Brakes

[Bimmer4125]

2004 4.4 56,000 miles
Yesterday red "BRAKE" light illuminated on dash. Today, computer reads "Check brake linings". I looked at pads all around and they appear very good - well above 3mm threshold. Brake fluid is fine. Dealer says to get it to them to check and that brakes are covered under CPO. Could I be looking at a bad sensor? Would that throw both the light and the warning message on? And not for nothing - what sort of mileage should I be getting out of a set of BMW pads? (normal use) Thanks. John

[motordavid]

Brake pad life will vary considerably with different kinds of driving and situs...
Fwiw, I got ~46K out of the fronts and ~60K out of the rears.

Stlr may be doing you a favor or, he is confused; CPO Warranty covers stuff that
breaks, not wear items like brake pads, rotors, etc. Extended Maintenance
covers all wear items.
GL,mD

[Bimmer4125]

Thanks - my bad - I quizzed the dealer and I have both (CPO, ext. maint.) - the brakes are covered under extended maint as you correctly stated. I have a hard time with the brakes just because the pads still look really thick - oh well - thank god for ext. maint. plan

[motordavid]

Bimmer,
No prob., I was just bracing you in case the Stlr was setting you up for
a "sorry, CPO doesn't cover brakes, here's a bill for $1200..."

If you are getting them all around, you just about covered what you paid
for maintenance. Pretty good move on your part.

With 56K, that's a good run, or a so-so run if these will be the 3rd set...
Milford,NY: nice town, on the road to Cooperstown!
GL,mD

[Bimmer4125]

Milford is the gateway to Cooperstown - I've been trying to convince the town fathers to replace our one traffic light with a toll booth for the summer tourists, but no luck.

[TowX]

Maybe the dealer is suggesting that the problem is likely something mechanical that would be covered by CPO, as opposed to just brake pads which wouldn't.

Brakes aren't something to mess with, especially if it's something other than pads. But could be as simple as a ciuple air bubbles trapped in the lines, or it could be an ABS controller. neither is good though

[X5Flyboy]

just did mine at 93k - fronts were replaced at 28k by original owner (leased in Philly, so I'm guessing commuter traffic) - I've owned it since 42k, but most of my miles are interstate - so getting 65K out of the front brakes would really be on the high limit & 93k on the rears is insane - not to mention that I did the brakes before the sensor "lit up"

be aware that you may have "good" pads, but the rotor may have worn down

[Bimmer4125]

Update - Dealer replaced both front rotors and pads and a brake wear sensor. The ongoing issue of a license plate lamp error message was solved with the replacement of the grip strip, trunk lid gasket and new plate bulbs.

Total cost - $0.00 God bless CPO and Extended Maint. Plan. And Keeler Motor Company in Latham, NY. I've never experienced better service.