Is there a reasonable explanation for this?

dorkdog · 07-21-2012, 09:00 PM

Hi

Several months ago, maybe in March, I checked the SERVICE menu on my 128i at around 20K. I remember seeing 13K on the front brakes, 17K on the rears... thinking to myself 'Warranty expires June 2013 probably will get there by then". Then, I took a 6,000 mile trip. Took the car to the dealer for the scheduled oil change (this milestone passed on our trip) and now, the front brakes say 23000 and the rears 28000!

I can only think of 2 explanations for this, and I am hoping it's the first one...

1. The computer recognized that I drove 6000 miles highway and 'adjusted' the brake time upward because it assumes I'm going to drive like that fron now on.

2. The dealer upped the number when the car was serviced so they won't have to service the brakes

Is it possible for the car computer to adjust the total upwards like that? If so, will it now come down faster now that I am back to more city like driving?

I am concerned about this because not only did the mileage till service increase, but my rear brakes were checked in the yellow (caution) column on the inspection record.

Not sure what to think... but I learned my lesson last time and don't want to go off on the dealer if it's something else.

Any thoughts from someone with a clue?

sonicbimmer19 · 07-21-2012, 09:44 PM

The mileages are not exactly accurate... I remember I suspected my dealership as well a while ago.
I don't remember exact numbers, but say the computer told me I had 10k left and I drove 4k, it should've said 6k, but instead it said like 8k and I thought my dealership moved it up, but I found out the mileages are not subtracted precisely as you drive. If you do a lot of highway driving, it will go down slowly.

However, 13k and 17k to 23k and 28k seem to be gigantic jumps...
As for the most important question, can dealerships change this? I doubt it, but maybe someone else can help us with that question

dorkdog · 07-21-2012, 11:21 PM

yes, please. For me it's the difference in me or the dealer paying for the brake job

joeo · 07-21-2012, 11:48 PM

The computer adjusts these numbers based on how you've driven the car. If you happen to take your car to a track, these numbers will drop significantly.

tuco44 · 07-22-2012, 12:03 AM

dorkdog - your #1 assumption is correct, the "computer" now thinks you will drive like you did for the last 6000 miles, and has adjusted upwards accordingly. As joeo said, take it the track for a day, and see the reverse happen.

I think you're good to go, and the dealer is blameless in this.

TheBurro · 07-22-2012, 12:36 AM

On my Bavarian Technic tool you can adjust the values of service intervals on the brakes, oil, etc as well as reset them when you have the service done. I'm guessing the dealership can do this too, however I would guess that what the other folks are saying is correct about the computer adjusting itself.

My GMC Sierra's oil life monitor would go down significantly when I would tow a trailer a couple thousand miles vs driving to and from work. It's just doing what the numbers are telling it.

dorkdog · 07-22-2012, 02:19 AM

That makes sense and I'm fine with it. I'm sure the car is smart enough to know when it's been driven a few K with no braking.

dtwyim · 07-22-2012, 07:55 AM

Yup, the computer recalculate things based on past usage. I used to have more break wear shown on the rears until I turned off the nannies.

Dackelone · 07-22-2012, 09:18 AM

IF you have a BT tool you can adjust (SBC)these values, hint hint!

TheSt|G · 07-22-2012, 09:22 AM

BT?

Dackelone · 07-22-2012, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

BT?

BT = Bavarian Tech scan tool...

http://www.bavariantechnic.com/

Or most any good CAN/Bus OBD-II code reader tool, might be able to change the values as well. I think the "coding cable" that everyone seems to use can also change these SBC values as well.

TheSt|G · 07-22-2012, 09:37 AM

Yeah, I'm familiar with that. Just didn't know the BT acronym by name.

mike06612 · 07-26-2012, 12:04 PM

They base their brake service I believe on the amount of remaining material on the brakes, not the mileage indicator (though that may be what it's measuring). If they measure the pads, they know if you need brakes or not.

Don't put too much faith in the brake number on the display, trust me for us it's been all over the place.

