Brake wear sensors for R57 MCS

[Roadster25]

Chaps,

Mrs Roadster25's Mini will be heading to the main dealer for a service next week, when I fully expect to be told it needs new brake discs all round. I also expect to be told the price will be £hundreds, which I do not want to pay, so intend to sort myself.

As it is, the pads all look good, and there are no warning lights. It is just the discs that look worrying. Obviously I will replace the pads too, but will I need to replace the wear sensors? It looks like a bit of a faff.

Thanks for any advice.

[helix402]

Yes. Sensors needed every pad change.

[rigga]

helix402 said:

Yes. Sensors needed every pad change.

Not always, I replaced pads and discs and my sensors were not worn so clipped them back into the new pads.

[Marchutch]

Either that, or just tie the sensors up out of the way and visually inspect your pads periodically (which you should be doing anyway, the sensors are at best a rough guide). Quite a few of the decent aftermarket pads won't have the space for the sensors anyway I've found.

[helix402]

R57 pad sensors wear as soon as fitted as the car has CBS and a system for calculating pad wear. If you want the sensor to function as BMW intended it needs changing every pad change. The R50/52/53 uses a different system which means you can use an old sensor if it isn't worn.

[rigga]

helix402 said:

R57 pad sensors wear as soon as fitted as the car has CBS and a system for calculating pad wear. If you want the sensor to function as BMW intended it needs changing every pad change. The R50/52/53 uses a different system which means you can use an old sensor if it isn't worn.

Unfortunately not how it works
Pad sensor doesn't wear straight away, it sits in a little recess furthest away from the disc and only contacts and wears once the pads have worn a considerable amount. Condition based sevicing tells you how many miles left by using calculations based on your driving style.R57 is no different to my R56.

[helix402]

You are correct:

https://wiki.bentleypublishers.com/plugins/servlet...

I still recommend a new sensor with each pad change, that way you don't have to check the old one and you are resetting the cbs pad life to the base value. You can use ISTA d or DIS to reset a part worn sensor based on the thickness of the pad material, but again it's quicker to use the cluster reset with a new sensor. I guess it depends whether you'd rather spend time with an old sensor or money on a new one.

[Roadster25]

Thanks for the advice chaps.

To be honest it isn't the cost, it just looks a bit of a faff and I am a lazy man. I should probably do the job properly anyhow.

On a related point, I'm assuming a Laser standard calliper rewinding tool will do the job for the rears, or is there some Mini specific oddity? Already ordered a jack pad, just in case.

Service tomorrow, so lets see what they say...