Question about replace rear brake pad under maintenance warranty
 

Hi,

Factory warranty/maintenance is going to expire on 8/12 and now has 39k miles on it. I have a question about front and rear brake pad. Did anyone of you get the front or read brake pad replaced (rotor too?) during maintenance warranty period? I checked the onboard computer and it said front brake pad 12k miles and rear brake pad 8k miles. I was wondering if I can take the X5 few weeks before warranty expries and have them replace the rear brake pad under maintenance warranty before the light comes on? Let't say if computer shows 2k miles left when I drive in before the warranty expire. Would they replace it?

Anything I could have it done before the warranty expire?

Thanks in advance!

Generally, you don't have to bring it in only when the light comes on. If it's down to 1,000 miles or so they will do it (I believe they have a certain spec or mileage number they go by to decide). I bought the Extended Maintenance and my rears are showing do in 7K miles and my regular warranty expires 8/28/12--it will be close for me as well so most likely I will have to get them done under the Extended Maintenance.

OP- How do you think the computer "knows" how much pad thickness is left????

THe answer is, it doesnt.... the mileage is just a guesstimate.

Drive really hard, ride the brakes...you'll get them done under the wire.

Or you could measure your own pads and rotors to figure out a more exact timeline.

Brake fluid is supposed to be R&R'd every two years; you could get that done.
As for having the dlr do a 'thorough inspection' hoping they will find things to 'fix' is slim to none, and Slim's on the bus. Most dlrs will not do a non-scheduled inspection, or volunteer to repair items that may be 'old' or close to failing. If something fails/doesn't work they will, but there is really no preventive inspection you can push for, IIRC.

An alternative play would be to hit a knowledgeable, trusted BMW Indie and pay them for a thorough going over, and if they find something, bring it up to the dlr, while still under warranty...but, that all, is a pia.

Good advice on the brakes, and you may get lucky with that.
GL, mD

I had mine in for an iPod adaptor recently, and asked about the brakes, as they looked pretty low. They said they were ok at 7mm. Vehicle has 42k on it.
I have maintenance until the end of of July, so I'll be taking it back then.

there's a sensor on the brakes - for what exactly I don't remember, but logic tells me since idrive shows pad wear and not rotor wear, I'll go with that one. Obviously it's not exact since it goes in maybe 1k increments.

As for replacing pads early, it is up to the dealer whether they'll do it for you when you're close, but most will. The rotors are more strict, see my experience:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-question.html

On the E53, before iDrive, the sensor on the brake pad was a simple wire that rubbed through, and opened the circuit. That triggered the light, informing the driver that it was time to change the pads.

On the E70, pad life is calculated from 60,000 km (from memory) based on how many times and how hard the brakes are applied. It is an algorithm that I don't think is particularly accurate, as I tracked it on my E60 watching how it counted down (it didn't, but I had non-OE pads from new and so it likely couldn't figure out how they were wearing). The pad sensor on the E70 has two thin wires embedded at two pad thicknesses; when the first wire rubs through the resistance changes and it knows the thickness of the pad that is remaining. The computer uses that to correct the algorithm, giving a more accurate "distance to change" figure on the dash. It is why the life-remaining indicator jumps at a certain point. Then when the second wire rubs through, the system functions just like the E53, and lights up a warning saying to change the pads.

It is all described in detail in the E70 service training materials posted under Online References in the top menu bar.

I may get the exteneded maintenace warranty... how much did you pay for it and where?

Thanks.

Really?

Just to get a dealer to do pad and rotor change ($400 in parts and an hour) you will spend $2400??? Yes, with the extended maintenance you'll get two oil changes an air filer and wiper blades...and wifi in waiting area.

Have you had them do the brake flush and coolant change under the current plan?

Are you unable to find anyplace other than BMW dealers for service? I can think of 4 or 5 I know of, and I live 150 miles away....

Figure out what maintenance you will need in the next two years, figure out WHO will do it, and what it costs...then decide on the purchase.

I bought my 4.8 from Beverly Hills BMW in Los Angeles. I paid $2,100 for it. Looks like I will need to get 2 rears and 2 fronts done during the 2 year Extended Maintenance. Whereas my Indy said like $1,300 for fronts/rears so it would be $2,600 for the same work vs. the $2,100 for Extended Maintenance.