Brake Groan - what is yours like?

[Rockford]

So Im around 3 months in to my Z4 M40i ownership and I have now twice returned my car to the dealer for brake creak/groan when coming off and on the brakes from a standing start, particularly bad when cold and wet (on a warm dry day they can be silent).

Twice the master tech has taken the car out and said totally normal, just how these performance bakes sound.

If it really is normal then that's fine (and to be fair the dealership has been great for a few other niggles).

So, to put my mind at ease, do your M40i brakes groan (rear especially) during stop start maneuvers?

Have searched and there are certainly themes around BMW brake noise across the modern model range.

Cheers!

 

[Russ Z4]

Yes, it’s horrendously loud.
Goes when brakes are hot.
But yeah, your neighbours will turn their heads as you manoeuvre off your drive first thing.

 

[PeterE]

Yup, mine too - dreadful racket with cold brakes and easing out into main road traffic. Doesn’t create a good impression of BMW engineering does it ?

 

[ori]

It’s normal. I wouldn’t worry about it. Performance brakes require a bit of heat.

Ceramics are even worse.

 

[Nanu]

It would appear all G29s with these brakes are the same.

Mine are horrible when easing in and out of the garage,

 

[sars]

Don’t think I’ve heard anything unusual from the brakes on mine, must not effect all cars

 

[Z4monster]

Do you have autohold activated? I wonder if that plays a part in the noise. Mine does it too but normally I don't notice it that much. Particularly bad when leaving a multi storey car park on the down ramps.

 

[Rockford]

Do you have autohold activated? I wonder if that plays a part in the noise. Mine does it too but normally I don't notice it that much. Particularly bad when leaving a multi storey car park on the down ramps.

AutoH on yep, I had thought the same and it does perhaps slightly reduce the noise when I tested it without but did not eradicate entirely.

The worst it can be is a wet day using park assist to self park, sounds like the titanic sinking!

My rear pads are not full of life, not triggering wear sensor but not far off I'd guess. I may get them replaced early out of curiosity...its almost certainly the pads slightly creeping against the discs when underload.

 

[PeterE]

Do you have autohold activated?

No, never used it.

 

[fas]

Really bad cold or wet, once I’ve braked a few times it goes away. I am going to try changing the pads soon, hopefully might help…

 

[BigDave]

Seems to be the norm, yep my car does it aswell...

 

[Swiftly]

My previous 2019 model used to make an horrendous noise when the brakes were cold, whilst the brakes on my new 2023 Lci model don’t make any noise at all.

 

[Nanu]

So it would appear that if BMW takes the same brakes and builds a new car around them, it solves the problem

 

[Sladester100]

Yep, creak noise regularly. Worse on gentle slight brake touches at manoeuvring speeds.
Better when hot,