Original pads at 35K and still going strong?

ajvee · 03-11-2012, 09:30 AM

Guys,

My car has over 35K miles and my idrive says that I have 9K miles left on the front pads. I think something is amiss because I've done 6 or 7 HPDE sessions with the car as well. I am at an intermediate stage so I am guessing that I don't brake nearly as hard as some of you, but yet I am confused about how the sensors say I have 9K miles left.

Upon visual inspection, the outer pads look like they are getting low, but haven't seen the inners.

Any thoughts?

Thank you.

New_m3 · 03-11-2012, 09:35 AM

Mine is on 38k and still on the original pads and disks. The pads have wear sensors on them so when they get too low the idrive will tell you to change them.

arter · 03-11-2012, 09:56 AM

I would take the front tires off so you can see the thickness of both the outer and inner pad. If you are doing HPDE events, you might want to change the pads if they are less than 6 mm ( about the thickness of the backing plate).
I think the sensor goes off about at the 3 mm thickness. The estimated mileage is made by brake intensity and count, it doesn't know the actual thickness of the pad until the sensor touches....

If you weren't doing HPDE events, then you could go much lower in pad thickness. ( The worry is that in a HPDE event you might go through a pad quicker as the pad gets thinner...)

PhillyNate · 03-11-2012, 10:01 AM

DAMN guys, these pads and rotors may last the life of the car for me then.

1MOREMOD · 03-11-2012, 12:02 PM

thats crazy you need to brake harder on your HPDEs. pads only last a couple of events and for some on here just single day especially OEMs. mine melted and left deposits all over my front rotors.

bigjae1976 · 03-11-2012, 12:40 PM

Are you driving a 6MT? Usually you have choice...beat down your brake pads or beat down you clutch/transmission.

1MOREMOD · 03-11-2012, 12:42 PM

i beat my brakes. i brake very hard and shift during but after significant speed is coming off.

gallian93 · 03-11-2012, 01:39 PM

i'm at 47K miles...
still on original pads... car says another 9k to go....
my service guy says it's because i've got a 6MT and downshift properly...
as usual ... i didn't believe him

but after some searches, i saw that that is not unheard off...
that said never done any HPDE...

ajvee · 03-11-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Are you driving a 6MT? Usually you have choice...beat down your brake pads or beat down you clutch/transmission.

Good point. Lately, I've been easier on the transmission and harder on the brakes. For whatever reason, it is more intuitive for me to downshift progressively rather than slam down to bleed off speed. To alter my patterns, I've started to brake more and downshift less during regular driving as well.

Regardless, Stoptechs are on their way so can start "leaning" on it a bit more.

ajvee · 03-11-2012, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriszeh

thats crazy you need to brake harder on your HPDEs. pads only last a couple of events and for some on here just single day especially OEMs. mine melted and left deposits all over my front rotors.

LOL! I will strive to have them burned by the end of my next HPDE day!

ajvee · 03-11-2012, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arter

I would take the front tires off so you can see the thickness of both the outer and inner pad. If you are doing HPDE events, you might want to change the pads if they are less than 6 mm ( about the thickness of the backing plate).
I think the sensor goes off about at the 3 mm thickness. The estimated mileage is made by brake intensity and count, it doesn't know the actual thickness of the pad until the sensor touches....

If you weren't doing HPDE events, then you could go much lower in pad thickness. ( The worry is that in a HPDE event you might go through a pad quicker as the pad gets thinner...)

I will make sure that I do this when I get a chance.

On a side note, are you going to the glen track event on the weekend of the 4th? I see that you are in Rochester.

arter · 03-11-2012, 02:04 PM

yeap, I will be at the BMW GVC event may 5&6th at Watkins Glen.
Also will be at Mid Ohio BMW event march 31 & April 1th....

Plus probably something in between....

bigjae1976 · 03-11-2012, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajvee

Good point. Lately, I've been easier on the transmission and harder on the brakes. For whatever reason, it is more intuitive for me to downshift progressively rather than slam down to bleed off speed. To alter my patterns, I've started to brake more and downshift less during regular driving as well.

Regardless, Stoptechs are on their way so can start "leaning" on it a bit more.

Yeah, I would definitely use the brakes a lot more at the track. A set of pads is much easier and cheaper to replace than a clutch. I used to be real easy on my brakes until I did the clutch in my E46. It wasn't the worst thing ever but not exactly fun...not looking forward to it.

