New Brakes

[TechBoyJK]

Hi All,

I have a 2004 Z4 3.0 Sport Fully Loaded. Nice car, CPO. Bought it with 19k miles. Have about 57k on it now. (i love to drive). I haven't had any real issues with it other than the convertible top. It failed the night I bought it. I was taking it out for a joy ride, pulled over to put the top back up, it got about half way and stopped. I learned really quick how to put it down manually.

I just put 19" Miro M6 reps on it. Looks fantastic.

Anyway! My brake pad warning light just came on, and I had been noticing that the car wasn't braking as well, and the brakes were sqeeking more than usual. Typical of a car, and I'm not concerned about that. For all I know the pads have never been changed. I've put close to 40k miles on it and never changed them. So... it's time.

First of all, I called the dealer where i bought the car.

Patrick, a tech I usually deal with, who has always been honest and gone out of his way for me, basically says that they are going to insist on changing the rotors with the pads because its CPO, and that it's not going to be cheap. $590 to do the pads and rotors on the front, $630 for pads and rotors on the rear. !!!!!

That's more than I was expecting.

Question 1. I've always been able to change the pads on my previous cars with the help of some friends. Anybody know if the Z4 any different? I've been googling for how-to's but haven't had any luck yet.

Question 2. Whenever I've needed to change rotors, it's been obvious. Lots of shaking in the steering wheel when braking. My car brakes smooth as butter, I'm just having to apply more pressure. I don't think the rotors are an issue.

Question 3. Does anybody know where there is a how-to? I'm googling and trying. I'd like a list of the tools I need, procedure, etc. I have a friend who has never had a problem changing brakes for me before.. Honda's Dodges Fords. He mentioned he may need tools that he doesnt have though.

Question 4. What pads do you recommend? OEM? AXXIS?

Question 5. What is the likely hood that I only need to change the front pads? It's a rear wheel drive car, but I've heard and in my experience, the fronts wear down alot quicker.

Thanks!!

---------------------------------------------

Cliffs - $1200 for new brakes and rotors. WTF!! HELP!??

 

[nickbits]

BMW is very expensive for brake service. That price is inline for when I had work done of my 325i.
You should be able to go to someplace else for about 1/2 the price. The trick is that those cars also have the sensor which also needs to be replaced.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: nickbits
BMW is very expensive for brake service. That price is inline for when I had work done of my 325i.
You should be able to go to someplace else for about 1/2 the price. The trick is that those cars also have the sensor which also needs to be replaced.

How hard is it to replace the sensor?

 

[ballmode]

www.bimmerforums.com

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: ballmode
www.bimmerforums.com

already there. Thanks though!

 

[SSSnail]

If you want OEM stopping power, get OEM parts. Akebono pads if you want almost OEM stopping with virtually no dust, Tirerack.com carries these in Euro Ceramic. Get your parts from www.getbmwparts.com (Tischer BMW), they're a great company that provides OEM parts but don't charge dealer prices.

For brakes, when you're replacing pads, replace the rotors as well, sensors aren't hard to replace. It'll take you but 5 seconds to search for "Z4 brake DIY" on google; hint, it's not that different than e46 of the same gen. If I had to write up a DIY on brakes, it'll look something like this:

1. Take wheels off.
2. Take bolts that hold caliper housings off.
3. Remove rotors and replace, a few screws.
4. Take pads and sensors out.
5. Press pistons.
6. Replace pads and sensors. (Don't forget anti-squeal stuffs)
7. Put stuffs back
8. ...
9. Profits.

As you can see it is a fairly complicated affair, make sure you wear gloves.

p.s. Reading your OP again, I've concluded that you don't know much about cars, best to find a mechanic to do it for you.

 

[thescreensavers]

dont go to a BMW dealer , German cars man thats how they are. on an Audi Q7 860$ for Front brakes and rotors at 22k miles!

