2012 E89 Z4 brake pad warning light
2012 E89 Z4 brake pad warning light
Author
Discussion

MartinBrown2409

Original Poster:

65 posts

139 months

Thursday 3rd June 2021
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Hi, just bought my wife a 2012 E89 Z4, within a week the brake pad warning has come up on dashboard. Pads look new, display says no need to replace for 28000 miles but I cannot get the warning to reset.
Any suggestions as to where to start, it was a 5 hour journey from garage so too far to take it back

RUSSELLM

6,003 posts

277 months

Thursday 3rd June 2021
quotequote all
I presume the pad warning sensors are on opposite corners on that model ?

Might be worth looking to see if the connectors are pushed into the callipers properly.

MartinBrown2409

Original Poster:

65 posts

139 months

Thursday 3rd June 2021
quotequote all
Thanks, will take wheels off over weekend and take a look. The more suggestions the better so I can try and fix at first attempt. Annoying when only had car 6 days

Olivergt

2,267 posts

111 months

Friday 4th June 2021
quotequote all
If they are like the cables on an E46, then they actually snap in to a slot on the Brake pad, on the E46, there is one on front left (passenger side for R/H drive) and one on the rear right.

They are quite cheap (£20 for the pair roughly) if you need to replace, the front one is quite easy, the back one not so easy due to the routing of the cable and where the connection is.

mmm-five

12,386 posts

314 months

Friday 4th June 2021
quotequote all
Maybe the seller hasn't replaced the triggered wear sensor when they did the pads?

Pastie Bloater

694 posts

193 months

Friday 4th June 2021
quotequote all
mmm-five said:
Maybe the seller hasn't replaced the triggered wear sensor when they did the pads?
Sounds like it yes

MartinBrown2409 said:
Pads look new, display says no need to replace for 28000 miles

MartinBrown2409

Original Poster:

65 posts

139 months

Friday 4th June 2021
quotequote all
I did wonder that, but there was nothing come up on the test drive. 100 miles into drive home the warning first came up and now comes on every time ignition is turned on, so i think it points more towards them not being fitted properly. Will there be one at the front and one at the rear then as opposed to being on all four wheels?

Pastie Bloater

694 posts

193 months

Friday 4th June 2021
quotequote all
MartinBrown2409 said:
I did wonder that, but there was nothing come up on the test drive. 100 miles into drive home the warning first came up and now comes on every time ignition is turned on, so i think it points more towards them not being fitted properly. Will there be one at the front and one at the rear then as opposed to being on all four wheels?
Yes at opposite corners. Can't remember if there's a grace period after resetting on the dash before it'll pop up again (even if sensor worn out).
Could also have been routed improperly and snapped the wires, or the sensor fell out and got ripped off.

tonymor

1,551 posts

202 months

Friday 4th June 2021
quotequote all
Is the battery in good condition as they can be responsible for lots of things. I’ve had similar problems but seemingly better since the new battery and coding. ?

MartinBrown2409

Original Poster:

65 posts

139 months

Friday 4th June 2021
quotequote all
Will test the battery tonight. When researching Z4's one of the gremlins was electrical issues, so i tried out every single electrical item i could think of with no issues..... famous last words..


helix402

7,913 posts

212 months

Friday 4th June 2021
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I think it could help PH people to potentially diagnose your fault if you post a pic showing the warning/message re brakes.

MartinBrown2409

Original Poster:

65 posts

139 months

Monday 7th June 2021
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helix402

7,913 posts

212 months

Monday 7th June 2021
quotequote all
MartinBrown2409 said:
Thanks. As mentioned by others it’s probably one of the two sensors are faulty. No big deal as they are around £10 each.

MartinBrown2409

Original Poster:

65 posts

139 months

Monday 7th June 2021
quotequote all
Many thanks, will replace this week

MartinBrown2409

Original Poster:

65 posts

139 months

Monday 7th June 2021
quotequote all


Before pulling apart I tried one more reset and this symbol came up, I can’t seem to find this anywhere any idea what this means?

Pastie Bloater

694 posts

193 months

Monday 7th June 2021
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That's brake fluid.

mmm-five

12,386 posts

314 months

Tuesday 8th June 2021
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Sounds like someone did a really crap job of a pad change.

MartinBrown2409

Original Poster:

65 posts

139 months

Wednesday 9th June 2021
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Booked into indie next week, I’m sure they will sort it. Thanks for all the info much appreciated