Front brake pads replacement

335M_PR · 02-12-2013, 08:27 AM

Hello,

My 09 N54 coupe has approx 57K and its due for the replacement of the front brake pads. I had the dealership quote me $265 for the replacement including the pads, sensors and labor. Do you think its worthwhile?

I looked for some stoptech pads and found the pair for $75 at Amazon with free shipment. Also, I've heard that the sensors are $25 each at bavauto. So thats about $125 in parts plus maybe $50 in labor at an outside shop. Total $175! My question is, do the sensors need to be replaced with the pads? Has anyone been able to reuse the original? Have anyone found them cheaper elsewhere? Finally, is the sensor replacement something difficult or is it straightforward? I may consider doing the replacement myself...

Thanks for your help!

335iaz · 02-12-2013, 08:35 AM

Changing out the brake pads is pretty easy .. if you are some mechanically inclined. Just look at the DIY section.

pondo · 02-12-2013, 10:05 AM

Dealer quoted my $750 to do my rear brakes including pads/rotors/sensors!!!

335M_PR · 02-12-2013, 12:27 PM

Read a DYI post on the forum and it seems that there is only one sensor per pair of wheels (1 for the front and 1 for the back) Can anybody confirm this? I definitely feel capable of doing the replacement myself, however my concern is the sensor. Are they reusable?

TitanLH8 · 02-12-2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335M_PR

Read a DYI post on the forum and it seems that there is only one sensor per pair of wheels (1 for the front and 1 for the back) Can anybody confirm this? I definitely feel capable of doing the replacement myself, however my concern is the sensor. Are they reusable?

If you haven't tripped your brake pad sensors, then yes, you can re-use them. You'd know you've tripped them if you got a brake pad warning light in the car. The sensors are are located in the front left and rear right of the vehicle and are very easy to remove...simply tug on the sensor from the pad and they should unclip.

Hybrid For Life · 02-12-2013, 02:22 PM

just save yourself the hassle and buy new sensors, you can get them super cheap. I bought rotors and sensors from FCP Euro and the sensors were about 10$.

If your at all capable of turning wrenches the brakes on e9x's are really easy to do yourself.

dootlah · 02-12-2013, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrid For Life

just save yourself the hassle and buy new sensors, you can get them super cheap. I bought rotors and sensors from FCP Euro and the sensors were about 10$.

If your at all capable of turning wrenches the brakes on e9x's are really easy to do yourself.

Listen to this tech.cd

mlifxs · 02-12-2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335M_PR

Hello,

My 09 N54 coupe has approx 57K and its due for the replacement of the front brake pads. I had the dealership quote me $265 for the replacement including the pads, sensors and labor. Do you think its worthwhile?

I looked for some stoptech pads and found the pair for $75 at Amazon with free shipment. Also, I've heard that the sensors are $25 each at bavauto. So thats about $125 in parts plus maybe $50 in labor at an outside shop. Total $175! My question is, do the sensors need to be replaced with the pads? Has anyone been able to reuse the original? Have anyone found them cheaper elsewhere? Finally, is the sensor replacement something difficult or is it straightforward? I may consider doing the replacement myself...

Thanks for your help!

I came across this DIY video today. Not bad

ashmostro · 02-14-2013, 11:15 AM

If you are switching pad compounds but keeping the same rotors, make sure you flex-hone or otherwise remove the pad transfer layer off your rotors or you will likely get squeal, vibration, ot both. Do it right the first time...

Cir14 · 02-14-2013, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pondo

Dealer quoted my $750 to do my rear brakes including pads/rotors/sensors!!!

Just got quoted for $494.76 including Rotors, Pads & Sensors.

335M_PR · 03-05-2013, 09:48 AM

I finally purchased and received the stoptech replacement pads and the replacement sensor. I plan on performing the front pads replacement during the weekend. There is only one thing that I'm worrying right now and it is how do I make the alarms in the gauge cluster and the readings in the car computer reset. Any guidance on this will be appreciated.

Thanks!

trusted · 03-10-2013, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cir14

Just got quoted for $494.76 including Rotors, Pads & Sensors.

My dealer ask $800, most likely just for pad change

ritjeff · 03-10-2013, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335M_PR

I finally purchased and received the stoptech replacement pads and the replacement sensor. I plan on performing the front pads replacement during the weekend. There is only one thing that I'm worrying right now and it is how do I make the alarms in the gauge cluster and the readings in the car computer reset. Any guidance on this will be appreciated.

Thanks!

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=384430

virtualbong · 03-14-2013, 09:25 AM

Does one of our sponsors have a package deal for brake pad, rotor and sensor replacement? Is changing the rotors really necessary?

ashmostro · 03-14-2013, 10:19 AM

If your rotors are within thickness and runout specs, and if you are just replacing with the same pads you can just replace the pads and be fine.

If changing pads but rotor specs are still fine, you should remove the pad transfer layer for optimal performance. This can be done by hand using a scotch brite pad, but I prefer a flex hone drill bit and flex hone oil. Much faster and very effective.

If your rotors are out of spec, they must be replaced. "Turning" or resurfacing which removes a thin layer of rotor material evenly just exacerbates the degradation of the rotor and will just end up requiring replacement sooner rather than later anyway. Might as well replace with quality parts from any of the sponsor vendors. Buy Zimmermans or Geomets if you want to save money and get OEM quality.

