F10 M5 - Brake Wear Indicator i Drive etc?

[gcpeters]

Hello, I am going to potentially purchasing an F10 M5 and wanted to check with current owners on how you can see what the brake wear level is for the pads and discs. Is this even possible on the F10 M5?

the car is a BMW pre approved on around 28k, so my thoughts are on that mileage the discs/ pads have already been changed, or are going to need it shortly..

I would go and look at the car myself, but its 300 miles away! so wanted to check if they can get something up in the menu

thanks

GP

[V5Ade]

Yep, there's an option in iDrive to indicate how many miles before pads are due to be replaced, however no disc data.

[XMT]

The problem I had and the problem you are going to have is Pad data is one thing and disk data is another.

fresh pads could have been put on and the disks might have only had 20% life left in them.

I dont think you will even win on a used car...... trouble is set of pads and disks on a M5 is min 2.2k

[ds666]

I'm not sure how accurate the pad wear indication on the I drive is . Mine suggested 2000 miles left , went to bmw for a new aircon condenser and came back with 10000 miles left .

[PowerMatters]

Checked prices for F10 M5 from a dealer last week, not cheap of course.
At that mileage possible it already had new pads or they are on their way out, probably discs are ok. Noticed my mileage to next service is now dictated by the miles left on the rear pads. So perhaps if the miles to next service is high you don't have to worry too much just yet - a visual check is always the best though obviously.

Front discs 510 each/ Rear discs 299 each - Full Set 1619
Front pads 390 (set)/ Rear pads 146 (set)- Full set 536
All plus fitting ........ (!!)

[Buster73]

I've had two F10's not the M5 model admittedly and the computer indication of wear has been wrong on both since the day I bought them.

My current car is at 30000 miles and the wear indicator has read 3200 miles before service since day one.

[V5Ade]

PowerMatters said:

Checked prices for F10 M5 from a dealer last week, not cheap of course.
At that mileage possible it already had new pads or they are on their way out, probably discs are ok. Noticed my mileage to next service is now dictated by the miles left on the rear pads. So perhaps if the miles to next service is high you don't have to worry too much just yet - a visual check is always the best though obviously.

Front discs 510 each/ Rear discs 299 each - Full Set 1619
Front pads 390 (set)/ Rear pads 146 (set)- Full set 536
All plus fitting ........ (!!)

Different dealer give different prices
haggle and you can get fronts discs\pads fitted for £1300

[gcpeters]

This is my fear, I don't want to buy it and then have to do the discs next year!!

I have asked them to give me a screen shot of the I-drive report, the full AUC report and to actually measure (in MM) the discs and the pads and to send me close up high res photos, also from the side to see if there is a lip

they are going to hate me....

[W8PMC]

ds666 said:

I'm not sure how accurate the pad wear indication on the I drive is . Mine suggested 2000 miles left , went to bmw for a new aircon condenser and came back with 10000 miles left .

Sorry for the thread hijack but can you explain more about the Aircon issue?

My aircon has been getting worse since the Winter & not doesn't cool the air at all, in fact if anything it warms it up. Max A/C does nothing to the temp & no matter what temp I set the CC the blowers just blow ambient air temps. When I now press the aircon button I can hear a whining noise coming from behind the Climate Control. Something has failed & it's booked in for a look over in a couple of weeks. WHat annoyed me was I took it in 9 months ago when I noticed it wasn't getting very cold & they just did a gas recharge which never improved anything.

For the O/P, the CBS system on the F10 is known to be problematic so take the pad wear with a pinch of salt as it really is only a rough guide at best.

[Andy M]

W8PMC said:

Sorry for the thread hijack but can you explain more about the Aircon issue?

My aircon has been getting worse since the Winter & not doesn't cool the air at all, in fact if anything it warms it up. Max A/C does nothing to the temp & no matter what temp I set the CC the blowers just blow ambient air temps. When I now press the aircon button I can hear a whining noise coming from behind the Climate Control. Something has failed & it's booked in for a look over in a couple of weeks. WHat annoyed me was I took it in 9 months ago when I noticed it wasn't getting very cold & they just did a gas recharge which never improved anything.

