[Vegetable]

Just reached 40,000 miles on my late build '14 435i and when I check the brake pad life I'm told that I have 70,000 miles left for front brake pads and 80,000 miles left for rear. Is this normal for the Msport brake pads or might something be wrong with the monitors? When the car was new it stated that I had 80K front and rear..Hard to believe that virtually none of the brake pads have been used with 40K miles of relatively hard driving.

[cryptocar]

Originally Posted by Vegetable

Just reached 40,000 miles on my late build '14 435i and when I check the brake pad life I'm told that I have 70,000 miles left for front brake pads and 80,000 miles left for rear. Is this normal for the Msport brake pads or might something be wrong with the monitors? When the car was new it stated that I had 80K front and rear..Hard to believe that virtually none of the brake pads have been used with 40K miles of relatively hard driving.

Do you not have CBS on a late 14'? I've had my brakes replaced more than once in under 20k miles.

[smithf80]

Don't worry so much about the mileage, they do work.

Its a two stage system, here is how it works to the best of my knowledge:

The pad wear sensor goes into the caliper and wears away along with the rest of the brake pad, inside the sensor are two metal connections that get made when the sensor material wears away enough, allowing them to make contact. When the first one goes off thats sorta of like an initial warning, when the the second one trips that means you are actually close to needing new pads.

[jwilly]

Originally Posted by Vegetable

Just reached 40,000 miles on my late build '14 435i and when I check the brake pad life I'm told that I have 70,000 miles left for front brake pads and 80,000 miles left for rear. Is this normal for the Msport brake pads or might something be wrong with the monitors? When the car was new it stated that I had 80K front and rear..Hard to believe that virtually none of the brake pads have been used with 40K miles of relatively hard driving.

What do your eyes see when you inspect the pads for wear?

Joel

[BavarianFanatic]

The CBS system is an approximation based on mileage and driving habits. The actual wear sensors will indicate when it's time to replace the pads.

[G30 B58]

People tend to overestimate their brake pad use.

Do a visual inspection, it's pretty damn easy. If the pad material is thicker than the backing plate, you're good. If it's less than the thicknes of the backing plate, do some more research and investigating.

The E92 M3 I just did, the sensors where on the pads, not the calipers as smithf32 said.

[rking117]

Originally Posted by Vegetable

Just reached 40,000 miles on my late build '14 435i and when I check the brake pad life I'm told that I have 70,000 miles left for front brake pads and 80,000 miles left for rear. Is this normal for the Msport brake pads or might something be wrong with the monitors? When the car was new it stated that I had 80K front and rear..Hard to believe that virtually none of the brake pads have been used with 40K miles of relatively hard driving.

Sounds to me like they were not calibrated correctly when they were replaced last. Some BMW systems are dumb so to speak and when reset simply add another round of mileage to the clock while others actively monitor wear. But regardless of which one you have every new BMW comes with a fool proof wear sensor on two wheels to determine when the pads have been worn down to the last few 1000 miles. When you replace the brake pads these sensors should also be replaced as well. Unless the computer on your vehicle is broken it is impossible not to get warning if one of the two sensors are worn through. If my memory serves me right they are located left front and left rear.

[rking117]

Originally Posted by smithf32

Don't worry so much about the mileage, they do work.

Its a two stage system, here is how it works to the best of my knowledge:

The pad wear sensor goes into the caliper and wears away along with the rest of the brake pad, inside the sensor are two metal connections that get made when the sensor material wears away enough, allowing them to make contact. When the first one goes off thats sorta of like an initial warning, when the the second one trips that means you are actually close to needing new pads.

Correct except it triggers on breaking the connection. when the wires wear away they loose connectivity and then trigger the wear indicator.

[tc328]

Yup, the sensor has a needle like trigger that is in your brake pads. First warning (yellow) is that you'll need them replace...2nd warning (red), you pads are done and needs replace asap

And for the idrive system, its just a guessimate and those are never accurate

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by rking117

Correct except it triggers on breaking the connection. when the wires wear away they loose connectivity and then trigger the wear indicator.

Ah right, I knew something sounded backwards about that. 7am answers haha.

[mrpingu]

Originally Posted by tc328

Yup, the sensor has a needle like trigger that is in your brake pads. First warning (yellow) is that you'll need them replace...2nd warning (red), you pads are done and needs replace asap

And for the idrive system, its just a guessimate and those are never accurate

I’ve got the red warning but I don’t have appointment before the end of the month, after you received the red warning. Can I drive another 1000km, what are the consequences with late replacement?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by mrpingu

I’ve got the red warning but I don’t have appointment before the end of the month, after you received the red warning. Can I drive another 1000km, what are the consequences with late replacement?

From BMW data...

1-stage brake pad wear sensor: When the conductor path is worn through, approx. 5 % of the remaining brake pad thickness is reached. This corresponds to a remaining distance of approx. 2500 kilometres.

Other data indicates the above corresponds to about 4mm of pad thickness.

[mrpingu]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

From BMW data...



Other data indicates the above corresponds to about 4mm of pad thickness.

What is meant by first stage?
I am getting the red so I am inclined to believe that is stage 2. I made an appoint when I got the first warning but due to holidays they didn’t have time before the end of this month. Having one trip planned which is about 1000km.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by mrpingu

What is meant by first stage?
I am getting the red so I am inclined to believe that is stage 2. I made an appoint when I got the first warning but due to holidays they didn’t have time before the end of this month. Having one trip planned which is about 1000km.

The reference posted to the 1 (One) stage sensor. Once triggered goes red. I believe your model has the 1-stage.

Some models have 2 (Two) stage sensors. They have two data points at about 6mm and 4mm.

My understanding either sensor type is indicated to trigger at about 4mm with a 3.7mm minimum.

[mrpingu]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

The reference posted to the 1 (One) stage sensor. Once triggered goes red. I believe your model has the 1-stage.

Some models have 2 (Two) stage sensors. They have two data points at about 6mm and 4mm.

My understanding either sensor type is indicated to trigger at about 4mm with a 3.7mm minimum.

Ok good to know, thanks!
Then I will survive most probably the end of the month and will try to drive more strategic in traffic and use the gear flippers I retrofitted in April If not, I probably will have them to replace the rotors aswell.