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SUVs BMW X3 & X5 BMW X3
3152 messages, Last post on Sep 30, 2008 at 7:09 PM
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After 60K miles my wife's 2004 X3 2.5 finally needed brakes. Funny thing; the outside RR pad had begun to score the rotor but the pad wear sensor on the inside RR pad hadn't worn through yet- we never got a brake lining warning light. We checked the front pads and rotors while we we at it and they were almost gone as well, so we went ahead and replaced the pads and rotors at all four corners. The X3 is the first BMW that I've ever owned that wore out the rear pads before the front ones. All my other Bimmers would go through two sets of front pads before you had to touch the rear pads. Kudos to Swope BMW in Louisville-in particular my Service Advisor Edwin-for taking the truck in at 10:00 AM(without an appointment) and having it washed and ready to go by 5:50 the same day. By the time we put another 60K on it my son will be driving it...  
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Replying to: roadburner (Mar 22, 2008 8:26 am) Any chance that your wife may have a habit of leaving the parking brake engaged while driving from time to time?
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Replying to: bodble2 (Mar 24, 2008 5:40 pm) The X3 gives the driver a continuous warning chime if you drive off with the parking brake handle lifted by just one notch. Even if that wasn't the case, BMWs have a separate parking brake assembly that uses shoes that act against a drum which is cast into the rear rotors- as can be seen here. I checked a couple of X3 boards that are much more technically oriented, and their members confirmed that the rear brakes DO tend to wear out before the fronts. My Service Advisor also stated that X3s are harder on the rear pads.
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Replying to: roadburner (Mar 25, 2008 9:25 am)  Do you know if that warning chime applies to all BMWs?
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Replying to: bodble2 (Mar 25, 2008 1:59 pm) Glad to help. Do you know if that warning chime applies to all BMWs? I believe that all new BMWs have the warning chime, but I don't know when it was first introduced. I do know that my 1995 3 Series doesn't have it, and our 1997 528i also lacked the feature.
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Replying to: roadburner (Mar 25, 2008 4:12 pm) 
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Replying to: bodble2 (Mar 25, 2008 5:52 pm) Me too... 
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Replying to: roadburner (Mar 22, 2008 8:26 am) A similar thing happened with my '05 325Ci a couple months ago, although I don't know which wheel. Basically, one of the outside pads was down to "0%" by the time the inside pad was low enough to activate the wear sensor. The good news is that the brake pads and rotors were replaced at all 4 corners, at no cost, thanks to BMW's maintenance plan. Who did the brake work for your X3? I'm guessing it was an independent shop who specializes in BMWs, correct? Is this one area of maintenance where $$$ are saved by using an independent shop? May I ask how much this service cost you? One reason I'm asking is because a service advisor (not my "regular" advisor) warned the brake services for an X3 are very expensive -- more expensive than on the 3-series cars. If so, I'm guessing it is only because the rotors are larger? He was advising me to consider buying the extended maintenance plan; but considering all of my X3's brake pads are fairly new, and our X3 is now 4 years old today, I didn't think it was a smart move.
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Replying to: cotmc (Mar 26, 2008 12:33 pm) In this case I used the dealer, for a couple of reasons. Normally I would have used my independent shop, but when I discovered the scored rotor I thought it was possible that the caliper was seized- which would be covered under the CPO warranty. Secondly, my indie shop is usually booked a couple of days ahead, and the X3 is the only car my wife drives(it's the only one with an automatic). The dealer was able to get it in and out the same day. The main cost was the parts- $620 for rotors and pads at all four corners. The final damage was a tick over $900. Not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but the cost per mile was about the same as my wife's old 528i- which needed front pads every 20K and rotors every 40K. The rear pads and rotors lasted  twice as long. To put things in perspective, my indie shop charged $600 to R&R the pads and rotors on my 318ti, using BMW rotors and Axxis Metalmaster Pads. That said, in 100K miles the 3er went through only one set of rotors(F&R), 2 sets of front pads and one set of rear pads. At least the X3 wont need any brake work for another four years...
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"At least the X3 wont need any brake work for another four years..." We do a lot of highway miles. Had brakes at 35k and at 70k, both no cost on warranty or service plan, so I don't think dealer was taking advantage of us. Not the greatest intervals. |
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