[alifeili]

I have a 2011 BMW X3 XDrive 28i and I recently replaced my front brake pads and wear sensor after the warning lights came on and indicated that its time for replacement. I initially purchased a cheap Chinese brake sensor on eBay, however after the brake warning light did not turn off after replacing the sensor. I assumed that the sensor must be bad so I purchased a Duralast brake sensor from Autozone, which also failed to turn the warning light off. I read somewhere in the forums that if I connect the two sensor wires together, it will trick the car and the light will go away, however that didn't work either.

I called my local BMW service department and they told me that the light should go away on its own as soon as I replace the sensor, and if it doesn't then "something else" is wrong and I have to take my car in. He wouldn't tell me what could be wrong so I figured they are just trying to charge me for running a diagnostic test, which I could have done myself and so I did. I ran ISTA rheingold on my car and the only error code that it gives me is front brake error, and i'm wasn't able to clear the fault code.

So I finally purchased a BMW OEM brake sensor, thinking that my problem will go away after installing it, but NO the brake light remains on and I can recent it because it says "reset impossible".

This task shouldn't be difficult and its driving me insane!!! Anyone knows how to fix this stupid thing??

[red30xdrive]

Mr Google / YouTube is very helpful ---- top results from searching "reset BMW brake pads" gives us this

Hope this helps , its slightly different on the newer cars .

[alifeili]

@red30xdrive
Thanks for the video. I actually hadn't seen this one before, which made me very excited. Unfortunately though, it didn't fix my problem.
I keep getting "Reset Impossible" message for the front brakes.

[BIG_KID]

Were the brake pads worn out enough for the sensor to touch the rotor

[alifeili]

Originally Posted by BIG_KID

Were the brake pads worn out enough for the sensor to touch the rotor

Well here is what actually happened. yes the brake pads were worn out but not to a point where they touched the rotor, and the brake change light never actually came on until one day after I changed my oil and tried to reset my oil warning light. Also, for some odd reason, I decided to reset my front brake lights as well (even though the warning light wasn't on). I can't explain why I did that, but I did and now i'm paying the price for it. I'm not sure if resetting the brake light earlier than I was supposed to without first changing the pads and the wear sensor has anything to do with why the light doesn't go away, but I assume the light should have gone away once I actually did change the pads and the sensor.

[BIG_KID]

Check post #7 and 8
It might help

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=618871

[alifeili]

Thank you so much. It now kind of make sense as to why the front brake warning light doesn't go away.

Please feel free to correct me, but based on my understanding if I also went a head and replaced the 'rear' pads and put a new wear sensor, then this should fix the problem, correct?

Because I'm thinking since the 'rear' brake wear sensor has already gone through the 1st stage (because I only replaced my front brake pads & sensor) and my new front brake wear sensor hasn't gone through the 1st stage yet, then the computer is thrown off and confused. So if I have two new sensors then the computer will no longer be confused and will allow me to reset my front and rear brake lights. Am I getting this right?

[BIG_KID]

If the rear sensor worn to the first stage then just strip the sensor wires back and twist them together. This simulates a new sensor. Then reset the rear brake service. This is just temporary until you can change the pads/sensor. Then hopefully you can reset the fronts.

[alifeili]

So i did exactly what you said. After twisting the rear wear sensor wires together, I was able to reset the rear brake service without any issues, but unfortunately I'm still not able to reset the front brake service. It still give me "reset impossible". I really dont know what else to do. This is so frustrating!

[BIG_KID]

i wonder if you "rub down" the front sensor on some sand paper or a file until the first stage wire is exposed. (I'm not sure if the wire needs to touch the rotor to make a ground path or not). Then see if it triggers the first stage warning on the dash. i notice on my OEM sensor harness plug, there is a number one and number two. I'm guessing this is stage one/two sensor wire.

[nonot]

Happened to me and it turns out I did not fully seat the sensor connections in the junction box inside the wheel well. It is a tight fit and just pushed harder until the plugs sat well.

Try spraying WD40 inside the rubber connectors to clean and provide lubrication when connecting the plugs

[Plyford]

I had the same issue and it turned out to be a faulty sensor. After exchanging and refitting it I managed to reset ok.

Good luck

[BIG_KID]

According to the very first post the front sensor was changed three times

1) a Chinese sensor
2) a duralast sensor
3) OEM BMW sensor

[AlexF25]

Sorry to revive this old thread, but i'm having the same issue with the exact same car, 2011 bmw x3 xdrive28i.

OP - How did you resolve this?

Just purchased car used and needed brakes so changed all brakes
-All New Brake Pads; front and rear
-All new brake rotors; front and rear
-New front and rear brake sensors (Front = Bowa Brand ; Rear = Sadeca Brand)
-All purchased from Autohausaz.com

1. Front brake indicators reset easily without issue
2. Rear brake indicators I get to the Yellow light "Reset Impossible" and haven't been able to get past there. Parking/Hand Brake is always off.

Been going through all the reset options on this and other forums and of course youtube, but with no luck.
-Tried reset through Hidden Menu, as stated above, yellow "reset impossible"
-tired to "unlock" using last 5 digits of vin, successfully unlocked but still get brake warning and "reset impossible"

Any advice welcome, please help the red brake warning is annoying

[6MT_Addict]

You can use ISTA to adjust the brake wear estimate based on pad thickness, and also use it to correct any dash lights.

[AlexF25]

Thank you for the quick reply.

Where is the best place I can safely download ISTA?

I keep ending up directed to the download from Bimmerfest, but the most recent posts has people saying the download will infect your laptop with virus and make your pc unuseable.