[Cc328i]

Hi all, i brought my car to an Indy shop for a 60k miles vehicle check on the other day, and the guy told me that the brake pads and rotors need to be replaced. Does it sound right that the rotor is needed to be replaced at 60k or just the brake pads are fine? Thanks.

[Tom K.]

When replacing pads, it's very common for BMWs to need new rotors as well.

Tom

[ENINTY]

Is the pad replacement light on? If not, you don't yet need brakes.

[Cc328i]

Originally Posted by ENINTY

Is the pad replacement light on? If not, you don't yet need brakes.

It will be in 7k miles. So I need to replace both brake pads and Rotor by then right?

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by Cc328i

It will be in 7k miles. So I need to replace both brake pads and Rotor by then right?

The 7K miles is an estimate only. The brake system has wear sensors in the brake pads that wear down as the brakes are used. Once the sensor senses the pad is worn to the minimum it will illuminate a light in the gauge cluster indicating new brakes are needed, which is a different indication than the BC gives you, which as previously said is only an estimate.

To answer your question the thought is this. A proper brake job should include resurfacing the rotors to provide the flattest and smoothest surface for the new pads to bed to. There is a cost associated with removal of the rotor and putting it in a brake lathe to resurface it. Then once resurfaced, the rotor can be closer to the minimum thickness spec, which over the life of the new pads, it could reach the minimum spec and warp before the new pads are used up. So some people, like me, think it is better to just replace the rotors, since some of the cost to remove and replace the rotors to turn them in the brake lathe, are the same as just replacing them, so the cost difference is just the rotors. And some of the cost for the new rotors is offset by the cost you'd pay to have the old ones resurfaced.

Bottom line is, if the brake pad wear indicator light is not on, then wait until it comes on and have the brakes replaced at that time.

[Cc328i]

Thank you so much for your detailed explanation man, appreciate it.

[E92335ILAU]

dude whatever you do get the OEM brake pads I bought some aftermarket brake pads from the autoparts store and they felt spongy!

[Cc328i]

Haha, for sure man. Thanks for the heads up

Originally Posted by E92335ILAU

dude whatever you do get the OEM brake pads I bought some aftermarket brake pads from the autoparts store and they felt spongy!

[Glim]

Originally Posted by E92335ILAU

dude whatever you do get the OEM brake pads I bought some aftermarket brake pads from the autoparts store and they felt spongy!

Did you/they also bleed the brakes when changing the pads? Air in the brake lines is more likely the cause of the spongy feel.