MINI app reports rear brake pad change due at 6k miles

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Hatch

Hatch

Active Member
Hi All,

I've been seeing the 2 year service nags on my app and the display in the car. Today i noticed a 3rd - rear brake pad change due. That would put the car right around 6k miles. Right after we got her 2 years ago, i changed brakes on all 4 wheels to Akibonos to mitigate the brake dust issue.

Even though i see no warning on the dash (other than the service nags), and no permanent error codes in Bimmerlink, i figured ok, maybe i messed something up when installing. I took off both rear wheels and everything looks brand new. Pad wear sensor is in place, pads look completely unworn.

So i'm wondering what's up with this. Forgive me for being so jaded, but everything i see related to car service immediately makes me think i'm being scammed. I just had to quit my local mechanic because he was scamming me on another car. I had a super bad experience with Toyota dealers when i had my Corolla.

20240831_170258.webp

Now my problem is stressing out about taking Sally to the MINI dealer to get the recall fix. I need to make sure they don't steal my Akibonos either on purpose or due to no communication between service advisor and tech working on the car. I really detest car dealers, and service depts.

Screenshot_20240831-165345_MINI*.webp
 
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Hatch said:
Hi All,

I've been seeing the 2 year service nags on my app and the display in the car. Today i noticed a 3rd - rear brake pad change due. That would put the car right around 6k miles. Right after we got her 2 years ago, i changed brakes on all 4 wheels to Akibonos to mitigate the brake dust issue.

Even though i see no warning on the dash (other than the service nags), and no permanent error codes in Bimmerlink, i figured ok, maybe i messed something up when installing. I took off both rear wheels and everything looks brand new. Pad wear sensor is in place, pads look completely unworn.

So i'm wondering what's up with this. Forgive me for being so jaded, but everything i see related to car service immediately makes me think i'm being scammed. I just had to quit my local mechanic because he was scamming me on another car. I had a super bad experience with Toyota dealers when i had my Corolla.

View attachment 23192

Now my problem is stressing out about taking Sally to the MINI dealer to get the recall fix. I need to make sure they don't steal my Akibonos either on purpose or due to no communication between service advisor and tech working on the car. I really detest car dealers, and service depts.

View attachment 23193
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In very similar case low milage my rear brake pads on apps call for change but was brake sensor on right side when tiny wire broke loose as I never saw wire so skinny maybe once you changed a pads accidentally that wire broke as I believe is only one brake pads sensor there
 
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Probably a faulty sensor or short. As far as I know they don't even remove the wheels to do the brake fluid change, not sure how, but I would swear even after the car wash everything looked as dusty on my rims as when I brought it in. I wouldn't worry about them stealing brake pads, that's a lot of shop time that they can't put on the repair order.
 
I mean, wouldn't i be able to see some error or DTC in bimmerlink, in car scanner, or some warning light on the dash? Nothing. The brake sensor is in place and the wire looks exactly like it did 2 years ago when i changed the pads. Obviously with 5k on the clock in 2 years, my wife hardly drives the car.

I realize **** happens to any car at any age. My contention is that nothing has happened that the car is aware of. As far as i can tell she's totally happy. I would just ignore it, and never go to the dealer - but i can't because of the recall.
 
Hatch said:
I mean, wouldn't i be able to see some error or DTC in bimmerlink, in car scanner, or some warning light on the dash? Nothing. The brake sensor is in place and the wire looks exactly like it did 2 years ago when i changed the pads. Obviously with 5k on the clock in 2 years, my wife hardly drives the car.

I realize **** happens to any car at any age. My contention is that nothing has happened that the car is aware of. As far as i can tell she's totally happy. I would just ignore it, and never go to the dealer - but i can't because of the recall.
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Dashboard with broken brake pad sensor IMG_1635.webp
 
Likely a bad pad sensor. I've seen several people say they have had sensors fail. They are cheap enough on Amazon to just put one in and skip the dealer hassle. I think the car will automatically reset itself once it has been driven with a good sensor.
 
My car has been occasionally throwing the fault for over a year. They replaced the sensor when I went in for the two year service and it popped again anyways. I usually just reset it using the button on the gauge cluster, which works for a couple of days or six months who knows. Annoying.
 
