If you do regular maintenance very good chance you'll never see the light. BMW designed the wear sensor with some cushion is my whole point. You should not be trying to push it, but you can definitely drive to/from work a few times while waiting for the parts.

I check my pads enough I've only gotten the pad warning once in 80,000 miles but it did happen once.

__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)