07-21-2012, 09:00 PM	#1
dorkdog Big Mouth No Filter 49 Rep 586 Posts Drives: 128i Montego Blue 6MT Sport Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Puyallup WA iTrader: (0)	Is there a reasonable explanation for this? Hi Several months ago, maybe in March, I checked the SERVICE menu on my 128i at around 20K. I remember seeing 13K on the front brakes, 17K on the rears... thinking to myself 'Warranty expires June 2013 probably will get there by then". Then, I took a 6,000 mile trip. Took the car to the dealer for the scheduled oil change (this milestone passed on our trip) and now, the front brakes say 23000 and the rears 28000! I can only think of 2 explanations for this, and I am hoping it's the first one... 1. The computer recognized that I drove 6000 miles highway and 'adjusted' the brake time upward because it assumes I'm going to drive like that fron now on. 2. The dealer upped the number when the car was serviced so they won't have to service the brakes Is it possible for the car computer to adjust the total upwards like that? If so, will it now come down faster now that I am back to more city like driving? I am concerned about this because not only did the mileage till service increase, but my rear brakes were checked in the yellow (caution) column on the inspection record. Not sure what to think... but I learned my lesson last time and don't want to go off on the dealer if it's something else. Any thoughts from someone with a clue? __________________ We do not inherit the Earth from our parents; we borrow it from our children
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07-21-2012, 09:44 PM	#2
sonicbimmer19 Lieutenant 72 Rep 487 Posts Drives: E88 and F32 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	The mileages are not exactly accurate... I remember I suspected my dealership as well a while ago. I don't remember exact numbers, but say the computer told me I had 10k left and I drove 4k, it should've said 6k, but instead it said like 8k and I thought my dealership moved it up, but I found out the mileages are not subtracted precisely as you drive. If you do a lot of highway driving, it will go down slowly. However, 13k and 17k to 23k and 28k seem to be gigantic jumps... As for the most important question, can dealerships change this? I doubt it, but maybe someone else can help us with that question
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07-21-2012, 11:21 PM	#3
dorkdog Big Mouth No Filter 49 Rep 586 Posts Drives: 128i Montego Blue 6MT Sport Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Puyallup WA iTrader: (0)	yes, please. For me it's the difference in me or the dealer paying for the brake job __________________ We do not inherit the Earth from our parents; we borrow it from our children
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07-21-2012, 11:48 PM	#4
joeo Lieutenant 120 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 2009 Crimson Red 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sterling, Va iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMM 135i [9.50]	The computer adjusts these numbers based on how you've driven the car. If you happen to take your car to a track, these numbers will drop significantly.
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07-22-2012, 12:03 AM	#5
tuco44 Colonel 644 Rep 2,294 Posts Drives: 2018 340i xDrive M Perf Edtn Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Western Canada iTrader: (0)	dorkdog - your #1 assumption is correct, the "computer" now thinks you will drive like you did for the last 6000 miles, and has adjusted upwards accordingly. As joeo said, take it the track for a day, and see the reverse happen. I think you're good to go, and the dealer is blameless in this. __________________ 2018 340i xDrive M Perf Edtn Sunset Orange Previous BMWs - 19 others since 1971.
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07-22-2012, 12:36 AM	#6
TheBurro Private First Class 18 Rep 193 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (3)	On my Bavarian Technic tool you can adjust the values of service intervals on the brakes, oil, etc as well as reset them when you have the service done. I'm guessing the dealership can do this too, however I would guess that what the other folks are saying is correct about the computer adjusting itself. My GMC Sierra's oil life monitor would go down significantly when I would tow a trailer a couple thousand miles vs driving to and from work. It's just doing what the numbers are telling it.
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07-22-2012, 02:19 AM	#7
dorkdog Big Mouth No Filter 49 Rep 586 Posts Drives: 128i Montego Blue 6MT Sport Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Puyallup WA iTrader: (0)	That makes sense and I'm fine with it. I'm sure the car is smart enough to know when it's been driven a few K with no braking. __________________ We do not inherit the Earth from our parents; we borrow it from our children
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07-22-2012, 07:55 AM	#8
dtwyim Captain 52 Rep 874 Posts Drives: BMW no more Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Yup, the computer recalculate things based on past usage. I used to have more break wear shown on the rears until I turned off the nannies.
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07-22-2012, 09:18 AM	#9
Dackelone European Editor 10528 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	IF you have a BT tool you can adjust (SBC)these values, hint hint! __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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07-22-2012, 09:22 AM	#10
TheSt\|G Resident Tamed Racing Driver 298 Rep 4,697 Posts Drives: 911, 130is, E39 M5, E36 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Outside Philly iTrader: (2)	BT? __________________ 2005 E46 M3 Interlagos/Cinnamon with Sunroof Delete
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07-22-2012, 09:37 AM	#12
TheSt\|G Resident Tamed Racing Driver 298 Rep 4,697 Posts Drives: 911, 130is, E39 M5, E36 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Outside Philly iTrader: (2)	Yeah, I'm familiar with that. Just didn't know the BT acronym by name. __________________ 2005 E46 M3 Interlagos/Cinnamon with Sunroof Delete
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07-26-2012, 12:04 PM	#13
mike06612 Private First Class 1 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2008 135 convertible Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	They base their brake service I believe on the amount of remaining material on the brakes, not the mileage indicator (though that may be what it's measuring). If they measure the pads, they know if you need brakes or not. Don't put too much faith in the brake number on the display, trust me for us it's been all over the place.
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