Brake pad warning light

[Scott80]

On my 325i se my brake pad warning light comes on intermittley on long runs. On short runs it seems to stay on. I've renewed all four brake disks and renew brake pads all round but still the light comes on! Any imformation on how to cure this problem?

[Chris-W]

Did you use new pad wear sensors?

[Scott80]

Yes m8, i thought that might of cured it, but it still comes on and then and goes of after a few miles?

[Brianmoooore]

Search for "220 ohm resistor"

[Scott80]

Ok will do, thanks for the informatons guys

[Scott80]

Is the 220 ohm resistor behind the dash board? Is it a big job to sort out? Thanks Scott

[E30Mark]

Right, i have some good pics of how to find and rectify this fault, give me a short while and i'll write up a quick article how to sort this out.

I think Brian must be getting bored with typing 220 Ohm resistor !

[Brianmoooore]

Is the 220 ohm resistor behind the dash board? Is it a big job to sort out? Thanks Scott

Inside the instrument cluster. Dry joints just above the temperature gauge.
Easy to sort out, once you've removed the cluster. Tighten the two small brass nuts on the back of the cluster while it's out, and check the condition of the two batteries on the SI board while the cluster is apart, if they are NiCd types, rather than Lithium.

[E30Mark]

Quick picture of the joints you need to inspect / solder.

[psychochild187]

had my light come on an off a bit in mine
i had done all pads disks and sensors . but i was lazy and didnt sort the fluid level out and the sensor in the resivoir was low

but yours should be high id the pads have just been done

[Brianmoooore]

had my light come on an off a bit in mine
i had done all pads disks and sensors . but i was lazy and didnt sort the fluid level out and the sensor in the resivoir was low

but yours should be high id the pads have just been done

Different warning light.

[Scott80]

Thanks for the information i will get the problem sorted now.Cheers Brian.

[fistagon]

I'd like to say cheers to Brian for explaining this one too...the pad wear light has been problematic ever since I bought the car and I'd almost given up hope of ever fixing it...

For info for other Zoners looking at this thread in future I'll add that this fault can cause flickering OR being on permanently; the solder joint was so badly cracked on mine that the resistor leg had completely come away from the board and the light never went out!

[karaokebykris]

Great stuff! Mine started flickering two days ago and I know the pads are fine cos I checked them last weekend whilst I had the wheels off. Wonder what I will be doing Sunday?.........

[Brianmoooore]

The US Yahoo E30 Group is having great trouble trying to track down this fault at the moment! Anyone fancy appearing to be a genius and put them out of their misery?

[millyboy]

hi yeah my lining break light is on too adn the fluid is on max and the break pads are full all so gave them a breed and i have no sensor just the cable sitting in the plastic thingy behined the the front passanger side wheel next to the disk..? any solutions and the ohms 220 thingy how do i figure that out if it is the problem on the dash?

[Brianmoooore]

Fluid level is a completely seperate warning light.
If there's nothing plugged into the sensor socket at the hub, then of course your light will be on.

[bpowell555]

ahh b0ll0x this doesn't sound very straightforward