Dealer replaced pads but not the rotors
 

My 2005 4.4 just got it's first brake job (25k miles) by the dealer under warrenty. I thought the "bwm way" was to always replace the rotors along with the pads during each brake job. The dealer says that while under warrenty, they measure the rotor thickness and do not replace the rotors if the rotors are still above a minimum. Is this normal at the dealers now?

The "bmw way" should be to replace if they are glazed, have ridges or high spots/warped.
I haven't heard of any $tealership that has a policy of replacing rotors with every brake pad replacement.

:iagree: My own policy dont even cover/replace the rotors if the rotors still above the minimum.:rofl:

I almost guarantee they didn't measure the rotors. Mine was done before I owned it and I feel just a little pulsating when braking. It wasn't done properly.

if they are worn to spec the dealer will not be compensated from bmw !!

I have never had a brake job done where the rotors were not replaced.

At my dealer we always replaced rotors with brake jobs... until BMWNA hit us with a couple charge backs. We now have to label the old rotors and send them in to warranty, and if they are still within the size specs on the rotor they will not pay for them. So what inevitably happens is I get to change the rotors a month later under a noise complaint.

Listen close for brake squeal now.. soon as you hear it, there's your new rotors! (keep in mind, not dealers fault... bmw warranty departments)

There are 2 ways to look at this. There is a minimum thickness specification given for the discs. If they are within spec then they do not need replacing under warranty and so BMW will not pay the dealer for them.

HOWEVER

What if the discs are ALMOST down to minimum thickness? Fitting new pads to these discs will mean the discs go beyond minimum thickness before the pads are worn out. So they should be replaced but who pays?

A bit of a catch 22.

I just played it safe and replaced the discs if my technician felt the discs would go beyond minimum thickness during the life of the new pads.

X5Girl, xxx

I thought a noise complaint will result in more lubrication of contact points and a simple 'it will eventually go away.'

My understanding is that BMW used to always replace the rotors and now given cutbacks, etc. they started enforcing measurement of rotors because they determined that 25% of returned rotors were all well within spec. If the rotors are close to min spec they have a determination as to how close they will allow for them to warrant replacement.