Do I trust my idrive service indicators?

[Daz507]

Just had car into a specialist to skim the rear discs, they tell me the rear pads look very low and need changing, however the idrive says they have 9,000 miles in them. Who do I believe or do I take it to an Indy for a 2nd opinion?

[groucho]

I think it's not too hot on brakes. Mine has 3000 on rears and 9000 on fronts. BMW have said they will need changing soon, as with the discs. A nice bill there then!

The thing is, when I got the car 9 months ago, the rears said 2800 and fronts 7000. I have done 4000m. Work that out!

[groucho]

By the way, BMW say there is a second warning indicator. When they get too low a warning will come up on your instrument cluster.

[Daz507]

I just can't work it out, had a quick look myself (for what that's worth) and the fronts look to have loads on, yet the rears seem to have about half of the fronts. I suppose front pads are thicker than rears anyway from new?

Another question, what happens if I reset the service indicator for both front and rear brakes, would it "work itself out" as I drive and count down to the correct level, or isn't it that clever?

Thanks :-)

[Neil.D]

Have you checked the pad on the inside of the disc? ie taken the wheel off. They can wear at different rates.

[Daz507]

Hi,

Just had the wheels off the car and to me it looks like there's about 6-8mm of depth on both inside and outside of the pads, on both discs, surely this is a few thousand miles on the rear?

The front ones look to have more than that!!!

I just don't understand why the iDrive says front have 1,600 and rear have 8,000 left? Do the fronts wear 5-6 times as fast as the rear?

Car needs an MOT in March so I might get it done and BMW and get them to advise me.

Just out of interest, how many miles would you get out of a new set of pads, front / rear?

[groucho]

Well my car will have them changed for the first time probably in 3000 miles time. That will be 36000 miles for the pads and discs.

[Daz507]

Booked car in for an MOT at BMW next week so they can have a proper look and let me know!

Thanks

[ian in lancs]

My Z4M with 24000mls (and 300mls on the 'ring) has 8mm left on the front pads. On that basis I expect to get at least 50k mls out of them.