Resetting the brake pad indicator (E90)

cruvon · 08-17-2010, 08:24 PM

I found a "you tube" video

that clearly explains how to reset indicators on your e90 3 series, in my case was needed for the brake pad indicator since replaced my front brake pads recently at an external garage. After replacing the front pads a handbrake symbol and the brake pad wear indicators didn't reset automatically which I understand has to be reset on the onboard computer.
So took it back to the garage and he tried using a computer to reset it, however the kms on the brake pad setting has changed to "------" and the brake pad indicators turned yellow when he reset(they are normally red).He tried resetting the rear brake pad indicator which was showing the brake pads fine just to check and that too has changed to "------" and the indicators turned yellow.
He reckoned it might be because the hand brake sign is showing so the computer is not reasetting on restart. Could it be a handbrake problem or is it normal for the handbrake signal to show when the brake pads wear out and they just need to be reset?

When I tried resetting the brake pad wear indicator using the you tube video instructions it still doesn't reset, the kms on the brake pad setting is still "------" and the indicators are still yellow, anyone has a clue how to reset it or experienced something similar?

dcg71 · 08-17-2010, 09:10 PM

Are you sure they replaced the sensor when they changed the front pads? They can't be reset without changing the sensor.

cruvon · 08-17-2010, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcg71

Are you sure they replaced the sensor when they changed the front pads? They can't be reset without changing the sensor.

yes he did, I had ordered the sensors and brake pads from the UK and watched him install them. Note that it did reset but without the kms left reading, the brake pad icon is in yellow.

dcg71 · 08-18-2010, 01:49 AM

"------" is what shows up when the warning goes off, so it hasn't been reset, at least not successfully.

I still reckon its the sensor, and most likely because it wasn't replaced, or is faulty.

cruvon · 08-18-2010, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcg71

"------" is what shows up when the warning goes off, so it hasn't been reset, at least not successfully.

I still reckon its the sensor, and most likely because it wasn't replaced, or is faulty.

The thing is the mechanic tried resetting the sensor for the rear brake pads too to see if there was some problem with resetting( this rear brake sensor was working and correctly showing about 8,000kms left). Resetting the rear brake pad cleared the data for the rear brake pad and shows in yellow with no data, same as for the replaced front sensor indicator so didn't look like a sensor problem

cruvon · 08-18-2010, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcg71

"------" is what shows up when the warning goes off, so it hasn't been reset, at least not successfully.

I still reckon its the sensor, and most likely because it wasn't replaced, or is faulty.

The display with blank kms is similar to this image I found on the forum

cruvon · 08-18-2010, 06:32 AM

Just a quick update on this, retried the same steps as in the you tube video again after saw some posts that said need do it a few times if doesn't work at first and it has worked

..brake pad indicators, the parking light and service due indicators have all reset to normal!!!

mark325 · 08-19-2010, 08:39 AM

cruvon,

The Brake Pad sensors on the E90's wear down as you use your brakes.

You MUST replace the sensor when you replace the pads and only reset the service indicator when you replace the sensor. If you reset the service indicator when the sensors are below a certain wear level you will fire off the fault you are seeing.

I Made the same mistake with my car but I simulated the sensor wear level using a Resistor and then performed the reset so the car thought it had new pad sensors. I then Put the old sensor back in and the usage went back to where it was. Id say you probably have a faulty front sensor or was damaged during install and your rear has now been reset so your going to need a new sensor or simulate a new sensor.

BMW's diagnostic machine or INPA will tell you exactly what the wear percentage is which would tell you what the front sensor is doing.

Hope thats of some help

cruvon · 08-19-2010, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark325

cruvon,

The Brake Pad sensors on the E90's wear down as you use your brakes.

You MUST replace the sensor when you replace the pads and only reset the service indicator when you replace the sensor. If you reset the service indicator when the sensors are below a certain wear level you will fire off the fault you are seeing.

I Made the same mistake with my car but I simulated the sensor wear level using a Resistor and then performed the reset so the car thought it had new pad sensors. I then Put the old sensor back in and the usage went back to where it was. Id say you probably have a faulty front sensor or was damaged during install and your rear has now been reset so your going to need a new sensor or simulate a new sensor.

