MOT braking efficiency - 27k from new just scraped through!

[jaynemc]

Hi,
I don't officially own a Z4 yet but am going to look at my 1st tomorrow and would really appreciate your advice .......
Sounds like a good car - 2.5 54 reg with FBMWSH and 27k on the clock. Mileage is verified by the MOT history and the service book stamps + invoices.
The guy is a GP and his wife recently had twins so is selling it as he just isn't using it. He took it for its MOT in February having done only 1500 miles since the previous MOT 12 months ago - it passed but only just - this is the advisories from the current MOT ....

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.A.7)
Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.A.7)
Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.A.5b)


The guy says the brakes feel fine. I will get to drive the car tomorrow to see for myself how they feel. I wonder what problems arise with a car that does so little mileage?
Any thoughts more than welcome.

Many thanks in advance ......

 

[srhutch]

If it's been sitting outsdie all year and only done 1,500 miles the disks are probably in a bad way. The problem might sort itself out with proper use. Worse case I would say is new pads and disks all round.

Handbrake probably needs applying whilst moving slowly to clean up.

Lack of use I would say is the cause though.

 

[Jembo]

Straight flat road, no one else around @ 40-10 with no hands on the wheel & braking quite firmly.

Should show up any steering or braking deficiencies

 

[jaynemc]

Hi guys,
Many thanks for your replies. That's reassuring I too think its nothing too major given its service history and its had brake fluid changes as per schedule. Just goes to show all that sitting around doing not a lot is as bad for car as it is us humans! :lol:
Test drive tomorrow so will be trying the braking test you suggest. Fingers crossed. How much should I budget for new discs + pads all round? Just wondering how much I should be knocking him down on price by .....
Happy motoring from a wannabe Z4 owner ...... :driving:

 

[stupot67]

Hi,
If the rest of the car stacks up, Personally I wouldn't let the brake advisory put you off. At that mileage the brakes are probably original, and at 10 years old, I would be treating it to new disks and pads as a matter of course( As well as a good service). Disk and pads from ECP would be less £180 for piece of mind.

By the way welcome

Stu.

 

[jaynemc]

Thanks again. That price for pads + disks doesn't sound too bad. Could the imbalance in the brakes be a caliper problem - sticking on maybe? What should I budget to replace one of those? Will introduce myself in the new members section when I have a Z4 parked on the driveway!
Muchas gracias .......

 

[stupot67]

Hi,
The calipers on the Zed are simple single piston floating type. And even if sticking (Easy to tell on a test drive) are straightforward to strip clean and rebuild, which of course bearing that in mind you can use as a bargaining point :wink:
Stu.

 

[Anonymous]

Do NOT buy cheap pads and discs.

I have recently helped a mate out with an E46 that had some 2000 mile old "cheap" discs from ECP.

Utter rubbish, terribly warped after only 2000 miles.

Replaced them with ATE ones which are OE spec but cost £90 for a pair of front discs.

I would therefore say that £180 for a full set of discs and pads all round could perhaps be a little on the light side and it would probably be a bit more for decent quality parts.

 

[jaynemc]

Thanks for the advice on pads + disks. I had noticed a few threads on the forum relating to which ones to use so I'll have a read around - but do agree its always better to spend a bit more and get better parts.

In terms of sticking calipers I sold my Honda Accord Tourer last year I'd had 'fun' with that when I bought it one of the calipers was having trouble letting go. The cars are well known for it. My local garage told me cleaning it up would sort it so of course you spend good money letting them do this. Within just a few days the chuffing thing is stuck back on again so I pay out again even more this time to get it replaced.

Anyway the sun is trying to shine here in Yorkshire so it could be a good sign ..... fingers crossed for our viewing on this Z4 :driving:

 

[Anonymous]

ATE, Jurid, Textar, brembo are all OE type quality from my experience.

I would use them for discs and pads and would not touch anything else with a barge pole.

They may cost more but a BMW should have strong, smooth, progressive brakes. Nothing worse than brake judder or other braking issues, totally ruins the drive of a car.

 

[Anonymous]

ATE, Jurid, Textar, brembo are all OE type quality from my experience.

I would use them for discs and pads and would not touch anything else with a barge pole.

They may cost more but a BMW should have strong, smooth, progressive brakes. Nothing worse than brake judder or other braking issues, totally ruins the drive of a car.

Also, whilst ECP can be cheap, especially when you apply discount codes, they are not always the cheapest. Recently I went to a local motor factors and talked to them, I specified the above makes and they sold me ATE discs and Textar pads for 10 percent less than ECP could do with the ECP 30 percent spring code they were doing at the time.

Phone around

 

[jaynemc]

Thanks for the suggestions on which brands to go for with pads + discs. We will be needing some soon as we are now for the very 1st time Z4 owners
Collecting the car in the morning - it is very very nice indeed - in amazing condition for a nearly 10 year old car but then its only 26k from new and has been very well looked after. The brakes however are not 'strong, smooth, progressive' rather it takes a bit too much hard foot down on the pedal. The discs + pads are poor so that will be the 1st job. Would you reckon on 2 hours labour time at a garage to fit new all round? My other half bless him changes the discs + pads on his own car - Peugeot 307 - but at the moment he's not making the right noises about having a go at it on the Z4 ..... I mean how much more difficult can it be (she says)?? :lol:

As soon as we have some nice pics of the car I will post them in the new members section - not many around in this colour (and no its not Olivine). :driving:

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a great car. Make sure you post an intro and some pictures.

Heh, it is not that difficult to do the brakes but I guess it depends how comfortable the person with the spanners is.

Perhaps he is happy mucking about with his Pug but does not want to go there on the BM as he does not know them.

I would say two hours labour is fine but at the same time I would get the brake fluid changed as this makes sense when replacing all the discs as you will be. To do the brake fluid properly the place will need the correct equipment in order to run the DSC pump (stability control system) whilst pressurising the system and pumping new fluid through.

 

[jaynemc]

Thanks for that sniffer. The car has full BMW service history and I saw today from the Service Book that it's had the brake fluid changed several times - I saw 3 stamps in the Service Book with the last one not too long ago so I don't think I would consider changing that at the moment. It would just be new pads + discs all round. I've just been having a look in the How To section - still trying to get a feel for how straightforward or not it might be doing the discs + pads. Many thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Brake fluid should be done every two years and can make a real difference to the braking performance.

The reason for suggesting doing it when the discs and pads are done is that you will be pushing each caliper piston in and pushing brake fluid back up the system into the pipes, unless you slacken off the bleed nipple when pushing in the piston and bleed out the fluid which has been sitting in the piston.

 

[Sim_Simma]

It's very easy to change the discs and pads on a z4 so if he does his own I'd say give it a go.

 

[stupot67]

Hi,

Pagid disc and pads @ ECP (Manufactured by the same company as Mintex and Textar) - Currently £149.04 with discount code May31

Stu.