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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > Brake Service Light - How to Reset



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      11-03-2010, 09:50 AM   #1
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Brake Service Light - How to Reset

Hi All,

In my infinite wisdom, I took it upon myself to reset the service indicators in my car (as I replaced the cabin air filter, oil, oil filter, brake fluid rotors & pads about 200km ago)

Now, before I get shot down in flames, I did not replace the brake sensors, HOWEVER the OEM pads where replaced by BMW <10,000km ago (front service indicator was showing 47,000km, rears approximately 40,000 (cant remember exactly on the rears) I can only presume that the sensors where replaced at this time also, I believe the OEM pads are expected to have a 50,000km life expectancy?

So, given the basis that the the sensors are a wear down nub that only touches the rotor in the last few mm of pad life, I believe the sensors to be fine, and thus not need replacing (especially as the pads that I removed are essentially "as new")

Sample image of the sensor (from an e46) showing how the sensor does not make contact until well into the pads life:


I have gone through the usual reset service indicators, and have now reset the front and rear brakes 5-6 times to no avail, each time I get the following screen:


(stolen from another post hence MPH)


Soo.. any ideas? most annoying driving around with the handbrake warning light on, and the service indicator telling me I need new pads!
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      11-03-2010, 12:27 PM   #2
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have you checked the sensor? make sure it's still seated properly in the pad. if the pads are still good, it shouldn't throw a code, but if you need a quick fix, you can cut the end of the sensor off, and twist the wires together. Then reset the code, and you are good.
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      11-14-2010, 06:58 PM   #3
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bump...i have the same issue. brake wear sensors are fixed...handbrake is red and service (car on lift) is red when i start the car only.
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      11-14-2010, 07:05 PM   #4
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Bt tool will do it. And you can choose to put pad life at 80% or whatever u choose if u want to replace sooner
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      11-14-2010, 08:21 PM   #5
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is there any other way to do it?
basically i just reset the brake pad meter thing and it goes away?
what happened was the wear sensor got loose and rubbed on the rotor and i guess tripped the sensor.

also, how much brake fluid does the e90 need??? how high should the fluid be in the canister thing?
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Last edited by King Luis; 11-14-2010 at 08:26 PM..
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      11-17-2010, 01:25 PM   #6
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bump?

currently on my dad's car the ebrake light is one and the service light is on (both in red) but all the service items are clear and the earliest one is an oil change in 8000km. the rear brake wear sensor was tripped but since then fixed...why is the brake light still on? we changed the fluid recently also.
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      11-17-2010, 01:36 PM   #7
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Why not replace the sensor? They're cheap, like $20, and you need to do is pull the wheel off.

I believe you can't reset the brake indicator through the column stalk unless you replace the sensor.
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      11-17-2010, 05:11 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deanmc View Post
Why not replace the sensor? They're cheap, like $20, and you need to do is pull the wheel off.

I believe you can't reset the brake indicator through the column stalk unless you replace the sensor.
Haven't had time to buy a new one and install it. I Jimmy rigged te sensor like I did on my e46. Could it be anything else?
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      11-17-2010, 08:32 PM   #9
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i changed my brakes a month ago before any warning. so yesterday i had an emissions inspection warning, i changed that to next year and while i was at it i reset my rear brake meter. it had read 280mls i reset it and now it reads ------- and i have the red brake symbol that always stays on and the service engine now indication. i was just going to stop in and see my service advisor and let her fix it i dont know that you can reset the brake miles without a scanner. i seem to have the same problem as everyone else in this thread, if anyone knows about this it would help us all out.
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      11-17-2010, 08:38 PM   #10
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If you would like to clear the service reminder, you'd have to access the computers records by putting the car in service mode. The icon with the car on a lift will go away that way.
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      11-17-2010, 08:43 PM   #11
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Put the key in, press start without brake to enable accessory mode, wait until the service reminders go away to the normal screen, hold the odometer reset button until a yellow triangle pops up, scroll to whatever service reminder you would like to clear, press BC until reset option comes up, hold BC to reset, and youre all set
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      11-17-2010, 08:55 PM   #12
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Quote:
now it reads -------
I had the same thing on my car. Pads were replaced before wear sensor triggered. I had to replace the sensor to fix, they seem to be a two stage trigger, even if the final stage is not worn into, the first trigger will mileage count down and not resettable. Once it was replaced, AND DROVE it, it reset itself. Anyway that was my experience.

