Sorry if this is a repost - I searched as best I could, but VB is tough to search when there are a bunch of variables =/

Anyway, I have an 08 Clubman S with about 31k miles. The car decided it wants new front brakes. It's giving me the red "mini on a lift" icon in conjunction with "BRAKE" in red. Service indicator went from 360 miles when I last turned the car on to -10 most recently.

The questions:
-Do I actually need to put new brakes on? I guess the question is really whether the indicator is driven by sensors or by the odometer.
-If I do need new brakes, I know the stealership recommends rotors and pads, not just pads. Have you found this to be the best case?
-OEM brakes? Is there a better and/or more cost effective solution? What about the mystical sensor that my searches kept alluding to?
-The manual calls my display an electrical failure. I find that hard to believe - it came on mid-drive and I noted no issues. Is this just a misprint/scare tactic/whatever, or does the car actually need to be at a dealer?

Thanks!

 

If your car is still in the free maintenance part of your warranty, take it to the dealer and let them sort it out, if not these are my recommendations....

1) If you are not capable of telling if you need brakes by inspecting them yourself, take it to someone who is, have them pull the front wheels and look at the pads. That will determine your next move...

2) If you need pads, I recommend factory pads, they work well and unless you're tracking your car regularly, they're fine. However, if you're tired of the black dust on your front wheels, you can get some aftermarket pads like EBC Green Stuff....

3) If the lip on the rotor from the pad wear is small, you can keep your rotors; if it's deep or very sharp, replace them. You can buy factory rotors or use some again from the same place you get your pads. You do not need to spend the money for cross-drilled, cryo-treated or any of the other specialty types, the standard type rotors are just fine.

4) If your pads are not that far worn and it's just a service reminder mileage based warning light, I believe you can reset it - check your owner's manual. It could be an electrical failure because it has tripped the sensor - which is an electrical circuit.

Lastly, stop calling it a stealership - it's a business like any other, if you don't want to patronize them, don't. But to catagorize them as theives just because their prices are higher is just wrong.

And remember, all the MINI goodness that we all love came from these dealerships - they are not our enemies!