02-12-2013, 08:27 AM	#1
335M_PR Got Boost? 7 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW E93 M3 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Juan, PR iTrader: (0)	Front brake pads replacement Hello, My 09 N54 coupe has approx 57K and its due for the replacement of the front brake pads. I had the dealership quote me $265 for the replacement including the pads, sensors and labor. Do you think its worthwhile? I looked for some stoptech pads and found the pair for $75 at Amazon with free shipment. Also, I've heard that the sensors are $25 each at bavauto. So thats about $125 in parts plus maybe $50 in labor at an outside shop. Total $175! My question is, do the sensors need to be replaced with the pads? Has anyone been able to reuse the original? Have anyone found them cheaper elsewhere? Finally, is the sensor replacement something difficult or is it straightforward? I may consider doing the replacement myself... Thanks for your help! __________________ 09' N54 335I Alpine White w/Coral Red Interior and Brushed Aluminum Trim/Sport Premium Package/Comfort Access/6 AT Steptronic/JB4 G5/BMS DCI/AR 3" Downpipes with Race CAT/ER Charge Pipe with Synapse BOV/2nd CAT Delete/M Tech Front Lip/M3 Rear Lip Spoiler
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02-12-2013, 08:35 AM	#2
335iaz Cause their greeaaaaat!!!! 29 Rep 717 Posts Drives: SBM E90 335i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Peoria, AZ iTrader: (14)	Changing out the brake pads is pretty easy .. if you are some mechanically inclined. Just look at the DIY section. __________________
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02-12-2013, 10:05 AM	#3
pondo Enlisted Member 6 Rep 44 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jan 2009 iTrader: (0)	Dealer quoted my $750 to do my rear brakes including pads/rotors/sensors!!!
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02-12-2013, 12:27 PM	#4
335M_PR Got Boost? 7 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW E93 M3 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Juan, PR iTrader: (0)	Read a DYI post on the forum and it seems that there is only one sensor per pair of wheels (1 for the front and 1 for the back) Can anybody confirm this? I definitely feel capable of doing the replacement myself, however my concern is the sensor. Are they reusable? __________________ 09' N54 335I Alpine White w/Coral Red Interior and Brushed Aluminum Trim/Sport Premium Package/Comfort Access/6 AT Steptronic/JB4 G5/BMS DCI/AR 3" Downpipes with Race CAT/ER Charge Pipe with Synapse BOV/2nd CAT Delete/M Tech Front Lip/M3 Rear Lip Spoiler
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02-12-2013, 02:22 PM	#6
Hybrid For Life Banned 78 Rep 2,110 Posts Drives: Out of Spec Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Santa Barbara, CA iTrader: (4)	just save yourself the hassle and buy new sensors, you can get them super cheap. I bought rotors and sensors from FCP Euro and the sensors were about 10$. If your at all capable of turning wrenches the brakes on e9x's are really easy to do yourself.
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02-14-2013, 11:15 AM	#9
ashmostro Brigadier General 1254 Rep 4,088 Posts Drives: 2020 M4cs \| 2022 M550i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Falls Church, VA iTrader: (27)	If you are switching pad compounds but keeping the same rotors, make sure you flex-hone or otherwise remove the pad transfer layer off your rotors or you will likely get squeal, vibration, ot both. Do it right the first time...
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03-05-2013, 09:48 AM	#11
335M_PR Got Boost? 7 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW E93 M3 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Juan, PR iTrader: (0)	I finally purchased and received the stoptech replacement pads and the replacement sensor. I plan on performing the front pads replacement during the weekend. There is only one thing that I'm worrying right now and it is how do I make the alarms in the gauge cluster and the readings in the car computer reset. Any guidance on this will be appreciated. Thanks! __________________ 09' N54 335I Alpine White w/Coral Red Interior and Brushed Aluminum Trim/Sport Premium Package/Comfort Access/6 AT Steptronic/JB4 G5/BMS DCI/AR 3" Downpipes with Race CAT/ER Charge Pipe with Synapse BOV/2nd CAT Delete/M Tech Front Lip/M3 Rear Lip Spoiler
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03-14-2013, 09:25 AM	#14
virtualbong Lieutenant Colonel 103 Rep 1,760 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW X5 MSport Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (2)	Does one of our sponsors have a package deal for brake pad, rotor and sensor replacement? Is changing the rotors really necessary? __________________ 2015 BMW X5 35i M-Sport (White/Brown) - 4/16/18 (Current) 2011 BMW 550i M-Sport (Jet Black/Cinnamon Brown) - 4/30/14 \| 2007 BMW 328xi e92 (Jet Black/Coral Red) - PAST \| 2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe (Ivory White/Stone) - PAST \| 2005 Acura TSX (Obsidian Black/Black) - PAST \| 1998 Acura Integra (Black/Black) - PAST
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03-14-2013, 10:19 AM	#15
ashmostro Brigadier General 1254 Rep 4,088 Posts Drives: 2020 M4cs \| 2022 M550i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Falls Church, VA iTrader: (27)	If your rotors are within thickness and runout specs, and if you are just replacing with the same pads you can just replace the pads and be fine. If changing pads but rotor specs are still fine, you should remove the pad transfer layer for optimal performance. This can be done by hand using a scotch brite pad, but I prefer a flex hone drill bit and flex hone oil. Much faster and very effective. If your rotors are out of spec, they must be replaced. "Turning" or resurfacing which removes a thin layer of rotor material evenly just exacerbates the degradation of the rotor and will just end up requiring replacement sooner rather than later anyway. Might as well replace with quality parts from any of the sponsor vendors. Buy Zimmermans or Geomets if you want to save money and get OEM quality.
	Appreciate 0 Quote