BMW's diagnostic machine or INPA will tell you exactly what the wear percentage is which would tell you what the front sensor is doing.

Hope thats of some help

Thanks Mark..did manage reset it after a few tries using the procedure in the you tube video link I previously posted but next time I put in new pads will surely make sure I keep your suggestions in mind too, appreciate that

...as for the rear brake pad sensor that was reset just for trial purposes do you mean that the kms left it's now showing could be incorrect because it was reset though time was still left on it? Shouldn't it properly calculate kms left even if is reset?

mikeymika · 05-14-2014, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark325

cruvon,

The Brake Pad sensors on the E90's wear down as you use your brakes.

You MUST replace the sensor when you replace the pads and only reset the service indicator when you replace the sensor. If you reset the service indicator when the sensors are below a certain wear level you will fire off the fault you are seeing.

I Made the same mistake with my car but I simulated the sensor wear level using a Resistor and then performed the reset so the car thought it had new pad sensors. I then Put the old sensor back in and the usage went back to where it was. Id say you probably have a faulty front sensor or was damaged during install and your rear has now been reset so your going to need a new sensor or simulate a new sensor.

BMW's diagnostic machine or INPA will tell you exactly what the wear percentage is which would tell you what the front sensor is doing.

Hope thats of some help

I made the same mistake and would like to try it with a resistor. can you tell me what the resistor value was that you used when you did this?

thanks

196806 · 05-15-2014, 12:58 AM

I don't think the brake sensor wears down as your brake pads wear down, what actually happens is that when your pads are worn the sensor wears away triggering the sensor light... at that point you need to replace the sensor.

If you replace your pads before the sensor light triggers then you don't need a new sensor cable.

nilesd22 · 10-10-2016, 03:55 AM

any word on what resistor he used?

EB89 · 10-10-2016, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nilesd22

any word on what resistor he used?

Why would you want to do this, don't fuck with your brakes.

Replace the pads and sensors at the same time then have them coded properly.

Daenerys · 10-10-2016, 07:48 PM

you can thank me later.

1. remove your old sensor.
2. get two of these pins
http://www.buildcomputers.net/images...connectors.jpg
3. cut them and wire them together.
4. plug it into your brake sensor to short them
5. reset it via the method above.
6. plug your old sensor back in.

reason: each sensor you buy, the resistance is different, this is how your car knows you've changed them. if you reset using the same sensor, it would not work.

