Reset Rear Brake pads by accident
Discussion
Hi
Whilst resetting the front brake pad service miles counter, which I recently had replaced, I also managed to reset the rear ones too. Which I haven’t had replaced.
I’m 90% sure it said they had 3200 miles till service left. However after accidentally resetting it now says 29000.
My worry is that the pads will wear and cause further damage to the discs because I won’t now be accurately warned that they need changing? I’m hoping the CBS will somehow recalibrate and go back to give an accurate mileage again? Would that be true?
Is what I’ve done dangerous?
It’s a BMW 118d Sport
Whilst resetting the front brake pad service miles counter, which I recently had replaced, I also managed to reset the rear ones too. Which I haven’t had replaced.
I’m 90% sure it said they had 3200 miles till service left. However after accidentally resetting it now says 29000.
My worry is that the pads will wear and cause further damage to the discs because I won’t now be accurately warned that they need changing? I’m hoping the CBS will somehow recalibrate and go back to give an accurate mileage again? Would that be true?
Is what I’ve done dangerous?
It’s a BMW 118d Sport
I don't think there is a way to "unset" the service light for the rear brakes, you will just have to inspect them manually and change them when they get down to about 3mm. (That's how it was done in the old days) I am surprised at this happening because for most people the problem the problem is setting the light,
By coincident the service on my rear brakes is also indicated at 3200 miles. I took them apart recently and there was about 5mm of wear left on the pads, This means in my case that I have about 10,000 miles of wear before they get down to 3mm, so I should be safe.
I can asure you that you have NOT done anything dangerous to the brakes,
BTW: has the symbol showing a car on a lift come on? I see from other forums that this light has come on when the service light has been set wrongly.
By coincident the service on my rear brakes is also indicated at 3200 miles. I took them apart recently and there was about 5mm of wear left on the pads, This means in my case that I have about 10,000 miles of wear before they get down to 3mm, so I should be safe.
I can asure you that you have NOT done anything dangerous to the brakes,
BTW: has the symbol showing a car on a lift come on? I see from other forums that this light has come on when the service light has been set wrongly.
Locknut said:
I can asure you that you have NOT done anything dangerous to the brakes,
BTW: has the symbol showing a car on a lift come on? I see from other forums that this light has come on when the service light has been set wrongly.
Thats good to know. Thanks. No i havent seen that symbol. Although i got the car serviced only a few months ago. I just hope after driving around for a few weeks the sensor/computer will go back to indicating a more accurate reading ie/ back to the orginal. BTW: has the symbol showing a car on a lift come on? I see from other forums that this light has come on when the service light has been set wrongly.
Simes205 said:
The wear light will come on before you hear any scraping sounds. It’s a very simple sensor that when it physically wears down breaks the circuit and on comes the light.
Ok so the computer will detect the current condition of the brakes and go back to giving me an accurate reading again?I think 3200 is some sort of default. My 530d reached that mark in December ‘16 at about 30k Miles.
I used to change the wheels summer and winter and measure the pads and discs as I did that.
Last October when the car was due its 2nd major service the pads were about 8mm on the front and 7mm on the back. I was keen to know, just in case the dealer tried the ‘new pad shuffle’. (iDrive still said 3200 miles 10k after it reached that point)
As it happened they told me they were even thicker than I thought and they altered the idrive reading to 9500 miles.
The moral? The Idrive readings are wildly inaccurate but they can be altered to read what you want, if you know how, it seems.
If you can’t get at the pads to measure them, just rely on the sensors, you’ll be fine.
I used to change the wheels summer and winter and measure the pads and discs as I did that.
Last October when the car was due its 2nd major service the pads were about 8mm on the front and 7mm on the back. I was keen to know, just in case the dealer tried the ‘new pad shuffle’. (iDrive still said 3200 miles 10k after it reached that point)
As it happened they told me they were even thicker than I thought and they altered the idrive reading to 9500 miles.
The moral? The Idrive readings are wildly inaccurate but they can be altered to read what you want, if you know how, it seems.
If you can’t get at the pads to measure them, just rely on the sensors, you’ll be fine.
If it’s newer than 2009 then they don’t have progressive wear sensors and instead use an algorithm based on miles, driving style and brake pressure usage, it’s often inaccurate so it’s best to use it as a guide, and when they show as being worn - check them manually. It still has a wear sensor if the pads get too low which will put the warning light on when it’s worn through
Elliot2000 said:
If it’s newer than 2009 then they don’t have progressive wear sensors and instead use an algorithm based on miles, driving style and brake pressure usage, it’s often inaccurate so it’s best to use it as a guide, and when they show as being worn - check them manually. It still has a wear sensor if the pads get too low which will put the warning light on when it’s worn through
It’s 2015, so I can still rely on a warning light then?REALIST123 said:
I think 3200 is some sort of default. My 530d reached that mark in December ‘16 at about 30k Miles.
I used to change the wheels summer and winter and measure the pads and discs as I did that.
Last October when the car was due its 2nd major service the pads were about 8mm on the front and 7mm on the back. I was keen to know, just in case the dealer tried the ‘new pad shuffle’. (iDrive still said 3200 miles 10k after it reached that point)
As it happened they told me they were even thicker than I thought and they altered the idrive reading to 9500 miles.
The moral? The Idrive readings are wildly inaccurate but they can be altered to read what you want, if you know how, it seems.
If you can’t get at the pads to measure them, just rely on the sensors, you’ll be fine.
Ok thanks so long as I can still rely on the sensors then I should be alright. I just don’t want to be eventually driving around not knowing my pads have worn and doing damage to the discs or something. I used to change the wheels summer and winter and measure the pads and discs as I did that.
Last October when the car was due its 2nd major service the pads were about 8mm on the front and 7mm on the back. I was keen to know, just in case the dealer tried the ‘new pad shuffle’. (iDrive still said 3200 miles 10k after it reached that point)
As it happened they told me they were even thicker than I thought and they altered the idrive reading to 9500 miles.
The moral? The Idrive readings are wildly inaccurate but they can be altered to read what you want, if you know how, it seems.
If you can’t get at the pads to measure them, just rely on the sensors, you’ll be fine.
REALIST123 said:
I think 3200 is some sort of default. My 530d reached that mark in December ‘16 at about 30k Miles.
That's interesting and you could be right. My car has been showing 3200 for a few months now without change.When the time comes to change my pads, I think I will just cut off the sensors and join the wires. I believe this fools the system into thinking the pads are forever new!
In fact the BMW pad wear monitering system could be worse than useless, There are eight brake pads on the car but only two are monitered, so all the pads have to be wearing exactly evenly for the system to have any value, Oh!... and the four shoes on the parking brake are not monitered at all.
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