For the O/P, the CBS system on the F10 is known to be problematic so take the pad wear with a pinch of salt as it really is only a rough guide at best.

Paul - please see: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[gcpeters]

So the results are in, and I am not happy..

The AUC report is saying that the Minimum Front disc thickness should be 34.4 MM and the Rears should be 22.4 MM. The actual figures for the car is 34.8MM for the front, and 22.8MM for the back! They are literally just within spec and near the end of their life. When new the fronts are 36MM and the rears are 24MM

I don't think I am going to proceed unless they swap them out.. also all the tyres are on 5mm max!

GP

[stain]

I'd ignore the idrive measurement. My rear pads are at 7mm actual thickness and the computer says they need changing in 2600 miles. Not very likely. My MPSS lasted 17k miles before getting to 4mm and were replaced for cracking sidewalls, not because of wear. They seem to last very well if driven sensibly.

[gcpeters]

stain said:

I'd ignore the idrive measurement. My rear pads are at 7mm actual thickness and the computer says they need changing in 2600 miles. Not very likely. My MPSS lasted 17k miles before getting to 4mm and were replaced for cracking sidewalls, not because of wear. They seem to last very well if driven sensibly.

Thanks for the feedback, these measurements are all from the mechanics hand They actually sent me a copy of the full report...

they haven't got back to me yet so lets see what happens.

[XMT]

gcpeters said:

So the results are in, and I am not happy..

The AUC report is saying that the Minimum Front disc thickness should be 34.4 MM and the Rears should be 22.4 MM. The actual figures for the car is 34.8MM for the front, and 22.8MM for the back! They are literally just within spec and near the end of their life. When new the fronts are 36MM and the rears are 24MM

I don't think I am going to proceed unless they swap them out.. also all the tyres are on 5mm max!

GP

I would be pissed too if that was the case. I was extremely close to buying an M5 and posted some pics up on here of the discs and pads and they did look abused but seller was convinced that idrive said 10k plus miles so its 100% true. When I asked about getting an inspection done they weren't forthcoming to the idea.

Trouble with a used M5 is you are looking at the best part of 4k just for consumables if you get one thats coming to the end of their life of comsumables.

[Welshbeef]

The thing is your never going to buy a used car with brand new tyres discs and pads unless from a main dealer and they were below their min specification required.

As such you have to accept it and compromise.

Why not assume for this type of car that discs should last at best 60k and pads 30k and tyres 20k
Then if a car your looking to buy hasn't had its pads changed you can guesstimate how much life is likely to be left, pics of the discs help if they are badly scored etc then frankly you should price new ones in (you might not change them straight away and instead wear them out properly then change the lot - that could be a year or more down the line).
Tyres - personally I like to buy a car which needs new rubber as I like to get fresh rubber and know they have no slow punctures no damage to side walls not run on low pressure etc (again price a new set into offer price).

[gcpeters]

Thing is, this is a BMW main dealer not an indy and the car is on less than 30k. Understand they have set limits but it's so close and this is a premium car with a premium price tag to match....

The tyres I could live with, but not the discs...

Edited by gcpeters on Monday 11th July 22:43

[ds666]

Aircon condensors - very well known problem in f10's - I think 2 of my guys have had 5 between them ...
My dealer stocks them but apparently the M5 is different - I waited 3 weeks but now the aircon is perfect .

[W8PMC]

Andy M said:

Paul - please see: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Thanks, hadn't realised it's a known issue. Hopefully will be sorted son as car's booked in for early August.

[W8PMC]

ds666 said:

Aircon condensors - very well known problem in f10's - I think 2 of my guys have had 5 between them ...
My dealer stocks them but apparently the M5 is different - I waited 3 weeks but now the aircon is perfect .

Thanks. Car's booked in so hopefully be resolved soon.

[mjw0321]

My M5 has had cracked condenser for months. It has taken BMW weeks to get hold of the part. I am having it fixed soon!