Dealer replaced pads, not rotors... WTF

[fmk]

Said rotors were above min spec. Replaced pads only. Never heard if this. Now I have no way to monitor brake wear under warranty. Rotors will be out of spec before my pad sensor triggers next. Not to mention bedding issues.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by fmk

Said rotors were above min spec. Replaced pads only. Never heard if this. Now I have no way to monitor brake wear under warranty. Rotors will be out of spec before my pad sensor triggers next. Not to mention bedding issues.

If the rotors are above the minimum thickness, and the surface finish is good (that is equally important) they can be reused. I tend not to reuse them when I do brakes myself, since I don't want to have to go back in there chasing any noise issues.

The new pads will take longer to bed and get to full effectiveness due to the variations in the rotor friction surface. Just see how they go for a week or so. You can bed them in yourself with a few hard stops (don't park and apply the brakes right after doing that, drive while they cool down). If you have noise, take it back in.

Rotors won't necessarily be out of spec before the pad sensor triggers again, many posters try and use two sets of pads to each set of rotors. Don't understand your comment on not being able to monitor brake pad wear under warranty.

[fmk]

They are lipped pretty bad, but wihin spec apparently. Suprised me as I thought it was bmws practice to replace both at the same time with warranty work. Guess my point was that that my rotors may wear to below spec before my pad sensor triggers again.

[CTSportX5]

I did pads once at the dealer and they told me they NEVER re-use rotors. Given this was an $800 out of warranty job...

[Naz24]

when its under warranty, you just have to really request for rotors also.

it doesnt hurt to bring all the SAs Dunkin Donuts either!

[sprocket1200]

super easy, just be sure to check them before warranty expires!

or are you telling us that your maintenance program only includes when the dummy lights turn on???

[lemans4.8]

Originally Posted by CTSportX5

I did pads once at the dealer and they told me they NEVER re-use rotors. Given this was an $800 out of warranty job...

I sometimes depends on the rotor. Some BMW's use "disposable" rotors, meaning they wear out quite fast. On others, you can use a set of rotors with 2 sets of pads (typically for most high-end german vehicles). But my 2005 facelift e46 had those pesky "disposable" rotors and had to always be replaced with pads (luckily, warranty/maint. covered these). I MAY be wrong, but some 3.0's and 4.4's may have "disposable" rotors.

But never have rotors change without changing pads.

[HPIA4v2]

From what I gather across bimmer forums, alot of dealers don't replace rotors when brake jobs are done under free-maintenance. No surprise there since BMW seems in belt tightening mode.

So fmk is this brake job under free maintenance or you are paying for it?

As far as X5, I did a measurement with caliper on my old rotors and they are definitely at the margin when the pads are gone; with turning I bet it'll be under min. thickness.

[JCL]

Turning the rotors isn't recommended, which is why the surface finish matters so much. If it is good, they can be reused, if it isn't (and would otherwise require turning) they get replaced.

[Sterling 4.4]

Who knows what the minimum rotor thickness is? Is it the same front and rear?

Anyone warranty the rotors after the measured them to determine they are too "thin"?