BMW: Brake pads running low

Bik wrote:
| I just took my 2001 BMW 325i to the dealer for 45k miles service..
| They checked the brakes and said that its at the 3mm mark and would
| need replacement soon. I asked for the estimate and it was more than
| $900 including parts and labor.. Is that typical?? i asked for the
| breakup of parts and labor and it was almost 50-50 with labor being a
| little more than the parts.. I took some time to think about it and
| told the service guy that i would wait till the sensor warning lights
| come on.. So he tried to get me a deal by reducing some $60.. In
| anycase I thought i have some time till the lights come on and i can
| make use of the community to get more information before i go ahead
| with the job.. On the way out he put down the numbers as 3.5mm for
| front left (which is why the light hasn't come on as yet as he told me
| the sensor is on the left front wheel), 3 mm for the front right.. and
| 3.5 mm each for the rears.. and he also mentioned that i have to get
| all the things changed including pads, rotors and sensors.
|
| Now I am interested in finding out is it okay if i get it done through
| a non-dealer technician and want recommendations on the parts.. i have
| checked some brands like ATE, Jurid.. i have no idea about them.. how
| good they are.. I am not a heavy brake user as well as not a very
| aggressive driver.. so i would want some thing that lasts long
| reliably rather than gives great performance.. How much should i
| except to pay for this job in parts and labor?? Experts please help..
|
| thanks
|
| -Bik

AFAIK ATE is Original Equipment. $900 sounds like a hell of a lot for a job
you can do yourself.

Changing the pads yourself is not hard if you have some basic car knowledge
and tools and will cost a lot less than $900. With only 45000 miles, I'm
wondering why the rotors are needing replacement since you say you don't
brake hard or drive aggressively. With normal driving, you should be able
to get at least 2-3 times that kind of mileage with the rotors. Did the
tech tell you they're warped? Are you getting a pulsing when you step on the
brakes at any particular speed?

Kyle.

"Bik" <com> wrote in message
news:google.com... 

In article <1nF6b.261$ops.asp.att.net>,
Kyle & Lori Greene <net> wrote: 

Not so - 45k is about average for BMW front discs. I doubt the rears need
changing, though.

--
*When companies ship Styrofoam, what do they pack it in? *

Dave Plowman co.uk London SW 12
RIP Acorn

It is normal to replace BMW rotors every time you replace the pads. They
will rarely last a 2nd set of pads. They are soft and wear quickly. This
is one of the reasons these cars have such tremendous stopping power. The
soft rotor also helps to avoid brake squealing. They are not expensive.
Less the $50/ea. even from the dealer.

"Kyle & Lori Greene" <net> wrote in message
news:1nF6b.261$ops.asp.att.net... 
knowledge 
the 

Is this also true for OEM's like Balo and ATE?

Dave

"Keith B. Silverman" <net> wrote in message
news:gUG6b.55031$srv.hcvlny.cv.net... 

Get the right guy for your BMW. Ask him to break down the cost and how much
he charge you an hour. I suggest maximum 4 hours to get this job done.

keith

"Dave" <com> wrote in message
news:com... 
They 
This 
The 

On Mon, 8 Sep 2003 13:02:37 +1200, "Benz Direct NZ"
<co.nz> wrote:

(top posting corrected)
 

FOUR hours? You must be cracked. Two hours TOPS. Anything more and
they are ripping you off. I just changed pads recently, and it's
farking easy as hell.

The only pain was that stupid, worthless, stupid, worthless, stupid,
worthless, wear sensor thing. I mean, what the f*ck is the reason for
this thing, when the SOB's tell you to change rotors with pads
anyways???

Anyway, the trick is, to glue the stupid sorthless thing in place in
the new pad. That way it will stay there.

In article <com>,
dizzy <com> wrote:
 

And the discs? Including adjusting the handbrake correctly with new ones?
 

How is it a pain - apart from the cost? It simply unclips and unplugs.
 

Because metal to metal doesn't work too well as a brake? Anyway, most will
get through two sets of pads per set of discs.
 

Can't say I've heard of anyone having a problem with it falling out.
Perhaps you were rushing the job? ;-)

--
*You sound reasonable......time to up my medication

Dave Plowman co.uk London SW 12
RIP Acorn