SWMBO's car into BMW for MOT, it's a 2010 116i.

 

While I was waiting for my lift into work the service chap came across and said that from the key the car was showing that the front brakes had ~1200 "braking miles" left.  Said the car would probably get an advisory on the MOT but could possibly fail if the brake balance was off.

 

As a self-confessed cynic it came across as a soft sell for disks. the car only has 35k on the clock although I can't rule out SWMBO jiggering a set of disks in that time with her driving.

 

But "Braking miles" what is that. "mm" remaining I can understand.

My thought is that "braking miles" would be the number of miles you could "drive" whilst trailing the brakes.

 

Also, I'm not commenting on She's driving, but with modern asbestos-free pads discs tend to last about 2 sets of pads.

I'm guessing they are looking to sell you new pads, not so much the discs.

 

I imagine that the car will perform a basic calculation based on the number of miles driven to work out the likely wear rate of the pads.

 

There is a sensor built into the pads that will illuminate a light on the dash when they are close to being worn.

 

Ignore the sales tactic. If they are flagged as an advisory at the MOT then get them changed then.

Edited 24 February, 201511 yr by silver1011

My Del Sol had an advisory last year for low brake pads.  Had a look and they were at 4mm, so took no action.

 

It 'failed' on them this year, with them being 'below 1.5mm'.  I changed them, but then measured them and all four pads were at 3mm! 

 

Don't trust 'em an inch - the MOT Centre I used were all too keen to give me a price for changing the pads.  I won't be going back.

 

'Braking miles' sound a bit stupid to me.  If I'm actually braking for 0.25% of my driving I'll be surprised, multiply that by the factor of 1200 you got and that's a heck of a lot of travelling left on your brakes; just my cynical way of misinterpreting a relatively meaningless comment.

 

Gaz

Surely it's impossible to calculate "braking miles" since you can either stand on the brakes or just lightly use them. Sounds like a load of rubbish to me.

I spend much of my working life either sniffing out BS or writing my own so when a business introduces a new term for something and follows it up with a sales pitch my nose twitches and my righteous indignation gland goes to 11.

 

I suspect if I was to ask the guy for the mm reading of the disks and state the min figure he'd blink a few times and scuttle off. But he'll be doing that before he gets a sale.

 

TBH my last few cars the disks ahve worn out at about the same rate as the pads, it's either harder pads or poorer quality steel I don't know which.

 

cheers chaps, as suspected.....

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EE4alauiS4

mccarf is right what a load of trollop every body brakes differently so how can they calculate how long they will last.

 

I only use mot stations that dont do work , then you know its unbiased , and are not touting for work and ripping the likes of you and me off.

Car passed. No mention of advisories over the phone

It sounds to me as though they are saying you cannot just look at the pad and think it is all consumable material, so just cause they look only half worn does not mean that is the case. A new way off parting the unwary from their cash with techno babble I would say.  

MOt clear.

 

Advisories from BWM check

 

• Front and rear brakes and disks recommended - £900
• DCS on drive shaft (reluctor ring), going to go in 12 months - £1600
• Corroded battery cable - £900

 

Brakes are obviously a joke price, Pagid disks are £35 each, indy could probably do the job for £300.

 

DCS is common apparently, BMW won't fix or supply the part even though it is removable unlike the hub abs rings on the Octy. Might phone round a few BMW indys about that one, part is £20 on ebay.

 

Battery cable, not so sure on that one. Water leaks via the rear parking sensors or something like that.

 

German ****e

Edited 24 February, 201511 yr by Aspman

MOt clear.

Advisories from BWM check

• Front and rear brakes and disks recommended - £900
• DCS on drive shaft (reluctor ring), going to go in 12 months - £1600
• Corroded battery cable - £900

Brakes are obviously a joke price, Pagid disks are £35 each, indy could probably do the job for £300.

DCS is common apparently, BMW won't fix or supply the part even though it is removable unlike the hub abs rings on the Octy. Might phone round a few BMW indys about that one, part is £20 on ebay.

Battery cable, not so sure on that one. Water leaks via the rear parking sensors or something like that.

German ****e

Both my rear reluctor rings went!

£20 for both sides from ebay.

Did one myself and thought to fluff with that! So got a garage to change the other side for £40!

Bmw quote £1600 because they are like any main dealership! Change the whole driveshaft when there is nothing wrong with it!!

My 320d is on original discs at 95k! They do need done now however!

On the 3rd set of front pads

£900 for a battery cable?????!!!!!!!     

 

Presumably not the same as a £4.99 bit from Halfords?

