@workingonit,

- I don't think you can turn the brake sensor off bc of safety issue, I may be wrong though.

- Sure you can remove the sensor and zip tie it out of the way.

- Then do visual inspection every 6-12 months...The only problem is: the OUTER pad is easy to inspect w/o the need to remove the wheel. The INNER pas is virtually impossible to check w/o removing the wheel.

- Actually, when I used to own the 1991 Volvo 240, every 6-12 months, I remove the wheel, put on jack stand for safety and do a visual check of the whole place: CV boot, brake pads, brake hoses, ball joints, tie rods etc. Just good practice but it requires work/basic tool (jack, jack stand). These days, ppl don't want to do anything and rely on the dash light to tell you what is wrong. Things like CV boot, brake hoses, tie rods...there is no replacement for visual inspection.

- So, maybe the Volvo engineers have it right...no need for brake sensor bc in their mind, a car needs to be inspected every 6-12 months. To the Saturday mechanics (like most of us here)...not an issue, for my Volvos...I don't have a choice, I have to inspect it every so often. For the BMWs, I have become complacent and reply on the sensor...
To average Jack/Joe, it is costly at the shop for inspection alone. It is what it is...lol...

PS: the "metal finger" is mostly on Japanese cars. It is kind of funny bc you like it or not, it squeals like a pig and you are forced to replace the pads, if you don't want to attention from people...

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1998 E39 528i 5sp MT
2006 E53 X5 3.0 6sp MT