I received a "Service Due" light on my 2008 535xi a few days ago and I finally decided to clear it yesterday. I hadn't done this process in a while so I managed to accidentally reset the front brake wear sensor and now it only resets to -10000 miles. I've searched NUMEROUS forums that walk you through the typical process, the process where you turn off the ignition while its resetting, even ensuring the handbrake isn't on (which apparently causes issues). I tried disconnecting and re-connecting the battery, which causes it now to reset to -9000 miles instead of 10. Additionally, the "BRAKE" light is permanently lit on the dashboard after cycling the battery power. Does anyone know any other method to resetting this? I can confirm the front brake pads do not need to be replaced and this light only came on as a result of me resetting it accidentally. The "service due" light reset perfectly fine, but now im stuck with this one. Thanks in advance!

 

How long have you had this car?
And, have you ever done a brake job on it?

 

Did you change the wear sensor. If not then that is your issue. You can't just reset the brake counter without changing the sensor. So you're stuck with either just riding it out until it's time to change, change the wear sensor then reset or change brakes and wear sensor then reset (of course this is only if you reset it without changing the wear sensor).

 

Had it in the family since new, but I've been driving it 2 years
No brake job that I recall, but as mentioned previously: the brake pads are not low. I accidentally reset the sensor and since it entered the "red warning stage" which is apparently a common problem, it doesn't recognize the sensor. From what I've read, when the brake pads get low enough the sensor actually touches the pads/rotor and that is now it queues the second stage RED warning. This is why I cannot reset it. What I still don't understand is why when you reset the brake light prematurely it enters this red stage.

 

From what I read, unless the sensor enters the second stage (red) you can reset it. If it only enters the yellow stage because the sensor hasn't actually contacted the pads/rotor, its still usable. Regardless, my brake sensor wasn't on at all for either stage so I just don't understand why it triggers this red stage if you accidentally reset it, but nevertheless it sounds like I just have to wait until I do change my pads and change the sensor then. Thanks!

 

The sensor has two stages for wear. Both contact the rotor. When it first contacts the rotor the resistance is one value and the after some time it wears into the second resistance level and that is the red one. Usually when we see a post like yours someone has reused a sensor from a previous brake job and that is the issue. You can change the sensor now if you want, you don't need to wait for the brakes to wear all the way down.

 

Every time you change brakes you change the sensor. You just need a new sensor. It becomes a common problem is because owners don't know how to perform a proper brake service. I've owned my 05 530i since 07 and I've never had an issue with the brake counter. If you accidentally reset the counter what you're seeing is normal because there was no new sensor put on.