[Brukes]

Question - I have my annual service appointment coming up for my 2015 328ix (manufactured 3/15). I don't drive the car a ton of miles: less than 5K a year, but mostly city miles which can be tough on the car and brakes.

When I bought the CPO (at 26k miles - currently ar 30.5K), I was sold on the extended maintenance program (not sure I would do it again given how few miles I drive on this car) and want to make sure I at least break even, which would require getting the brakes done during my program window (expires 9/20).

I visually looked at the brakes and they could be in the zone for replacement but I don't have any tools to measure them. They are probably somewhere between 3-4mm remaining. From reading on here, it seems to get brakes replaced under the maintenance program, the sensors need to be tripped and thickness around 3mm; so, I am trying to get prepared to argue to make sure they get replaced (hopefully the rotors too).

What's causing my concern is that my on-board computer says that I have 30K+ miles remaining on both front and rear, which is counter to my visual inspection. Further confusing me is that mybmw.com shows that the car has a service alert from its last transmission (1/4) indicating that CBS recommends replacing front and rear pads.

Does the service alert from the mybmw site indicate that the sensor has been tripped?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

[Billfitz]

Regarding the sensors, there are only two of them, leaving six pads unaccounted for. Only with visual inspection can you be sure of their condition. The car has no method by which it can measure the remaining pad thickness, so the mileage to replacement reading is next to worthless. If a sensor does trip you'll get a dashboard warning every time you start the car, with the mileage to when you must replace them counting down each time.

[Brukes]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Regarding the sensors, there are only two of them, leaving six pads unaccounted for. Only with visual inspection can you be sure of their condition. The car has no method by which it can measure the remaining pad thickness, so the mileage to replacement reading is next to worthless. If a sensor does trip you'll get a dashboard warning every time you start the car, with the mileage to when you must replace them counting down each time.

So the service alert I'm seeing on mybmw is just bogus?

[Billfitz]

It depends on the alert. Did you trip a sensor? If so you need brakes ASAP. Is it just a mileage based alert? Then it's a solid 'maybe'.

[Brukes]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It depends on the alert. Did you trip a sensor? If so you need brakes ASAP. Is it just a mileage based alert? Then it's a solid 'maybe'.

Just the alert that's coming online that says brakes need to be replaced. No warnings coming up in the car.

[Billfitz]

An online warning is probably time or mileage based. If a sensor trips it will be literally in your face on the dashboard. Doubled check it in iDrive in the vehicle information menu.

[silver.f30]

For what it's worth, my car has been saying I'm due for breaks in 30k miles for the last 20k miles... I had the same logic with my plan for buying the extended maintenance. As long as I can get break, spark plugs and multiple oil changes it will be worth it for me.

I'd recommend finding a helpful service advisor who is willing to be a bit flexible with you on the intervals