02-26-2020, 06:10 PM | #1 |
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Brake Pad / Fluid Change
Hey guys,
So I had my oil changed today on my '16 X3 at a local indie BMW shop, they've been very trustworthy so far. Today nothing was out of the ordinary, but they did give me a potential work up of what my next visit would look like, as they stated my break pads on the rear were down to 5 mm. I currently have just shy of 60k miles on my vehicle, and I go in for oil changes around 7500 miles or so. They quoted me with the rear break pads being replaced, the sensors for the break pads, break fluid change, and all of the labor (there might be another one or two things on the work up, but I'll add them if I find anything of significance) at just over $900. This very well could be a decent price or I could be getting ripped off, just curious what you guys think. Any feedback appreciated! I'll try and update this post with a picture of the work up if needed! |
02-26-2020, 06:47 PM | #2 | |
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02-26-2020, 06:49 PM | #3 | ||
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02-26-2020, 07:37 PM | #4 |
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Seems a little steep, are all the parts genuine BMW? If you trust the shop and they do good work, it my be worth it. Makes me glad I do all my own wrenching because it would cost me less then $250 and a couple of hours of my time.
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02-26-2020, 07:40 PM | #5 |
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That looks to me to be pretty close to what you'd pay at a dealership. But I'd consider asking them about knock-off parts that aren't necessarily OEM (i.e. the brand of rotor used). I think you'll see the cost drop to around half for the parts.
And definitely do the air filters yourself, engine / pollen / cabin. It's so easy. One other thing - 5mm means pay attention but isn't time necessarily to do the work. If that's where you are at 60,000 miles you've probably got another 10 - 20 you could go if you wanted. |
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02-26-2020, 08:42 PM | #6 |
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Typical Dealer prices, bit high.
If you're reasonably handy w/tools and don't mind getting your hands dirty, replacing the brake pads and rotors is VERY simple to do at home. Two German made brake rotors, one wear sensor and set of pads will cost you about $275. Let a shop flush and fill the hydraulic brake fluid; should run maybe 150 bucks. Food for thought. Good luck/Bill |
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02-27-2020, 06:49 AM | #7 |
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With parts from Germanparts.ca....I did front and rear with Brembo, rotors, pads and sensors for 550...Canadian.
I would gather up the parts and pay labour only at an Indy. Some of that quote is plain nuts. |
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02-27-2020, 06:52 AM | #8 | |
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02-27-2020, 07:45 AM | #9 |
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I would not change pads with 5mm left. That is half their life left. Wait until between 2-3 mm. Every time somebody posts a repair shop estimate I'm glad I do my own work. I wish somebody would pay me $45 labor to replace an air filter. I'd be rich.
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02-27-2020, 12:33 PM | #10 | |
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My Indy charges 55Cdn an hour where I can’t or choose not to bother. |
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02-27-2020, 12:56 PM | #11 |
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As someone else has stated, definitely do the filters yourself. You already have the part numbers listed on the paper and can order them online...that's $90 you just saved in labor.
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02-27-2020, 01:37 PM | #12 |
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If you do your own filters - two things to note. The internal pollen filters under the glove box are a pair. They go side by side, but you can only see one through the access door. The second one is hidden to the left and you have to reach in there to grab it. For the cabin air filter under the hood by the firewall on the passenger side, after you remove the top cover there is a like a rim filter holder that snaps in at the top of the filter box. Pull that off as well and installing the new filter is way easier. The filter is weird. It's two filters joined by some cloth and sits in there like a sideways pup tent.
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02-27-2020, 05:28 PM | #13 | |
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02-27-2020, 06:36 PM | #14 |
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Thanks guys, this is the only indie BMW mechanic in my area, and we don't have a BMW dealership in our town either, so I'm guessing they're taking full advantage of that fact. I guess I'll stick with them for oil changes, break fluid flushes, etc, but will try and do a lot of stuff like changing filters and break pads on my own. My father-in-law was a mechanic on multiple NASCAR teams and my brother-in-law is a mechanic as well, so I'm pretty confident with their help I could get this kind of stuff done without too much hassle.
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02-27-2020, 06:42 PM | #15 |
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You'll be fine....do some you-tube prep....and you will have it down....
This debris was left after backing the vehicle out the garage in July-ish 2018... 2 winters later...the BREMBO stuff still looks like new...The OEM stuff...utter garbage... |
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02-27-2020, 10:15 PM | #16 | |
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BWW part numbers: RealOEM.com Repair instructions: NewTIS.info Both sites are quite useful. |
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02-27-2020, 11:22 PM | #17 | |
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02-28-2020, 05:56 AM | #18 | |||||
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03-04-2020, 02:54 AM | #19 |
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Never pay anyone to change filters. Parts there seem reasonable but $45 is stupid, air filter will take you 5 minutes and a child could do it. Cabin filters are a little more involved but the hardest part is getting under the glove box if your a big guy.
Brake fluid service I have issue with, it's a hydraulic closed system, it shouldn't need to be changed as often as BMW recommends, but I'm no expert there. The labor on the brake job doesn't seem too out of line and if the parts are BMW OEM the parts probably aren't out of line. First thing to consider is the rotors, you don't need to replace them with every pad replacement especially if there is no brake judder (warped rotors) or the pads are gone and the rotors are scored. On my previous 335 I replaced the front brakes not because the pads were gone but the rotors were warped. I did some research and ended up buying Powerstop rotors and pads which came in a kit for just over $200 and included the sensor. The rotors were drilled and slotted and they worked as well or better than the stock ones. Bottom line you can do everything there sans the brake fluid for between $300 and $400 if you don't mind getting dirty and have some basic mechanical skills, brakes aren't that hard. If that's not your wheelhouse you might want to take a little control over what they do and what parts they use. |
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03-04-2020, 10:13 AM | #20 |
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I follow "The Rule of Three"....I always get 3 quotes!..... But obviously, any BMW's labor rate will be high so check out "indy's" in your area. As a last resort, if there aren't a couple of skilled independent shops in your area to quote then even a second BMW dealer, because you might come up with different numbers.
I agree with the comments on replacing a few of the filters yourself to save $$. Typically they are easy to change without even getting your hands dirty. These days brake fluid should be changed every 2 years due to the fact that it absorbs water from the air (closed system but moister can still accumulate) and can negatively affect the ABS systems. Most "indy" shops (even non BMW specialists) can do simple brake/rotor jobs and obviously oil changes......and if they can't or don't feel comfortable they typically will indicated that and recommend someone else. All food for thought! |
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03-04-2020, 11:03 AM | #21 | ||
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I agree that the recommended 2 year interval may be too often, depending on the humidity in your location, but flushing the old fluid out periodically will reduce failures in the brake system. I use an electronic brake fluid tester on all my vehicles to measure the moisture content and flush the fluid when needed which is generally around 3-5 years depending on use. Quote:
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03-04-2020, 12:18 PM | #22 |
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In particular with regard to brakes...I think all this OEM spin is a massive misnomer...BMW don't make brake parts...they just have favored suppliers...the junk in the pictures above was OEM (TRW actually) from the factory...On other BMW's, I have replaced , jurid, pagid etc, but that was my first encounter with TRW....No idea where they were fabricated but my guess is China or similar...The replacements 'Made in Italy" are standing up well....No rust evident...
There was no way, OEM were going back on the F25 no matter what was stuffed in any OEM box. If a part, any part has performed well, I usually replace with the same brand, particularly spark plugs...but if a part was not up to snuff...I'll look at alternatives. That being said, I have a complete set of OEM brakes (pads, rotors, sensors) waiting to go on my 2013 X6M... |
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