 

[nerp]

If you think $600 for a brake job is a lot of money, wait until it's time to replace the timing belt! Welcome to the world of owning German imports! Remember, sale price is just a downpayment on your service contract.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: nickbits
BMW is very expensive for brake service. That price is inline for when I had work done of my 325i.
You should be able to go to someplace else for about 1/2 the price. The trick is that those cars also have the sensor which also needs to be replaced.

Yep, everytime we took my wife's BMW 3-Series in for brakes it was rotors and pads. At least $500 a pop for fronts or rears, whichever one they were doing at the time...plus whatever else they found wrong with it.

 

[Arkaign]

Land Rover brakes are nutty as well. I remember my brother spending something like $940 for a set of brakes.

 

[fstime]

If their available for your car on tirerack, get some Brembo blanks and HPS Hawk pads and call it a day. Don't bother with stuff directly from BMW. 90% of the time, the brands you find on tirerack are used by the manufacture and are the same quality.

You don't need to change the rear brakes at all probably. They hardly see any wear and don't need replacing usally.

 

[SSSnail]

Originally posted by: nerp
If you think $600 for a brake job is a lot of money, wait until it's time to replace the timing belt! Welcome to the world of owning German imports! Remember, sale price is just a downpayment on your service contract.

The car doesn't use timing belt, it's VANOS timing chain, lasts for the life of the engine. If you're talking about fan belts, they're cheap. I replaced mine for less than $40 parts from the dealer, walked in and picked them up, both of them.

The BMW pads and rotors are designed to wear evenly together (hence the freaking dust), so very much when you need to change your pads, might as well change your rotors. Yes, you can probably resurface the rotors, but why? They're cheap enough.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: SSSnail

Originally posted by: nerp
If you think $600 for a brake job is a lot of money, wait until it's time to replace the timing belt! Welcome to the world of owning German imports! Remember, sale price is just a downpayment on your service contract.

The BMW pads and rotors are designed to wear evenly together (hence the freaking dust), so very much when you need to change your pads, might as well change your rotors. Yes, you can probably resurface the rotors, but why? They're cheap enough.

How is that even possible?

Unless the rotors are super thin, I don't see how new rotors would wear at the same rate as new pads.

 

[SSSnail]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: SSSnail

Originally posted by: nerp
If you think $600 for a brake job is a lot of money, wait until it's time to replace the timing belt! Welcome to the world of owning German imports! Remember, sale price is just a downpayment on your service contract.

The BMW pads and rotors are designed to wear evenly together (hence the freaking dust), so very much when you need to change your pads, might as well change your rotors. Yes, you can probably resurface the rotors, but why? They're cheap enough.

How is that even possible?

Unless the rotors are super thin, I don't see how new rotors would wear at the same rate as new pads.

Not at the same rate, but they're designed to wear together. It's also the reason why you would almost NEVER see anybody resurface BMW rotors.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: SSSnail

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: SSSnail

Originally posted by: nerp
If you think $600 for a brake job is a lot of money, wait until it's time to replace the timing belt! Welcome to the world of owning German imports! Remember, sale price is just a downpayment on your service contract.

The BMW pads and rotors are designed to wear evenly together (hence the freaking dust), so very much when you need to change your pads, might as well change your rotors. Yes, you can probably resurface the rotors, but why? They're cheap enough.

How is that even possible?

Unless the rotors are super thin, I don't see how new rotors would wear at the same rate as new pads.

Not at the same rate, but they're designed to wear together. It's also the reason why you would almost NEVER see anybody resurface BMW rotors.

True, I had a trusted BMW mechanic (as does pretty much every BMW owner once their car is out of warranty) who wouldn't resurface rotors because they would be shit after and the customer would always come back complaining of problems with the brakes. Dealer was the same way. When the pads wear out you replace pads and rotors.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
True, I had a trusted BMW mechanic (as does pretty much every BMW owner once their car is out of warranty) who wouldn't resurface rotors because they would be shit after and the customer would always come back complaining of problems with the brakes. Dealer was the same way. When the pads wear out you replace pads and rotors.

That's a lovely profit enhancing feature.