How Long Do Our Brakes Last?

[BrokenVert]

Im at 22K miles and I do not drive the car lightly. The brakes have started to squeak, but the car says that I dont need to change brakes yet.

All of the other cars I have experience with burn through their pads every 20K miles or so. I figured the 1er's brakes would die a bit faster.

So other high mileage 1ers, how long do the brakes last?

[oneintheory]

24k, persistent squeal, but that's just one of the perks of high performance brakes. just re-bed the pads. works for me sometimes.

[jibaholic101]

brembos hold up pretty damn well!

[oneintheory]

Originally Posted by jibaholic101

brembos hold up pretty damn well!

that doesn't really have anything to do with the pads....

[1HungryMan]

I have the occasional squeaks. I have about the same mileage as you. There are many theories about what causes the squeaks, but the best thing to do is take it in to the dealership and let them remove dirt from the pads. This is often all that is needed. For me, it got rid of most of the squeaking. I also had the service manager test the brakes with me on the road and he said they're still in excellent shape.

My brakes are still insanely good and that was a few months ago.

[jibaholic101]

Originally Posted by oneintheory

that doesn't really have anything to do with the pads....

arent the pads brembo as well?

[oneintheory]

Originally Posted by jibaholic101

arent the pads brembo as well?

i mean, they could be, but I doubt it. I'd like to know, though. still, pads, unless they're high-life, tend to have pretty similar lifespans.

[cimbali]

I would expect the fronts to last 25-30K and the rears 45-60K. This is based on my previous 3 series with a mix of highway and city...

[AlBel1214]

Mine started squealing at lie 20K and they both(front and back) got replaced under warrenty at 29K...

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by cimbali

I would expect the fronts to last 25-30K and the rears 45-60K. This is based on my previous 3 series with a mix of highway and city...

That's a reasonable estimate. My E46 3 series averages about 30k fronts and 45k for rears with mostly commuting & suburban driving. However, my Z3 still had the original pads when I traded it in with 68,000 miles of (primarily highway) driving.

Tom

[TMc135]

They just replaced my fronts at 21,XXX... my car computer originally told me about 22K miles but I have tracked it 3 times in past two years along with many autocrosses so not too bad really. They replaced the front pads and rotors.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Im at 22K miles and I do not drive the car lightly. The brakes have started to squeak, but the car says that I dont need to change brakes yet.

All of the other cars I have experience with burn through their pads every 20K miles or so. I figured the 1er's brakes would die a bit faster.

So other high mileage 1ers, how long do the brakes last?

20k average? Damn, you use your brakes REALLY hard.
Do you track?
I've never had a car wear it's brakes that soon.
Most modern brakes are thick and have long life compounds.
For front brakes I'd say you should get at least 35-40k before replacing, if you're just street driving.
My 03 325i still had the original pads when I returned it at about 40k miles, no squeaks.
BMW did replace the brake fluid at the end of the 2nd year, per their maintenance requirement.

Judging from what some of you are getting with the 1, maybe this pads are not as thick as most new cars.

Do you wait until the last moment before applying the brakes for a stop or redlight? That could wear your brakes early as well as your tires as you'd be using them hard.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by 1HungryMan

I have the occasional squeaks. I have about the same mileage as you. There are many theories about what causes the squeaks, but the best thing to do is take it in to the dealership and let them remove dirt from the pads. This is often all that is needed. For me, it got rid of most of the squeaking. I also had the service manager test the brakes with me on the road and he said they're still in excellent shape.

My brakes are still insanely good and that was a few months ago.

Well, there may be a lot of theories, but brakes will squeal when the pads sets up a vibration while contacting the rotor. If there isn't a shim or grease on the outer side of the pad then the vibration will cause a squeal.
That's pretty much it. I'm not sure what "theories" are out there, but the fix is to take the caliper off, sand the rotor to remove any residual pad material build up, then remove the pads, put high temp grease on the outside of the pad, which is the area that does NOT contact the rotor, and reassemble. Squeal gone.
I've fixed a good number of squeaking brakes with that, each time it was successful. The grease acts as a damper to quell the oscillation that sets up and causes the squeal.

Take it to the dealer as they should know how to do this, and/or they may add an anti-squeal/vibration shims, but I find that adding the grease helps even with the shims. Many newer aftermarket pads come with a nice rubber like material addes to the outside of the pad to quell vibes, on street pads at least.

[zerbitini]

My '02 330xi still had the original brakes when I traded it in at 92,000 miles! In fairness, I drive 85% highway. I would be really bummed to have to replace brakes at 25 K miles.
The 135 brakes are amazing. I usually drive my wife's Audi on weekends, and when I get back in my BMW, I'm always surprised at how aggressive the brakes are.

[1HungryMan]

Originally Posted by 1HungryMan

I have the occasional squeaks. I have about the same mileage as you.

Just to correct: I have 20,000 KM's not miles. I misread your post.

BTW just curious, are brakes covered under warranty?

[jeremyc74]

Almost 35k on mine and no issues.

I'll be shocked if they need replacement before 50k. Of course, this will vary a lot depending on the type of driving you're doing. I've had cars go over 100k miles without brake replacement when I was doing a lot of highway driving.

Having oversized brakes like we do, there's a lot more friction material contacting the rotor, which means less force and wear under normal driving conditions.

[Lester]

Originally Posted by 1HungryMan

Just to correct: I have 20,000 KM's not miles. I misread your post.

BTW just curious, are brakes covered under warranty?

Not in Canada, unless you purchase the additional wear items warranty. You have 12 months from the in service date to purchase the wear items warranty from BMW Canada.

Did you know?
Currently you are on a maintenance only plan - you are responsible for wear items such as brakes, windshield wipers, and drive belts.



Solution.
You presently qualify for the BMW Service Program Upgrade. The BMW Service Program Upgrade is a prepaid package for your brakes and other wear items that saves you money.


3 yrs / 60,000 : $ 795.00

4 yrs / 80,000 : $ 1,650.00

5 yrs / 80,000 : $ 1,975.00

Years are measured from your original in service date.

[WAY]

Mine was destroyed after about 4000km from memory. Oh and I am not talking about the pads either. Lol.

[avonord]

I'm gonna bring this thread back to life. I noticed a service light on my car for a month now, and I finally brought it to a dealer today to get it looked at.

The service guy put my key fob on a scanner and told me my brakes are up for replacement. I still have 1500km on the front and 4500km on my back, he says. My car is currently at 31000km.

I never replaced my brake pads this soon with my previous car. So, here's my questions.
- are the "1500k" and "4500k" numbers based on sensor readings? Or is it based on guesstimate by the mechanics during my 24000km service?
- I don't hear any squeals on my brakes yet. Does that mean the numbers are wrong?
- it seems many of u hear the squeal before replacing the brakes. Do u simply ignore the service light?

Oh. For my amerifriends down in the south, 1 mile = 1.6km.

Thanks

[MA128]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Im at 22K miles and I do not drive the car lightly. The brakes have started to squeak, but the car says that I dont need to change brakes yet.

All of the other cars I have experience with burn through their pads every 20K miles or so. I figured the 1er's brakes would die a bit faster.

So other high mileage 1ers, how long do the brakes last?

62,000 miles so far on original rotors. Front pads were changed around 40,000. Mixed highway and city. I'm pretty easy on a car - drive like an old fart. Oh wait, I AM an old fart!

[08LMB135i]

My car is predicting its first brake job at 62000km front and rear and I would say I use the brakes fairly moderate to hard.

[Greenkirby21]

fronts were replaced at 30k.
rears are due at 35k