Brawndo said:
My car has been occasionally throwing the fault for over a year. They replaced the sensor when I went in for the two year service and it popped again anyways. I usually just reset it using the button on the gauge cluster, which works for a couple of days or six months who knows. Annoying.
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You not discraibing what fault you deal with be more specific and a members on a forum can help you
 
Update:

I used Bimmerlink to reset the services intervals. All nags went away except "Vehicle inspection due in September 2024", which is true. But i got that done with my other cars at my local shop (which tried to scam me on a tie rod on our CRV, so he's history now). So that nag must just come from BMW and doesn't have anything to do with what the car is thinking.

Before i reset the service intervals, i checked for errors one more time in Bimmerlink. There are 3 error sections - errors, permanent errors, and info errors. There were 6 errors - nothing related to braking. There were no permanent errors. There were something like 46 info errors. I would call those transient errors - anything like if you opened the car door with ignition on and in drive, the car would throw an error and put the car back in park. Again, nothing related to brakes.

So i cleared all the errors in each section and then reset the service intervals. We'll see what comes back, if anything. I feel better about going in for the recall when the car isn't showing all those notifications.

That Bimmerlink software is worth whatever i paid for it. I used it before to retract the parking brake when changing the pads to Akibonos.
 
Update2:

I guess clearing everything in Bimmerlink, forced her to throw the code at me. This morning when i was driving to work, i got the "Braking system: Drive moderately" warning on the dash. Bimmerlink now shows the real error. Time to search for a new sensor. I know everything is fine since i just inspected the brakes, so at least i don't need to worry.

PadSensorError.webp
 
Screw the sensor! If you visually inspect your brake pads every so often, just twist the two wires together and zip tie it out of the way. When you get around to ordering other parts, order a sensor. The sensors on my 1 series have been tied for years. When I change wheels twice a year I look at the pads. they are now at about 30% since the SE is gone, and the 1 will get driven more miles over the next year, when I put the winter tires on I will replace the pads and rotors
 
Thank you for this.. I had the idea to test both sensors old and new to see if it's just continuity thing. I already got the sensor, but if it goes bad again, like you say.. Screw the sensor! I never had sensors before and survived just fine! Over-engineering is ruining so many things.
 
Many thanks to all who helped with this.. especially @Rexsio for the part number - 34356865612. Sensor installed, and error + service due cleared in Bimmerlink. Dash warnings went away.

The old sensor looked pristine (like the pads), but testing with a meter showed an open circuit. I've seen many posts from other forums about this same issue for many years. It's just another scam.. a sensor that out of nowhere fails and then you need to go to the dealer for service. It's pretty sad when a lightly driven, garage kept car experiences this at around 5k miles. Next time it happens i'm just cutting it and twisting the wires together.
 
SameGuy said:
Probably a faulty sensor or short. As far as I know they don't even remove the wheels to do the brake fluid change, not sure how, but I would swear even after the car wash everything looked as dusty on my rims as when I brought it in. I wouldn't worry about them stealing brake pads, that's a lot of shop time that they can't put on the repair order.
Click to expand...

This is what shops use to Bleed/Flush out your braking system, attaches to Master Cylinder reservoir (cap) pressurize container of fresh fluid is passed through lines, out through each wheels brake bleeder nipples. So long as you have access to them, no need to remove wheels, very clean and efficient way, no mess!
I too will be changing out OEM brake pads for ceramic to get rid of annoying brake dust on the wheels. I am old guy who worked on building mostly 60/70 Fords for over 43 years, purchased a new 2023 Mini Cooper SE a year ago and just love it! Blast to drive and for something that can blow away most any 60's muscle car and weighs even more is just mind boggling! Technology.......nice heads up regarding the flimsy brake sensor wires, something I will keep in mind when I change out the pads, a little tip from an old retired mechanic, as our EV have regen/one pedal driving, we rarely need to use our brakes (when I am at stop light, I keep my foot on brake pedal, just so light stays on and not get rear ended), so every day when you have to depress the pedal to start, pump the pedal a few times to activate brake/calipers, will keep things like pistons from seizing up etc.... If you live in area where you change out for winter tires, can do a visual check of calipers/brake pads, wheel etc....with one pedal driving, our pads should last many years!
Have fun!
David
P1020880.webp
 
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