08-17-2010, 08:24 PM	#1
cruvon Lieutenant Colonel 83 Rep 1,543 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (1)	Resetting the brake pad indicator (E90) I found a "you tube" video that clearly explains how to reset indicators on your e90 3 series, in my case was needed for the brake pad indicator since replaced my front brake pads recently at an external garage. After replacing the front pads a handbrake symbol and the brake pad wear indicators didn't reset automatically which I understand has to be reset on the onboard computer. So took it back to the garage and he tried using a computer to reset it, however the kms on the brake pad setting has changed to "------" and the brake pad indicators turned yellow when he reset(they are normally red).He tried resetting the rear brake pad indicator which was showing the brake pads fine just to check and that too has changed to "------" and the indicators turned yellow. He reckoned it might be because the hand brake sign is showing so the computer is not reasetting on restart. Could it be a handbrake problem or is it normal for the handbrake signal to show when the brake pads wear out and they just need to be reset? When I tried resetting the brake pad wear indicator using the you tube video instructions it still doesn't reset, the kms on the brake pad setting is still "------" and the indicators are still yellow, anyone has a clue how to reset it or experienced something similar? __________________ Tiag E90 \| JBSPEED Spli t t ers \| JBSPEED ACS style Roof Spoiler \| JBSPEED M3 style Trunk spoiler \| Euro plates \| K&N Intake \| BMW OEM Performance Exhaust \| Debadged \| OEM Chromeline trim \|230 OEM rims \| 19" Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Non runflats \| OEM Burr Walnut Gear knob \| OEM Blacklines \| OEM Spacesaver \| Last edited by cruvon; 08-17-2010 at 08:42 PM..
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08-17-2010, 09:10 PM	#2
dcg71 Captain 72 Rep 941 Posts Drives: F15 X5 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (2)	Are you sure they replaced the sensor when they changed the front pads? They can't be reset without changing the sensor. __________________ 2015 F15 X5 25d Space Gray \| Pure Excellence \| Dakota Leather/Brushed Aluminium \| Anthracite Head Liner \| Fender Flares \| Connected Drive + Real Time Traffic 2012 F30 335i Sapphire Black 2006 E92 325i Titan Silver 2000 E46 318i Cosmos Black
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08-18-2010, 01:49 AM	#4
dcg71 Captain 72 Rep 941 Posts Drives: F15 X5 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (2)	"------" is what shows up when the warning goes off, so it hasn't been reset, at least not successfully. I still reckon its the sensor, and most likely because it wasn't replaced, or is faulty. __________________ 2015 F15 X5 25d Space Gray \| Pure Excellence \| Dakota Leather/Brushed Aluminium \| Anthracite Head Liner \| Fender Flares \| Connected Drive + Real Time Traffic 2012 F30 335i Sapphire Black 2006 E92 325i Titan Silver 2000 E46 318i Cosmos Black Last edited by dcg71; 08-18-2010 at 02:01 AM..
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08-18-2010, 06:32 AM	#7
cruvon Lieutenant Colonel 83 Rep 1,543 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (1)	Just a quick update on this, retried the same steps as in the you tube video again after saw some posts that said need do it a few times if doesn't work at first and it has worked..brake pad indicators, the parking light and service due indicators have all reset to normal!!! __________________ Tiag E90 \| JBSPEED Spli t t ers \| JBSPEED ACS style Roof Spoiler \| JBSPEED M3 style Trunk spoiler \| Euro plates \| K&N Intake \| BMW OEM Performance Exhaust \| Debadged \| OEM Chromeline trim \|230 OEM rims \| 19" Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Non runflats \| OEM Burr Walnut Gear knob \| OEM Blacklines \| OEM Spacesaver \|
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08-19-2010, 08:39 AM	#8
mark325 Europhile 13 Rep 374 Posts Drives: 06 E90 325i Manual Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sunny Coast, QLD, AU iTrader: (0)	cruvon, The Brake Pad sensors on the E90's wear down as you use your brakes. You MUST replace the sensor when you replace the pads and only reset the service indicator when you replace the sensor. If you reset the service indicator when the sensors are below a certain wear level you will fire off the fault you are seeing. I Made the same mistake with my car but I simulated the sensor wear level using a Resistor and then performed the reset so the car thought it had new pad sensors. I then Put the old sensor back in and the usage went back to where it was. Id say you probably have a faulty front sensor or was damaged during install and your rear has now been reset so your going to need a new sensor or simulate a new sensor. BMW's diagnostic machine or INPA will tell you exactly what the wear percentage is which would tell you what the front sensor is doing. Hope thats of some help __________________ '06 E90 325i 6MT \| Full M3 Kit \| H&R Euro Race \| VMR V710 \| Colour Kidneys AusBMW :: My Tutorials
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05-15-2014, 12:58 AM	#11
196806 Private First Class 7 Rep 120 Posts Drives: Silver 320i E90 6MT Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	I don't think the brake sensor wears down as your brake pads wear down, what actually happens is that when your pads are worn the sensor wears away triggering the sensor light... at that point you need to replace the sensor. If you replace your pads before the sensor light triggers then you don't need a new sensor cable.
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10-10-2016, 03:55 AM	#12
nilesd22 New Member 6 Rep 17 Posts Drives: 08 e92 335i Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Killeen, Tx iTrader: (0)	any word on what resistor he used?
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10-10-2016, 07:48 PM	#14
Daenerys First Lieutenant 68 Rep 314 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	you can thank me later. 1. remove your old sensor. 2. get two of these pins http://www.buildcomputers.net/images...connectors.jpg 3. cut them and wire them together. 4. plug it into your brake sensor to short them 5. reset it via the method above. 6. plug your old sensor back in. reason: each sensor you buy, the resistance is different, this is how your car knows you've changed them. if you reset using the same sensor, it would not work.
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