[drunkntigr]

Well, service required.

What really annoys me is we go into our 18000km service and dealer says you won't need another service for another year. Get in the car and it says service in 2000km for REAR brakes.

That said, the service for the FRONT brakes is due in another 20000KM.

So the front brakes last 40000KM

and the rear brakes last 20000KM.

Asked the dealer and they said it's just the way they design the car these days. They checked the brakes at the service and said yeah it's consistent with needing a service soon. Is this some kind of design flaw?

Ummmm. I have a fleet of toyotas and hondas that have only needed brake replacements at 60000KM.

You're telling me a $80k car needs it's brakes replaced at 20000KM wtf?

[Renaud]

Are you talking about the replacement of used brake pads or about a brake failure??

[scotta2]

This is most likely to be a sensor fault or computer glitch, I have never heard of brake pads being worn sufficient to need replaced at such a low mileage.

[drunkntigr]

Brake pads.

They thought it was a sensor fault at first when they saw the key. When we got the car back they said nothing. Then when I called to remind them they said it was actually the brakes as they checked them.

I'm surprised I've been filled with so much bullshit by an actual BMW dealer.

[Want the thrill]

I just had mine in for an oil change with 12,500 miles on it. My rear brakes were saying they needed changed in 2,000 miles while my fronts said 17,000 miles to go. They checked and said the rear brakes where actually fine and reset the sensor. A few others have said the same thing as well.

[Renaud]

It is probably too late, but you could always ask your dealer to shown the old pads (of course, they could show you anything...)?

[drunkntigr]

Haven't changed them....yet.

[drunkntigr]

Originally Posted by Want the thrill

I just had mine in for an oil change with 12,500 miles on it. My rear brakes were saying they needed changed in 2,000 miles while my fronts said 17,000 miles to go. They checked and said the rear brakes where actually fine and reset the sensor. A few others have said the same thing as well.

Exactly what happened. Though the dealer for me forgot about it, took them 2 weeks to give me an answer saying they checked it and the thickness was consistent with the sensor readings....morons.

[lbjgh]

Another thing to consider drunkntigr is that the X3 uses the rear brakes for "performance control" (poor man's torque vectoring) which may accelerate pad wear.

I wonder if BMW uses some algorithm to add performance control brake wear to the indicated remaining wear.

Glad to hear all they had to do is reset the sensor.

[saulgoodman]

Originally Posted by drunkntigr

Haven't changed them....yet.

Not sure if you use cruise control often, it maintains speed by applying brakes frequently even during slight inclination.

I believe even "Auto-H" option applies rear brakes only, in case if you use it regularly in stop and go traffic.

[cheesebag]

Mine were changed and low below that milage!!!!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by lbjgh

Another thing to consider drunkntigr is that the X3 uses the rear brakes for "performance control" (poor man's torque vectoring) which may accelerate pad wear.

I wonder if BMW uses some algorithm to add performance control brake wear to the indicated remaining wear.

Glad to hear all they had to do is reset the sensor.

+1

Add in the way BMW currently seem to run a rear brake bias, the complexities of advanced DSC systems, etc.

It is nothing to do with poor brake parts, expect it in many instances, it is part of living with a BMW these days. It is not just an X3 thing, we've been seeing this accelerated rear brake wear, (compared to the fronts), for several years now, across the models.

To illustrate, with my current car an F11 535i. I'm on 10k miles and CBS indicates rear pads in 16k miles, fronts in 36k miles, and evidence is rear brakes work far more than the fronts.

I agree sensors sometimes appear to give false readings, but don't assume it is always an error, rear pads can wear much faster according to how we drive.

HighlandPete

[dfcoelho]

Well, I guess this is going to be a common thread theme...already some in the forum regarding this question.

Mine, a 2011 X3 2.0D, had already two rear brake pads sets replaced (at around 19000kms and then at 41000kms aprox.) and on set in the front (around 27000kms)

This is really something that is just annoying...in 18 months that I've been driving it, already spent almost 700euros in brake pads replacement alone...I guess this is the way BMW compensates for the 5year/100000kms regular maintenance only pack included when you buy the car...

[Dechy]

I just had my tires changed today (off with the winters!) and asked the service rep to check wear to make sure everything was in line with the iDrive indicator and apparently it's bang on (another ~6000-7000KMs left)

So mine should be good until about 35000KMs/22000 miles, I highly doubt I would be considered a "nice driver" with the way I drive it, but it seems I'm getting more out of mine than a lot of people. (knock on wood)