Excessive rear brake pad wear

lilysdad · 09-16-2021, 10:51 AM

I have 13k miles on my BMW dealer installed rear pads (54k to 67k) and am getting the red brake warning in the CBS indicating they need replacement. Doesn't this wear seem excessive? I'm baffled by this. Rotors are still original.

Thanks for any insight.

Gamb1t · 09-16-2021, 05:18 PM

Pad based on the photo looks meaty. I think the brake wear counter wasn't reset after your last brake pad replacement job.
Maybe the sensor is faulty or wasn't installed correctly? I think you're supposed to replace the sensor during pad replacements.

lilysdad · 09-16-2021, 07:54 PM

Thanks for your feedback. The sensor was replaced by the service tech when the pads were replaced so I will stop by the dealer to see what's going on.

4_ring_circus · 09-17-2021, 07:04 AM

You do not need to reset the brake pad light, as soon as a good sensor is connected it will go away. Have you checked your front brakes?

That pic you posted of the pad, is that the wheel with the sensor? There are only two pad wear sensors one in the front and one in the back.

lilysdad · 09-17-2021, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4_ring_circus

You do not need to reset the brake pad light, as soon as a good sensor is connected it will go away. Have you checked your front brakes?

That pic you posted of the pad, is that the wheel with the sensor? There are only two pad wear sensors one in the front and one in the back.

Understood on the light in relation to the sensor. Not sure what I'm looking at in regards to locating the sensor. Here's pics of both sides up front with these pads currently at 15k. Ironically, the front pads only show 600 miles of life left per the CBS. 🤷*♂️

4_ring_circus · 09-17-2021, 10:45 AM

The brake pad sensor will be on the inner pad, you could have a sticking caliper and the inside pad could be worn down. You could also have a faulty sensor.

Here is a good little tutorial on pad replacement, it shows the location of the sensor:

https://www.youcanic.com/guide/bmw-b...or-replacement

cwickberg · 09-17-2021, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4_ring_circus

You do not need to reset the brake pad light, as soon as a good sensor is connected it will go away. Have you checked your front brakes?

That pic you posted of the pad, is that the wheel with the sensor? There are only two pad wear sensors one in the front and one in the back.

There is a procedure to reset the brake wear warning.

I recently did it on my Daughter's X1. I used my app to do it but there is a procedure that uses the trip rest button and the center display, not iDrive.

4_ring_circus · 09-17-2021, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwickberg

There is a procedure to reset the brake wear warning.

I recently did it on my Daughter's X1. I used my app to do it but there is a procedure that uses the trip rest button and the center display, not iDrive.

Seriously? I have a 2012, and there is no procedure to reset the light. Maybe some of the newer models got stupider.

cwickberg · 09-17-2021, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4_ring_circus

Seriously? I have a 2012, and there is no procedure to reset the light. Maybe some of the newer models got stupider.

https://www.youcanic.com/bmw-brake-light-service-reset-instructions

0w40X1 · 09-17-2021, 06:35 PM

I caught5 my rear pads with half wear at 25k miles, and replaced them. I couldn't get the untripped sensor to fit the pad, so I tied up out of way.

I accidently found out that the excess rear brake and rear tire wear was related when I put Posi-quiet ceramic pads on.

On my s28i it has very strong ediff for any takeoff. It locks one side which skids tire, then, the other.

Now my tires are wearing much closer on the new Michelin PS4S.

Gamb1t · 09-20-2021, 04:21 PM

I do not believe a new sensor would automatically reset the computer. The sensor reset procedure is the same as the e90 3-series. Lots of youtube instructions to do that. Very simple. Alot of owners simply splice the sensor wires and tie it off.

However based on your idrive display, there might be other issues at play.

lilysdad · 10-04-2021, 10:39 AM

I wanted to follow up on my original post with results from the dealer. The sensor wire was indeed tripping to due rotor corrosion which wore down my rear pads prematurely. I was told I just needed pads when I replaced the rears at 55k two years ago. If I had replaced the rotors at the time I'm sure my pads would still be fine. Instead, I got to replace the pads and rotors 13k later to the tune of $700. Also had them adjust the idrive warning for my front pads since they were still showing plenty of life left yet the idrive was displaying only 800 mi left. Thanks again to those that responded.

alpinec1984 · 10-13-2021, 06:59 PM

sounds more like a sticking caliper to me, not sliding correctly on the slider pins.

4_ring_circus · 10-14-2021, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpinec1984

sounds more like a sticking caliper to me, not sliding correctly on the slider pins.

That's what I said a few posts up. It is either the sliders or the piston inside the caliper that are starting to seize. Unless the tech working on your car actually fixed one of these issues you will be back for another $700 brake change soon.
Usually once corrosion get in it start progressing faster.

PABMSJ · 10-26-2021, 06:26 PM

BTW, how much did you guys paid for front brake changes (including new rotors)?

