roost

I took my car in the last service at 49,000 miles and they changed the brake pads for me which was great since I showed 10,000 left on them, but when I purchased the car they told me that they always change the rotors when they do the pads is this true because they did not do that with mine.

ImolaRedM

Generally with most modern cars that is true because there is less 'meat' on modern rotors and the life of the rotors are about the same as the pads. But a measure of the rotors would quickly tell if they're still within spec. If you had 10k miles left on the pads it could be that the rotors were still okay.

Veight

I had this work done on my wifes 325xi last year and they replaced the rotors. I asked and they said whenever they replace the pads they replace the rotors. ALWAYS. This was under the maintenance plan at about 24 ,000 miles I remember asking because I am used to rotors being machined. But BMW never machines rotors. Seems real strange that BMW would change your pads and leave the rotors untouched. I have never heard of that. Your pads will waer real fast now and your braking wont be so good because the new pads wont have the same surface as the rotors.

JDN

Seems like they would wear in pretty fast though.

ImolaRedM

shouldn't make a difference. After a few hundred miles both pads and rotors will settle right in. Same would go for new rotors and pads.

Ricracing

My front pads where out at 70,000 km's (45,000 miles) on my E39.
I lot of city traffic...

Thats more than normal. You have been driving very nicely!

I hope you did the change at your dealer, because I have witnessed the change
and it needs a lot of skill (and small parts, cleaning and some clue),
and new sensors (for the iDrive) have to be installed!

The rear pads have about 1,5 x the length of the front ones and at the second front pad
change also the disks have to be renewed!

gwf545

I haven't had my e60's brakes done yet, but I did have my e39's done. The SA said that BMW rotors are made of very soft steel and are not usually servicable much beyond the time when the pads need to be replaced. The soft steel apparently improves braking performance. I subsequently performed brake maintenance using after-market parts and they have lasted considerably longer than BMW's. I did not notice any braking degradation, but then I can't accurately measure it either.

Ricracing

... not warranty either

Tuga

When you say rotors you mean the brake disk ?

Ok, mine is now around 100.000 kms and the front pads are the original ones. It's showing 3.400 kms to change it. I was informed in BMW dealer that both discs and pads are going to be replaced next time.

The rear ones where changed around 93.000 kms but the discs are the same, the funny thing is that the i-drive is showing the same 50.000 kms to replace and i drove around 7.000 kms with the car.

I drive 90% in roads and highway and i don't step the break often.....

ImolaRedM

Sim. Rotors = Disks.