[Feanor]

My iDrive is reporting I've got a little more than 1000 miles left on my front brake pads. Car's done about 22k miles but the brakes have probably been used more than normal from driving in Italy and more recently on the roundabouts in Milton Keynes in the UK where we accelerate to 60+mph, brake (and maybe stop), and accelerate again repeatedly.

I'm sure, though, that I've read of some people checking their pads when the computer reported they were due for replacement and finding that they had plenty of pad left. I find this odd though as there's a sensor which is supposed to take care of this.

Is it worth bothering to take the wheels off to check the pads? If I'm going to do that then I wonder whether I may as well just replace the pads myself.

[rockymtnpilot]

Your car should be equipped with front and back wear sensors that trip when the pad gets down to the last few millimeters. I would take the iDrive's notification to be aware that the wear sensor may trip soon but nothing to act on. You shouldn't need pads before then. I think OEM standard life is about 30k miles. BTW, save yourself 50% on replacement by replacing the pads yourself. YouTube has plenty of DIY videos.

[Feanor]

OK thanks

[liveevil]

Mine was changed at ~30k miles at the prompt.

Before I changed, I could hear the metal scratching sound, with radio off and windows down.

[rockymtnpilot]

Originally Posted by liveevil

Mine was changed at ~30k miles at the prompt.

Before I changed, I could hear the metal scratching sound, with radio off and windows down.

There's a pin in most pads that is designed to give an audible note prior to the pad needing replaced. Metal on metal should not be a sound you hear.