Squeaky Brakes? BMW say it is all normal.

[Penguin]

Might be of interest:

How to Fix Squeaky Brakes - Silence Noisy Brake Pads - Popular Mechanics


I haven't had any squealing problems in my first 6,000 miles with my 35d, but on other vehicles, I have found that when my brakes got "squeally," a few aggressive stops, in a safe area, typically stopped them from squealing for at least a few hundred miles.

[spacegraye70]

my brakes were squeaking but it doesnt anymore. and i did stop caring also lol

[ABMW]

One way to look at it is that squeaking brakes are not abnormal, but within modern day vehicles steps have been taken to avoid the noise.

Mechanically, there's nothing wrong with brakes that squeak in most, but not all, situations.

With that said, they are an annoyance to drivers and passengers alike. Pad compound is one component, brake dust, "glazed rotors," and lack of lubrication on the back of the pads where the caliper comes into contact can all create brake squeal.

A good cleaning with waster pressure no greater than that which can be created from a garden hose, will sometimes solve the issue, if brake dust is the culprit (don't use a high-pressure car wash sprayer, you may remove lubricants from areas you do not intend).

The technique of a few hard stops has already been suggested, but I'd add that a few hard stops in reverse can sometimes also work.

Though, when using such techniques, very careful and allow your brakes to cool between stops. Warped rotors are not fun either.

All in all brakes are pretty simple pieces of machinery. There are only a few things that can cause brakes to squeal.

One note of caution: the squeal should not "ever" be confused for the loud "screech" of a wear indicator. If it's truly loud enough to override a conversation, I'd have them take a visual look at it, regardless of the letter.

Most brake shops will look at your vehicle for free, if it's of true concern to you. That's always one option, if you think there's a material defect. But, the popular mechanics article does cover the subject quite well. The article is simplistic, but in general, it's well written and accurate.