09-16-2021, 10:51 AM	#1
lilysdad 7x BMW owner 4 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2012 X3 F25 xDrive35i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (0)	Excessive rear brake pad wear I have 13k miles on my BMW dealer installed rear pads (54k to 67k) and am getting the red brake warning in the CBS indicating they need replacement. Doesn't this wear seem excessive? I'm baffled by this. Rotors are still original. Thanks for any insight. Attached Images __________________ Present: 2012 F25 X3 Xdrive35i - Sparkling Bronze with Nevada Red-Brown Leather Past: 15 E84 X1 xDrive28i Sportline, 07 E90 335i, 06 E90 330i, 01 E46 330i vert, 99 E46 328i
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09-16-2021, 05:18 PM	#2
Gamb1t Major 598 Rep 1,343 Posts Drives: 330i,X1,Z4,Solstice GXP, RX-8 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Canukistan iTrader: (0)	Pad based on the photo looks meaty. I think the brake wear counter wasn't reset after your last brake pad replacement job. Maybe the sensor is faulty or wasn't installed correctly? I think you're supposed to replace the sensor during pad replacements.
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09-16-2021, 07:54 PM	#3
lilysdad 7x BMW owner 4 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2012 X3 F25 xDrive35i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (0)	Thanks for your feedback. The sensor was replaced by the service tech when the pads were replaced so I will stop by the dealer to see what's going on. __________________ Present: 2012 F25 X3 Xdrive35i - Sparkling Bronze with Nevada Red-Brown Leather Past: 15 E84 X1 xDrive28i Sportline, 07 E90 335i, 06 E90 330i, 01 E46 330i vert, 99 E46 328i
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09-17-2021, 07:04 AM	#4
4_ring_circus Private 14 Rep 71 Posts Drives: Corrado, Audi S4, X1 128xi Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: London, ON iTrader: (0)	You do not need to reset the brake pad light, as soon as a good sensor is connected it will go away. Have you checked your front brakes? That pic you posted of the pad, is that the wheel with the sensor? There are only two pad wear sensors one in the front and one in the back.
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09-17-2021, 10:45 AM	#6
4_ring_circus Private 14 Rep 71 Posts Drives: Corrado, Audi S4, X1 128xi Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: London, ON iTrader: (0)	The brake pad sensor will be on the inner pad, you could have a sticking caliper and the inside pad could be worn down. You could also have a faulty sensor. Here is a good little tutorial on pad replacement, it shows the location of the sensor: https://www.youcanic.com/guide/bmw-b...or-replacement
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09-17-2021, 06:35 PM	#10
0w40X1 Lieutenant 34 Rep 485 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW X1 s28i M Sport Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: West Texas iTrader: (0)	I caught5 my rear pads with half wear at 25k miles, and replaced them. I couldn't get the untripped sensor to fit the pad, so I tied up out of way. I accidently found out that the excess rear brake and rear tire wear was related when I put Posi-quiet ceramic pads on. On my s28i it has very strong ediff for any takeoff. It locks one side which skids tire, then, the other. Now my tires are wearing much closer on the new Michelin PS4S.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-20-2021, 04:21 PM	#11
Gamb1t Major 598 Rep 1,343 Posts Drives: 330i,X1,Z4,Solstice GXP, RX-8 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Canukistan iTrader: (0)	I do not believe a new sensor would automatically reset the computer. The sensor reset procedure is the same as the e90 3-series. Lots of youtube instructions to do that. Very simple. Alot of owners simply splice the sensor wires and tie it off. However based on your idrive display, there might be other issues at play.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-04-2021, 10:39 AM	#12
lilysdad 7x BMW owner 4 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2012 X3 F25 xDrive35i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (0)	Issue resolved I wanted to follow up on my original post with results from the dealer. The sensor wire was indeed tripping to due rotor corrosion which wore down my rear pads prematurely. I was told I just needed pads when I replaced the rears at 55k two years ago. If I had replaced the rotors at the time I'm sure my pads would still be fine. Instead, I got to replace the pads and rotors 13k later to the tune of $700. Also had them adjust the idrive warning for my front pads since they were still showing plenty of life left yet the idrive was displaying only 800 mi left. Thanks again to those that responded. __________________ Present: 2012 F25 X3 Xdrive35i - Sparkling Bronze with Nevada Red-Brown Leather Past: 15 E84 X1 xDrive28i Sportline, 07 E90 335i, 06 E90 330i, 01 E46 330i vert, 99 E46 328i
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10-13-2021, 06:59 PM	#13
alpinec1984 Second Lieutenant 133 Rep 223 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Alpine White Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Canton OH iTrader: (0)	sounds more like a sticking caliper to me, not sliding correctly on the slider pins.
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10-26-2021, 06:26 PM	#15
PABMSJ New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW X1 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	BTW, how much did you guys paid for front brake changes (including new rotors)?
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