Brake Pad Sensors
 

I'm planning on installing new brake pads soon, likely next week, since my low brake pad light came on a couple of months ago (but I haven't done many miles in between).

I've already got the new pads, front and rear, but I think I need to get some kind of new brake pad sensor(s) but I don't know what I need. Do I need a sensor for each wheel, are there different sensors for front/rear and are there different sensors for different model years?

Our X3 is a late 2004/early 2005 3.0i Petrol. Also does anyone have any experience with this? My automotive engineer friend will be helping me do it and he says that some car makes are a nightmare while others are as easy as pie.

The sensors are one-time use, so if the replace brake pad light came on you need to buy one or two of them. There is one sensor on the left front, and one on the right rear. They have different part numbers, only because the attached wires are longer on one of them. You may only need one sensor, but they are cheap, you will be in there anyway, and they tend to get brittle over time, so I recommend you replace both of them.

The sensors are very simple to replace, they are a contact that completes a circuit when they wear through. After replacing them, the light on the dash will go off, although it may not go off immediately. Turning the key on and waiting 45 seconds usually does it, or just drive it. That resets the latch.

Easy as pie doesn't sound very British, so let's go with easy-peasy. :thumbup: