, but has 44K miles so my free maintenance is no longer in force. The service adviser tried to sell me an extended service plan because I'm eligible for a discounted rate as it due to mileage, not term. I didn't do it, but now they are sending me a letter offering to extend it for $499. That along covers for the brake job, right? Or am I missing something? At 44K miles I'm assuming I will need the brake job fairly soon.

 

look up texas speed works ; a full set of rotors is like 200.00 . they are good service oriented shop too .

 

Don't you have a 3-year, 50,000 mile plan ???

 

Warranty goes to 50K miles, but free maintenance only goes for 3 yr/36K miles. My car is less than 3 years old, but has 44K miles on it. I'm still under warranty, but not maintenance plan.

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhh... thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

Definitely go have an independent shop do these. Now that you are approaching the end of your warranty, you'll want to begin to find a mechanic you trust to do your non-warranty work.

Find out who is the best independent BMW mechanic in town and see if they work on MINI's. Even if they don't, they can handle a simple brake job.

 

My '02 rotors and pads were questionable at 45,000 miles. Mostly because they weren't gliding properly and the inner/outer pads were wearing differently. I went with Detroit Tune's Stage 1 brake kit including slotted roters, SS brake lines, and brass bushings. After 9 months I'm still happy. Last month I pulled the bushings, cleaned and re-lubed them with never-sieze and all is well.

For certain parts/assemblies there are just too many nice aftermarket products on the market to even consider OEM.

 

Yep, I have some one who works on Benz's and BMW's. They do good work. They will be doing my 'S' sport suspension upgrade. I'll have them do the brakes as long as they have it apart. I'm having the Rotex Gold pads put on. I hate that brake dust.

 

My 05 has 20k, and the dealer replaced pads and rotors under warranty (they offered), while having my leaky motor mount changed. I think warranty work is also a money maker for the dealer.

 

Mine were gone at 30K. But that was with Ferodo DS2500 pads.

Good Luck,
Mike

 

The newer thought on crossed drilled Vs slotted is go slotted. The cross drilled rotor will take less heat. But remember we are taking about someone that is using them at the limit full out racing. Most everyone would be fine at stock.

 

I just replaced my 2005 at 49500. Dealer said new front rotors, turn rear, new pads for $800. My mechanic was able to turn front and rear, replace pads I furnished for $175. Parts cost me $75.

 

I believe my brakes have warped after 3,000 miles with no auto x's or track days. Can powerslot rotors be turned?

 

$44 ea for OEM stock front discs, Morristown MINI. $18 ea for frt pads. Your rears should be OK. There are a number of reasons to consider OEM, they work on the street just fine, don't squeak , no warm up, allow 15" wheels for snow tires and are many times cheaper.

 

I'm amazed at the low mileage you guys are getting out of your pads & rotors. My car has 32,000 on it & 5 track days. My rotors are fine. Been through one set of pads.

 

Well I put on my winter tires today and decided to check my brakes. I think the person who owned it prior to me must have had a brake job done shortly before he got rid of the car. The brake pads look new.

 

im curious if you guys are using aftermarket pads?

 

I still like my aftermarkets better. All 4 OEM rotors were chewed up as if the rotors wore as much as the pads. And the inside pads and outside pads wore differently. I could have spent a little less, but I'm still happy.

Oh, my OEMs did squeak now and then.

 

I measured my rotors at 40,000 miles and found them at 50%. Pads were about 80% gone. This after 2 years of Solo and 5 track events and 3 vacations to Fla. Stock pads and rotors were about $300 and the dealer wants $1004 for stock pads and rotors no mention of bleeding system. I went to EBAY and found drilled and slotted rotors for $164 and went to MiniMania a got the EBC green pads and their stainless braided brakelines and did it myself for less than $450. Have put 2 more track events on them and a trip to PA. No dust, stops faster than it goes forward and straight as an arrow. Still have original rotors to reuse if I have a failure at an event.