[P2]

Originally Posted by ///Matt

WTF are you talking about, a car won't need brakes in 50,000 miles?!?!?

That's REALLY false.

I replace a LOT of brakes. A LOT. A car that gets TRAILERED won't need brakes in 50k.

If you drive normally, a set of pads should go around 30k, maximum. The dealer will replace your brakes when the light comes on, or if you complain about them and certain criteria (like the pads being thinner than 3mm) are met.


Me, I don't drive normally. I'm on my third set of front brakes and second set of rears. I have 30k on the car. I drive hard, and I drive in stop and go traffic 2 hours every day.

I love pushing by brakes. I just cannot believe how well this car stops.
That said, when the car was new the computer said 29K to new brakes. Now at 14000 the computer says 35k front, 29K rear, to replace. So 49K total front, 43k total rear. 50/50 city highway. It seem like the more I push the brakes the higher the computer number goes. My goal is not to just ware out brakes but at least get one replacement out of my service plan and enjoy the car. At 12K a year it seem unlikely. Did I mention I like to brake?

[wp326]

i just checked the computer, it says "34k" in the front, and "29K" in the rear, or the other way around. anyways, it seems that i will get one free replacement before 5yr/40k.
a coworker of mine had her brakes replaced today (a Mini), she complained 3 times to the dealer that they screaks like hell. so finally. That's a good tactic to get it done. haha .
So, i just passed my breakin period, oil change next week. I am going to abuse all of my brakes.

From what I can tell, the brakes seem loosened up a bit during the 1500miles so far.

[742]

As long as the subject is brakes, does anyone have any insight into the rotors? Can they normally be turned, or is it best to plan on replacing them? And if the latter, how does that play into the BMW “free service”?

I have gotten into the habit of replacing them on my other cars whenever I do pads since I have never had good luck with machined rotors. But I am open to going back to my old ways if BMW’s rotors can take a trip or two to the lathe.

[Snowman811]

I took the ESPN Russell Racing class (1 day) at Sears Point (Infineon for some). Good class and I highly recommend wiht both classroom and tracktime.

Anyway, I asked in class about engine braking and was specifically instructed that its important to heel-toe during braking only to ensure the engine remains in the powerband, keep the car neutral during apex and accelerate out of the corner. Brakes stop the car, not the engine. They made a little jokes out of it asking if I knew the difference between brakes and the engine. Haha. (if you can't laugh at yourself...)

Anyway, the point (for those that missed it) is that brakes are for slowing/stopping - not the engine.

I'm sure 50% of the board will flame and the other 50% will say 'that's right'. I'll hide behind the statement, "that's what the expert racing instructor teaches."

[txusa03]

I am going to surpass my 40K and I wont get new brakes...That sucks...

[KL2DC]

It looks like I'm due for rear pads by 25k miles, surprisingly the front pads has at least 7k miles more on them than the rear...

I expected the fronts to wear faster than the rear. I have a feeling those who set off the DTC/DSC more often than others wear out the rears faster than the front or even both in unison (DSC uses brakes and throttle modulation to reign in the car).

[Potty_Pants]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

It looks like I'm due for rear pads by 25k miles, surprisingly the front pads has at least 7k miles more on them than the rear...

I expected the fronts to wear faster than the rear. I have a feeling those who set off the DTC/DSC more often than others wear out the rears faster than the front or even both in unison (DSC uses brakes and throttle modulation to reign in the car).

FWIW... my 2005 G coupe @ 15k miles has about 85% left in the front and 35% in the rear.

When i inspected the pads i was like how is this possible... the majority of the braking should be on the front pads... I just wrote it off as the traction control activating. I've also noticed my brake pedal is/has always been soft until pressed a 2nd time (immediately following) this 2nd time could be considered an emergency brake manuver. I may be completely off base... but i got the feeling the rear brakes do most of the stopping and the fronts were more used when i pressed the 2nd time.

ppp

[KL2DC]

potty pants, could be the case...

Actually, I think I have even less miles on the rears, I am just going by the OBC. When I did my annual safety inspection, the inspector told me the rears are running thin and are a borderling pass. I told him the OBC says not until 7-8k miles more and he said he "don't trust those dang computers" - this is still Virginia - at which point I was quietly thinking if I had gone to the right place after all

[bartman32]

KL2DC - If the dealership says they want to change the brakes I say let them!

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by bartman32

KL2DC - If the dealership says they want to change the brakes I say let them!

No, no, I had my annual inspection done at a local gas station...I thought it would've been a straight up affair for a 1yr old car, then this dude started taking off wheels and stuff

[742]

Originally Posted by Potty_Pants

FWIW... my 2005 G coupe @ 15k miles has about 85% left in the front and 35% in the rear.

When i inspected the pads i was like how is this possible... the majority of the braking should be on the front pads... I just wrote it off as the traction control activating. I've also noticed my brake pedal is/has always been soft until pressed a 2nd time (immediately following) this 2nd time could be considered an emergency brake manuver. I may be completely off base... but i got the feeling the rear brakes do most of the stopping and the fronts were more used when i pressed the 2nd time.

ppp

Some cars (of which I have two) bias the brakes so that proportionally more braking is done by the rears during gentle stops, thus reducing the tendency for the nose to drop. So depending on the car and depending on how one usually drives, it is possible to wear the rear brakes much more quickly than the fronts. In VW land this a common complaint, with gently driven Passats eating rear brakes while more enthusiastic drivers seem to get more balanced brake wear and longer life out of the rears.

Offered for what it is worth, which may not be much.

[smellthebeans]

Originally Posted by 742

As long as the subject is brakes, does anyone have any insight into the rotors? Can they normally be turned, or is it best to plan on replacing them? And if the latter, how does that play into the BMW “free service”?

I have gotten into the habit of replacing them on my other cars whenever I do pads since I have never had good luck with machined rotors. But I am open to going back to my old ways if BMW’s rotors can take a trip or two to the lathe.

BMW Will not turn rotors.

[742]

Originally Posted by smellthebeans

BMW Will not turn rotors.

Thanks.

[P2]

Originally Posted by smellthebeans

BMW Will not turn rotors.

Just out of curiosity, will BMW not turn them because of their obsession with optimum performance, or are they just not thick enough to be turned?

[Potty_Pants]

Originally Posted by 742

Some cars (of which I have two) bias the brakes so that proportionally more braking is done by the rears during gentle stops, thus reducing the tendency for the nose to drop. So depending on the car and depending on how one usually drives, it is possible to wear the rear brakes much more quickly than the fronts. In VW land this a common complaint, with gently driven Passats eating rear brakes while more enthusiastic drivers seem to get more balanced brake wear and longer life out of the rears.

bah lol are you saying im a gentle driver GRRRR if i am.. they why am i getting 15-16MPG = answer because the engine is a pig.

guess the car knows whats best.

ppp