When to Change Brake Rotors?
10-21-2006, 10:54 AM
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OK Everyone, here is a good one. I have an '06 525i with 43,000 miles. I drive 120 miles per day to/from work, all highway. My iDrive said change the brakes at 9,000+ (which is 52,000) just over the warranty. I had the car in for a sun-roof noise and I asked them to check the brakes.
I called for the car and the dealer replaced 4 pads and rotors and sensors. I understand the pads and sensors, but not the rotors! After all, as far as I have known, we need to keep our eye on the pads in order NOT to need to change rotors due to scoring.... The response to me was "BMW pads are very soft and the pads and rotors must be changed together..."
Instantly I am now thinking I need to buy the $1100 US maintenance program, to cover this the next time (est. $1300 US). Has anyone else heard of this? I am also thinking to have harder brake pads installed to keep from damaging the rotors...
Please advise,
Regards,
Mark
I called for the car and the dealer replaced 4 pads and rotors and sensors. I understand the pads and sensors, but not the rotors! After all, as far as I have known, we need to keep our eye on the pads in order NOT to need to change rotors due to scoring.... The response to me was "BMW pads are very soft and the pads and rotors must be changed together..."
Instantly I am now thinking I need to buy the $1100 US maintenance program, to cover this the next time (est. $1300 US). Has anyone else heard of this? I am also thinking to have harder brake pads installed to keep from damaging the rotors...
Please advise,
Regards,
Mark
10-21-2006, 11:14 AM
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Ya for some reason BMW changes the pads and the rotors together... even with the MINIs if they see that the pads need changing they change the rotors too. your dealer isnt doing anything wrong there.
Soooo if BMW sees it necessary to change BOTH at the same time even under their free maintence... I dunno what to think... if we, when out of warranty, should change both too or get away with just changing the pads.
Soooo if BMW sees it necessary to change BOTH at the same time even under their free maintence... I dunno what to think... if we, when out of warranty, should change both too or get away with just changing the pads.
10-21-2006, 02:54 PM
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NO NO NO ! You have to change the brake pads when you change the brake disks, but not automatically the disks when you only change the pads !
Normaly, you'll get to change the disks once for 3 times for the pads.
It depends on your drive syle : if very dynamic, electronics helps will cause a faster wear of the brakes.
Normaly, you'll get to change the disks once for 3 times for the pads.
It depends on your drive syle : if very dynamic, electronics helps will cause a faster wear of the brakes.
10-21-2006, 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by OliverB' post='347524' date='Oct 21 2006, 03:54 PM
NO NO NO ! You have to change the brake pads when you change the brake disks, but not automatically the disks when you only change the pads !
Normaly, you'll get to change the disks once for 3 times for the pads.
It depends on your drive syle : if very dynamic, electronics helps will cause a faster wear of the brakes.
Normaly, you'll get to change the disks once for 3 times for the pads.
It depends on your drive syle : if very dynamic, electronics helps will cause a faster wear of the brakes.
Heres some more people discussing it.
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=27999
10-21-2006, 08:13 PM
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It depends.... I had BMW do the first brake job on my e39 528i and they replaced pads and disks. However, I did the second brake job myself using pads and disks from Bavarian Auto and they lasted a lot longer. I did not notice a reduction in braking capability. I would go to an alternative source for parts for my e60 if I had to pay for it. I think BMW uses softer disks, but I am not sure they perform better. Like I said, it depends.
10-21-2006, 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by gwf545' post='347577' date='Oct 22 2006, 12:13 AM
It depends.... I had BMW do the first brake job on my e39 528i and they replaced pads and disks. However, I did the second brake job myself using pads and disks from Bavarian Auto and they lasted a lot longer. I did not notice a reduction in braking capability. I would go to an alternative source for parts for my e60 if I had to pay for it. I think BMW uses softer disks, but I am not sure they perform better. Like I said, it depends.
10-21-2006, 11:09 PM
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Normaly, you'll get to change the disks once for 2-3 times for the pads it totaly depends from driving style
10-22-2006, 04:51 AM
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Originally Posted by mleuba' post='347460' date='Oct 22 2006, 02:54 AM
OK Everyone, here is a good one. I have an '06 525i with 43,000 miles. I drive 120 miles per day to/from work, all highway. My iDrive said change the brakes at 9,000+ (which is 52,000) just over the warranty. I had the car in for a sun-roof noise and I asked them to check the brakes.
I called for the car and the dealer replaced 4 pads and rotors and sensors. I understand the pads and sensors, but not the rotors! After all, as far as I have known, we need to keep our eye on the pads in order NOT to need to change rotors due to scoring.... The response to me was "BMW pads are very soft and the pads and rotors must be changed together..."
Instantly I am now thinking I need to buy the $1100 US maintenance program, to cover this the next time (est. $1300 US). Has anyone else heard of this? I am also thinking to have harder brake pads installed to keep from damaging the rotors...
Please advise,
Regards,
Mark
I called for the car and the dealer replaced 4 pads and rotors and sensors. I understand the pads and sensors, but not the rotors! After all, as far as I have known, we need to keep our eye on the pads in order NOT to need to change rotors due to scoring.... The response to me was "BMW pads are very soft and the pads and rotors must be changed together..."
Instantly I am now thinking I need to buy the $1100 US maintenance program, to cover this the next time (est. $1300 US). Has anyone else heard of this? I am also thinking to have harder brake pads installed to keep from damaging the rotors...
Please advise,
Regards,
Mark
this is not the case, it will rundown your OEM rotors much faster because the OEM are soft just like the OEM pad.
10-22-2006, 08:34 AM
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Originally Posted by OliverB' post='347524' date='Oct 21 2006, 05:54 PM
NO NO NO ! You have to change the brake pads when you change the brake disks, but not automatically the disks when you only change the pads !
Normaly, you'll get to change the disks once for 3 times for the pads.
It depends on your drive syle : if very dynamic, electronics helps will cause a faster wear of the brakes.
Normaly, you'll get to change the disks once for 3 times for the pads.
It depends on your drive syle : if very dynamic, electronics helps will cause a faster wear of the brakes.
This is why you should always buy the extended maintenance plan. Not warranty, maintainance.