Cheapest prices at AutohausAZ ($15):

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...0Wear%20Sensor
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      11-17-2010, 10:22 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlanAZ View Post
I had the same thing on my car. Pads were replaced before wear sensor triggered. I had to replace the sensor to fix, they seem to be a two stage trigger, even if the final stage is not worn into, the first trigger will mileage count down and not resettable. Once it was replaced, AND DROVE it, it reset itself. Anyway that was my experience.

Cheapest prices at AutohausAZ ($15):

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...0Wear%20Sensor

thanks you just saved me a trip to the dealer i will just replace the sensors
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      11-18-2010, 09:36 AM   #14
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Yeah, it seems that every time you replace the pads, you need to replace the sensor. Easy to do, ~$20 each, only one per end -- driver side at front, pass at back.
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      01-04-2011, 10:09 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlanAZ View Post
I had the same thing on my car. Pads were replaced before wear sensor triggered. I had to replace the sensor to fix, they seem to be a two stage trigger, even if the final stage is not worn into, the first trigger will mileage count down and not resettable. Once it was replaced, AND DROVE it, it reset itself. Anyway that was my experience.

Cheapest prices at AutohausAZ ($15):

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...0Wear%20Sensor
I also have the same problem -- pads replaced before sensor is worn. But you mentioned that the trigger might have 2 stages, 1. worn into 2. possible mileage count down. But my question is that how does the car know if a new sensor being replaced therefore to reset it?
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      01-05-2011, 10:54 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nessus View Post
I also have the same problem -- pads replaced before sensor is worn. But you mentioned that the trigger might have 2 stages, 1. worn into 2. possible mileage count down. But my question is that how does the car know if a new sensor being replaced therefore to reset it?
Witchcraft....
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      05-17-2011, 10:14 PM   #17
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bump....

All, I have the same problem. Brake sensor broke, I replaced it and reset the light via the manual method. Now the service for brakes show miles remaining at _ _ _ _ _. I have the red brake lighting and red car on a lift... Bought the Bavarian Technic tool and no percentages are showing next to the amount remaining. Tried to manually adjust the value still no luck. replaced with another sensor, no luck. IDEAS?


I simply can't get the light to reset using any method...
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      05-19-2011, 12:26 PM   #18
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Well I broke down and went to the dealer today. Yup. They have to "reprogram the computer" My service was showing as 397,000 miles overdue... Just great, I an't wait to see what this runs me...
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      07-11-2011, 02:08 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Camski View Post
Well I broke down and went to the dealer today. Yup. They have to "reprogram the computer" My service was showing as 397,000 miles overdue... Just great, I an't wait to see what this runs me...

I'm in the same boat. Rear pad sensor was worn, B-R-A-K-E is still illuminated on dash while driving even after all rotors/pads/sensors replaced

Did you confirm the dealer is the ONLY way to reset this reminder?
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      07-11-2011, 02:10 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlanAZ View Post
I had the same thing on my car. Pads were replaced before wear sensor triggered. I had to replace the sensor to fix, they seem to be a two stage trigger, even if the final stage is not worn into, the first trigger will mileage count down and not resettable. Once it was replaced, AND DROVE it, it reset itself. Anyway that was my experience.

Cheapest prices at AutohausAZ ($15):

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...0Wear%20Sensor
How far did you drive? And by 'reset' you mean you had the BRAKE illuminated on the dash, replaced wear sensor (and pads, presumable) and now you don't? No red-car-on-lift pictograph either?
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      07-11-2011, 10:31 PM   #21
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All is good

Okay, so the next time I start the car up no BRAKE indicator.

I guess it does take a bit of driving or a number of startups with no sensor error to reset the 'stage 2' brake reminder.

To recap:

Front sensor was worn down past first nub. Replaced rotors, pads and sensor. Probably not the one triggering the error as the rear one was worn down to its last bit. Replaced rear rotors, pads and sensor.

Reset front and rear service reminder. BRAKE was still lit for the first day of commuting. Disappeared second day.

No more reminders or warning lights!

I bought the pads and sensors from Turner Motorsport.
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      07-15-2011, 02:54 PM   #22
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I recently replaced my rear brake pads at the track and didn't have a spare pad level sensor handy, so I've been rolling with the brake light service required lamp lit.

I took the car to the dealer for some other issues and the SA told me that the code associated with the brake light will cause the DME to take speed-prevention countermeasures such as cutting the throttle because "it doesn't want you going fast without brakes".

Normally, I would completely discount such a story as pure BS, but this SA (and the tech that worked on my car) is respected in the local BMW club, and they're both racers as well. Coupled with the fact that nanny-features are becoming so prevalent in today's cars, I'm actually considering believing it.

Has anyone heard of anything like this?

Last edited by bradford; 07-15-2011 at 03:00 PM..
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