 

Gaz

when i came home from 2 yrs in Aberdeen, my old car had been sitting for quite a while, needed nct, so i said sod it, its gonna fail anyway so just do it and see how bad it was.

they failed it first time on farb bushes and links. nothing else.

got the bits brought car to my local indy who i know years. whipped off the 2 front wheels, and discovered all pads worn down dangerously. 1 pad was on the metal backing plate...

i dont know how but the test results showed near perfect brake balance like that!!!!

needless to say, they got replaced the following day...

most garages, esp main dealers, will try and convince you you need work doing that isnt really necessary. similar to all those advance pitstop/quik-fit ****ers trying to get women to buy over priced brake pads and the llike that are perfectly fine....

Advisories from BWM check

 

• Front and rear brakes and disks recommended - £900
• DCS on drive shaft (reluctor ring), going to go in 12 months - £1600
• Corroded battery cable - £900

Wow! And I thought Audi prices were steep.

£900 for a battery cable?????!!!!!!!     

 

Presumably not the same as a £4.99 bit from Halfords?

 

Gaz

.

 

Big battery for the stop/start is in the boot so I guess 90% of that is labour for routing the cable

 

Have dug around a bit and as Big Jase says indy seem to the the reluctor rings for a reasonable price.

 

She's thinking about changing anyway and going Audi though.

Edited 25 February, 201511 yr by Aspman

SWMBO's car into BMW for MOT, it's a 2010 116i.

 

While I was waiting for my lift into work the service chap came across and said that from the key the car was showing that the front brakes had ~1200 "braking miles" left.  Said the car would probably get an advisory on the MOT but could possibly fail if the brake balance was off.

 

The thing to look at here is " from the key " it is showing 1200 braking miles. 

I believe this will come from the cars  Key which logs all the info from the cars on board computer.

The cars works out from how it is driven when certain thins need doing such as oil changes and filter and brake inspections.

 

It may be that they will last much longer as it is BMW who set the figures

Pad reading had 4mm.

Pad reading had 4mm.

ANd brand new pads tend to be 8 to 10mm of material, on which basis assuming min 2mm they're 75% worn, which sounds like 6 months use.

Big battery for the stop/start is in the boot so I guess 90% of that is labour for routing the cable

 

 

Hmmm, one could be cynical about our throwaway society and BMW 'techs' not wanting to get they hands dirty with a bit of emery paper and no-crode.  I suppose 'corroded' is a bit subjective.  It'd be interesting to see what's actually wrong and if it could be fixed and properly protected from corrosion.

 

Gaz

Hmmm, one could be cynical about our throwaway society and BMW 'techs' not wanting to get they hands dirty with a bit of emery paper and no-crode.  I suppose 'corroded' is a bit subjective.  It'd be interesting to see what's actually wrong and if it could be fixed and properly protected from corrosion.

 

Gaz

 

Yup disappointed that a "premium" brand has exposed cables that can't tolerate being exposed and showing signs of needing replacement after 5yrs, same for  the reluctor rings. If it's a corrodable part that is exposed why maked it non-servicable?

 

The service person was suitably sheepish about this and it was implied that it was new car time. Which is quite possible but it won't be a beemer since nothing has been done to fix these faults. Personally I wouldn't touch a beemer withut a warranty right now.

Edited 26 February, 201511 yr by Aspman

Hi Aspma, you do not say what mileage the BMW has done. I sold my 2006 BMW 120D (For a Skoda Yeti Elegance 4x4 170DSG) with the mileage at just over 70,000.

No brakes re-lined during this period ! - but had 2 sets of tyres

BMW is on 35k

 

Hence the surprise at some of the predicted problems. I suppose the others are age related as much as anything but I don't think they should be apparent on a 5yr old car.

We all know there is a minimum tread depth for tyres, and every car has a minimum disc thickness, but is there a minimum for pad thickness? Would this allow for worn discs with a 'lip' on the edge?

We all know there is a minimum tread depth for tyres, and every car has a minimum disc thickness, but is there a minimum for pad thickness? Would this allow for worn discs with a 'lip' on the edge?

 

If pads get too low I know that the piston can pop out or the metal backing can damage the disk face. But tbh I don't think I've had a set of disks outlast the pads for the last 3 cars. They wear out at the same rate.

If pads get too low I know that the piston can pop out or the metal backing can damage the disk face. But tbh I don't think I've had a set of disks outlast the pads for the last 3 cars. They wear out at the same rate.

 

It depends on which pads you use. I use EBC pads which are kinder to discs so have changed them every other time on the front.