03-11-2012, 09:30 AM	#1
ajvee Major 119 Rep 1,451 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: None iTrader: (13)	Original pads at 35K and still going strong? Guys, My car has over 35K miles and my idrive says that I have 9K miles left on the front pads. I think something is amiss because I've done 6 or 7 HPDE sessions with the car as well. I am at an intermediate stage so I am guessing that I don't brake nearly as hard as some of you, but yet I am confused about how the sensors say I have 9K miles left. Upon visual inspection, the outer pads look like they are getting low, but haven't seen the inners. Any thoughts? Thank you.
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03-11-2012, 09:35 AM	#2
New_m3 Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 246 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Mine is on 38k and still on the original pads and disks. The pads have wear sensors on them so when they get too low the idrive will tell you to change them.
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03-11-2012, 09:56 AM	#3
arter collecting toys 41 Rep 810 Posts Drives: M3 MCB Join Date: May 2008 Location: rochester, ny iTrader: (1)	I would take the front tires off so you can see the thickness of both the outer and inner pad. If you are doing HPDE events, you might want to change the pads if they are less than 6 mm ( about the thickness of the backing plate). I think the sensor goes off about at the 3 mm thickness. The estimated mileage is made by brake intensity and count, it doesn't know the actual thickness of the pad until the sensor touches.... If you weren't doing HPDE events, then you could go much lower in pad thickness. ( The worry is that in a HPDE event you might go through a pad quicker as the pad gets thinner...) __________________ 2011 e92 M3 Monte Carlo Blue ESS 535 - gone but not forgotten 2015 cayman GTS - new toy 2006 SLK 55 AMG sold
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03-11-2012, 10:01 AM	#4
PhillyNate ENTHUSIAST 135 Rep 2,097 Posts Drives: 2010 Porsche Cayman Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 Porsche Cayman [0.00]	DAMN guys, these pads and rotors may last the life of the car for me then. __________________ "what I'm driving here...is an ending." Jeremy Clarkson 2010 Carrara White Porsche Cayman 6mt 2014 Whiteout Toyota GT-86 6mt(Sold 05/23/15) 2011 Alpine White BMW M3 6mt ZCP Coupe(forced retirement 06/06/14) 2008 Alpine White BMW 328i 6mt Coupe(retired 06/21/11)
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03-11-2012, 12:02 PM	#5
1MOREMOD - 11817 Rep 23,187 Posts Drives: Race car-> Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: check your mirrors iTrader: (5)	thats crazy you need to brake harder on your HPDEs. pads only last a couple of events and for some on here just single day especially OEMs. mine melted and left deposits all over my front rotors. __________________ 02 Tiag e46 M3\|6MT\|GC plates\|MCS c.o.\|GC bars\|GC race control arms\|GC bushings\|BW eng. & tran. mounts\|subframe kit\|BW race shifter\|BW Jaffster\|Euro header\|BW exhaust\|K&N c.a.i.\|Epic race tune\|Rouge pulleys\|Seibon CF hood\|CSL bumper\|apr gt 250 & splitter\|ST-40\|XR-2\|SS lines\|half cage\|Recaro profi\|Profi 2 harness\|BMWpedals\|BW studs\|
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03-11-2012, 12:40 PM	#6
bigjae1976 Major General 1571 Rep 8,076 Posts Drives: 11 E90 M3 Individual Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (22) Garage List 2004 BMW M3 [4.50] 2011 BMW E90 M3 [5.25] 2013 BMW 328i [5.00]	Are you driving a 6MT? Usually you have choice...beat down your brake pads or beat down you clutch/transmission. __________________ 2018 F30 320iX Melbourne Red 2011 E90 M3 Monte Carlo Blue 2004 E46 M3 Imola Red 2000 E36/7 Z3 Steel Blue
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03-11-2012, 12:42 PM	#7
1MOREMOD - 11817 Rep 23,187 Posts Drives: Race car-> Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: check your mirrors iTrader: (5)	i beat my brakes. i brake very hard and shift during but after significant speed is coming off. __________________ 02 Tiag e46 M3\|6MT\|GC plates\|MCS c.o.\|GC bars\|GC race control arms\|GC bushings\|BW eng. & tran. mounts\|subframe kit\|BW race shifter\|BW Jaffster\|Euro header\|BW exhaust\|K&N c.a.i.\|Epic race tune\|Rouge pulleys\|Seibon CF hood\|CSL bumper\|apr gt 250 & splitter\|ST-40\|XR-2\|SS lines\|half cage\|Recaro profi\|Profi 2 harness\|BMWpedals\|BW studs\|
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03-11-2012, 01:39 PM	#8
gallian93 Captain 94 Rep 904 Posts Drives: 18 M3 cs/72 tii Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: philadelphia PA iTrader: (22) Garage List 2010 e90 M3 (Sold) [0.00] 2018 BMW M3 CS [0.00] 2013 X5M [0.00] 2008 E93 M3 Traded [0.00] 2002 330Ci (SOLD) [0.00] 2005 e46 M3 TOTALED [0.00] 2008 Z4 MC (sold) [5.00] 1972 BMW 2002tii [10.00] 2011 X6M (SOLD) [8.00]	i'm at 47K miles... still on original pads... car says another 9k to go.... my service guy says it's because i've got a 6MT and downshift properly... as usual ... i didn't believe him but after some searches, i saw that that is not unheard off... that said never done any HPDE... __________________ [/B]2018 BMW M3 CS (SMB) (Daily Driver)1991 E30 w S52 swap(New addition)[/B]1972 BMW 2002tii (ITS ALIVE)2013 X5M (Wife's DD) ,2009 AUDI A4 3.2 (Winter/Aupair) 2010 e90 M3 (Sold 2020),2011 X5 5.0i (Traded 2019),2007 335 IX(sold 2018),2008 Z4 MC (sold 2017 Still sad about it), 2011 X6M (sold 2015)2008 E93 M3 (Traded 2013), 2005 e46 M3(solidified affair)(wrecked 2010), 2002 330Ci (started love affair)(Sold 2009)
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03-11-2012, 02:04 PM	#12
arter collecting toys 41 Rep 810 Posts Drives: M3 MCB Join Date: May 2008 Location: rochester, ny iTrader: (1)	yeap, I will be at the BMW GVC event may 5&6th at Watkins Glen. Also will be at Mid Ohio BMW event march 31 & April 1th.... Plus probably something in between.... __________________ 2011 e92 M3 Monte Carlo Blue ESS 535 - gone but not forgotten 2015 cayman GTS - new toy 2006 SLK 55 AMG sold
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