Hi,
I have a 2004 MC with about 47k of mostly hwy miles on it. The brakes are just begining to make a noise. I have no experience working on cars and was looking for feedback on whether I should do the brakes myself or have the dealership so it. I know how to use tools but have never done brakes before. Is something like this easy enough for a beginner or should I not "learn" on the MC?

Also, If I were to do it myself what would you estimate my cost to be? (tools, and parts).

Very Respectfully,

Christopher

 

I would give the brakes a moderate level fo complexity. I'd recommend having someone help you if you aren't familiar - there are a couple of nuances, which you can read about on some of the How-to's here (do a search for Octane Guy's pad/sensor install).

If you need pads and rotors and want to stick with stock I'd guess you were looking at around $75 per wheel.

 

I'd agree with this. In short, if you're unsure and need to ask (being honest about it helps) then you need to find someone to either do it for you or assist who has experience in what your'e working on.

Search out a local club or chapter in your area. Often there are a couple of good home grown guys who have experience or a shop who can treat you well in hopes of securing your future MINI business.

 

I agree with todd here. Brakes are such a critical safety feature that it is very important that the job be done right.

I know how to change my pads and rotors, but I still have my mechanic do it for me because he does it all the time and I want to KNOW that they are going to work when I need them.

There are much better places to start learning to work on your car than brakes.

But you shouldn't have the dealer do it unless they are covering it by warranty. You are almost out of warranty, so this is a great time to seek out a qualified independent BMW/MINI mechanic to work on your car from here on (unless you like paying too much at the dealer).

 

It's a fairly straight forward job, but if you get it wrong it could be fatal.
Your brakes are the only thing stopping you......apart from the wall you might run into

If in any doubt, either get a friend who knows what he's doing to help (do the work while you watch ) or get a trained mechanic to do it for you.

I swapped my OEM pads out shortly after getting mine and had to do one of the rears twice as I didn't get the clips to sit properly but I spotted my mistake before I got onto the road
I've just had new pads and rotors all round and this time I payed someone to do it even though I could have done it myself. He did it quicker than I could and if there's any problems I can take it back to him to sort.

 

Thanks for your replies. Safety first. I will have a pro do them. Thank you.

 

I do most of my own brake work, but when I was in your situation (handy with tools - no knowledge of brake systems), I was lucky enough to have a roommate who needed an extra set of hands working on his Porsche 914. I learned a lot from him and did a lot of reading before attempting the work on my MINI.

You might also think about asking around your local club for some help. You might find someone with the proper knowledge who is willing to help out. At the least, they can help you find a qualified mechanic in the area.