3.0i Brake pads

S

speed12

Member
Good evening all,

I apologise in advance as I am sure this has been covered, but I am in a bit of a rush.

The other night when doing a 100 mile drive back home, I was driving swiftly shall I say when a tractor pulled out in front of me. I slammed the brakes on, at that precise time the brake pad warning light came on the dash. It then went off, but since has returned and is now on all of the time.

Thus I suspect I need new pads, though I have not ntoiced any less braking performance, and it got through its MOT fine just 3 weeks ago. Had a quick look at the pads and they are looking a bit thin.

What pads do people recommend to use? I have heard that the "greenstuff" pads supposedly produce less brake dust? which would be nice as my split rims are always getting caked up in black dust....

So really just after advice as to which pads to get, and where the cheapest prices tend to be.

Thank you.
 
At least they worked when you needed them...

Assuming nothing is broken, your brake pad sensor will need to be replaced also. When the pad gets worn, it wears away at this little piece of plastic with a wire under it. When the wire touches the rotor, it trips the circuit and voila, a light.

I'm assuming the hard braking pushed the pad further into the rotor then normal and was just aggressive wear. As for pad recommendation, IDK, i'm due too, and haven't done it on the Z4 yet.

The system will reset automatically when you replace the sensor... There's some sort of procedure, like 1 min with key on "on" etc..
 
Have you checked the fluid level I expect its that rather than the pad warning.
 
Hmmm thats a point, I did check the fluid a few weeks back (before its MOT), but I better check it again. Will have to wait until the weekend now since its tucked up back at home.

Thanks for the information everyone.
 
The only reason I say that is the brake pad wear sensors as simply wire coated in plastic and slid into a hold in the brake pad. When they approach their min thickness the disc wears off the plastic coating and the wire shorts the circuit making the light come on, it will then stay on until the sensor wire is replaced with the new pads. Hence its more likely to be the fluid sensor as the fluid sloshed about and then cleared as it settled - may just need a small top up of DOT 4 brake fluid (or a mistaken traction control light?).
 
Re the greenstuff pads had them on my old Calibra and being an Auto used to get loads of dust with the standard Vaux pads plus brake squeal changed to greenstuff no squeal and less dust :D but nothing special when it came to stopping and not great from cold.

My front pads are due to be changed will stick with OEM
 
I will definately check the fluid level, as I dont think the pads look too bad, and I am sure that if they were that low it would have been picked up at the MOT, as it was, I got no warnings or notes at all during the MOT. I have done alot of very enthusiastic driving since then though.... its just addictive when the sun is shining... had a very interesting thrash over the Lincolnshire wolds the other week, wiped the smile of the face of an Audi S3 driver :D
 
Hey,

Unfortunately i do not live in Lincs, I was just up there for a freinds babies christening, so just passing. I am based in Staffs, but wouldnt mind attending a few meets in the future. Though I need to visit the body shop first.... I have a confession to make... Last week in the dark and rain I reversed into a lamp post, I was devastated as this is the first parking error in 8 years of driving!!

Been to a few body shops, BMW quoted over £1400, where as a small independant quoted £300, Im not sure whether to go for the small place... its not a back street shop, but neither is it a fancy place. Will try and post some pics of the damage, but not sure how to post pics on here?

Regards
 
speed12 said:
Hey,

Unfortunately i do not live in Lincs, I was just up there for a freinds babies christening, so just passing. I am based in Staffs, but wouldnt mind attending a few meets in the future. Though I need to visit the body shop first.... I have a confession to make... Last week in the dark and rain I reversed into a lamp post, I was devastated as this is the first parking error in 8 years of driving!!

Been to a few body shops, BMW quoted over £1400, where as a small independant quoted £300, Im not sure whether to go for the small place... its not a back street shop, but neither is it a fancy place. Will try and post some pics of the damage, but not sure how to post pics on here?

Regards
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about your bodywork mate. How much damage have you done to warrant a £1400 bill from BMW? Must be more than just the bumper?!

You're a lot nearer to North Wales than us Yorkshire/Lincolnshire lot, so you'll be expected to attend if your car is fixed! :thumbsup:
 
i had the exact same thing, light would come on then go out, then stayed on more and more until it was always on, i ended up changing wear sensors and fluid and pads and discs. i went down the ebc route and am very happy with greenstuff, a lot less dust thats for sure, i find braking is a lot better but a little more pressure is needed, but high speed braking is much better - but i put it down to the fact my old pads and discs were totally worn out.
 
The damage is not that severe... I was only going slowly.

It scuffed the drivers side rear bumper corner, but then dented the rear wing, it has caused two nasty "points" to pop out (As if there were soemthing behind the panel trying to pop out), they are actually a result of the panel crumpling. In addition to this, it has caused the panel to kink out on the wheel arch.

The BMW quote was to replace the panel and respray the whole rear quarter. The less expensive quotes are for a repair and localised respray with blending. I am torn between getting an expensive job done through insurance, or take the least expensive option and pay myself. I will also get some slight dents out of the passenger door (caused by people opening their doors onto it :x )

I am gutted, as just the weekend before I had spent hours cleaning it and waxing it... oh well!

I will check the fluid level on the weekend, if its fine then I will proceed to change pads and wear sensors. I also have a dodgy oil level sensor! but am waiting until my oil change before I do that one!

( I am making my car sound like a right old banger here! but I assure you, the rest of her is in excellent knick!)
 
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