E46 M3 Brake Help Urgently Required
Discussion
Hi everyone - hoping someone can help a non technical driver...
Driving along yesterday and the front left wheel started making a screeching sound. I stopped the car and pulled over and the wheel itself was absolutely boiling hot.
When the car had its MOT a few months ago (at a local firm not BMW dealer) the guy told me the brakes were sticking and it would need looking at in the next couple of thousand miles.
The car has done 67k miles (never tracked or braked hard) and I do not think it has had the disks changed previously - although I may be mistaken.
My question is:
1) What does it mean when brakes are "sticking"?
2) Is it likely I just need new front pads or disks as well?
3) How many miles do a set of disks normally last with "normal" use? (I appreciate this is a bit of a needle in a haystack question)
Any help would be much appreciated as I don't want to end up being sold new disks when I don't actually need them - and it will help if it sounds like I know what I am talking about!
Driving along yesterday and the front left wheel started making a screeching sound. I stopped the car and pulled over and the wheel itself was absolutely boiling hot.
When the car had its MOT a few months ago (at a local firm not BMW dealer) the guy told me the brakes were sticking and it would need looking at in the next couple of thousand miles.
The car has done 67k miles (never tracked or braked hard) and I do not think it has had the disks changed previously - although I may be mistaken.
My question is:
1) What does it mean when brakes are "sticking"?
2) Is it likely I just need new front pads or disks as well?
3) How many miles do a set of disks normally last with "normal" use? (I appreciate this is a bit of a needle in a haystack question)
Any help would be much appreciated as I don't want to end up being sold new disks when I don't actually need them - and it will help if it sounds like I know what I am talking about!
The piston in the caliper is sticking.When you press the brake the pitons are forced out pressing the pads against the disc causing the braking effect,when you release the pedal the piston should move back slightly allowing the pad to be released from the disc.In your case this isnt happening.
If not sorted it will cause premature wear of the pads and discs and could also cause the discs to warp if they get too hot (which it sounds like they are doing).
If it is making a screeching sound the pads could already be worn down to the metal which will quickly ruin your discs aswell.Have a look to see if your discs have a blueish colour to them,this will indicate they are seriously overheating.
This happened to an old car of mine(not bmw) and i quite easily sorted it myself by removing the caliper,popping out the pistons and cleaning off some corrosion which was causing them to stick.
You should be able to get them sorted by someone who knows what they are doing without replacing the caliper but i would do it asap before you need to add the cost of new pads and discs to the bill!
Front discs usually last around 30k miles so you should be on at least your second set if not third.
If not sorted it will cause premature wear of the pads and discs and could also cause the discs to warp if they get too hot (which it sounds like they are doing).
If it is making a screeching sound the pads could already be worn down to the metal which will quickly ruin your discs aswell.Have a look to see if your discs have a blueish colour to them,this will indicate they are seriously overheating.
This happened to an old car of mine(not bmw) and i quite easily sorted it myself by removing the caliper,popping out the pistons and cleaning off some corrosion which was causing them to stick.
You should be able to get them sorted by someone who knows what they are doing without replacing the caliper but i would do it asap before you need to add the cost of new pads and discs to the bill!
Front discs usually last around 30k miles so you should be on at least your second set if not third.
Edited by Nedz on Tuesday 30th August 10:56
Nedz said:
Front discs usually last around 30k miles so you should be on at least your second set if not third.
Right well its been well over 30k miles since they were changed and the drilled holes on the front disks have actually disappeared - so looks like a new pads and disk job.Edited by Nedz on Tuesday 30th August 10:56
Thanks for the advice - much appreciated.
Happened to mine too - driver's side front calliper seized on the test drive from the BMW dealer when I bought it - whole calliper was replaced under warranty. Then outside of warranty the passenger side did the same. There is a refurb kit that you can buy from the stealers - if memory serves I think it was about £15 quid to buy. Easy job for a good indie to sort out - no more brake issues since!
It's a common problem on the e46 M3, one of the many it would seem.....
It's a common problem on the e46 M3, one of the many it would seem.....
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