Brake lining wear indicator

[William]

I have a problem where the red light on the dash as above shows intermitently. It seems to come on and off at random, sometimes coinciding with an indicating or going over a bump or something. My mechanic assures me the brake lining is not worn and yet twice it has come back to me with the problem still there. Is there anything obvious I can check?

thanks

[fowler]

check the connections of the sensors as that is what it sounds like.
regards
Ben

[William]

Thanks mate, I know it sounds stupid but where would I find the sensors?

[Demlotcrew]

When you find them take them out and tie them to something, they have no function but to piss people off!

They are on the passengers side at the front and drivers side on the rear. You will see them if you turn the the front wheels out to the lock to the left.

Andrew

[fowler]

behind the wheels at the fron in the arch and the actual sensors are on you brake pads
at the back its the same
you should see the two wires going to the brake caliper
regards
ben

[Adam318i]

Have you got a build up of deposits on the edge of the brake disc?

Mine did and it slowly wore its way thru the cable and so know the light is perminantly on.

Adam

[Brianmoooore]

Use the search function at the top of the page and search for "220 ohm resistor".

[William]

Use the search function at the top of the page and search for "220 ohm resistor".

shit sorry brian, it must piss you off so much, didn't realise what a common problem this is. A classic case of "should have searched the forum first!!". Thanks for your help, I really though the garage had already re-soldered this connection so as the others suggest I think I will take a look at the sensors and see if all is ok down there.

Also, how should the check control panel be held in place, I think mine might be slightly sagging at the back or front??

[stappin]

If the light is annoying you that much there is always the black insulation tape option as they mean f all to most people. I wonder how much BMW main stealers made out of replacing pads that didnt need doing

[orangecurry]

although we often have a go at Dealers, and they definately charge too much, I've got to say that my local BMW have never done anything they didn't need to, and always treat me like a king even though my car is 16 years old.

Very professional and highly recommended - BMW Angmering (Worthing).

Well they treat me like a king when they make up the bill anyway.

However, in my personal experience, BMW Brighton (Portslade) are very poor, even though they are I believe run by the same 'company'.

It just goes to prove that it is always the people who make the real difference, not the management.

[Brianmoooore]

Everything on a BMW should be in full working order. (Headlamp levellers excepted). The quality of design and manufacture on a BMW is such that nothing will be worn beyond redemption - just in need of a little maintenance.
When I buy an E30 (or any other car for that matter), if I find things like disconnected pad wear sensors or warning lamps removed, it makes me think that if they can't be bothered to maintain these simple things, then what other more important servicing haven't they bothered with.
Pad wear light comes on when the short circuit between the two sensor wires is broken, or when one of the wires shorts to earth. The latter can happen if the pad sensor wires are not routed properly, and a wire rubs on the inside of the wheel rim.

[Templ8e30]

Both my e30's have developed an intermittantly flashing pad wear lamp and both times it's been the cable that runs down the suspension strut.

The cable insulation perishes and the copper in the cable oxidises and breaks the circuit over bumps and on certain amounts of lock. I've replaced them both times with a new cable from the dealer

WIRING BRAKE WEAR WARNING INDICATOR 61121367674

Cheers,

Iain T

[Brianmoooore]

Both my e30's have developed an intermittantly flashing pad wear lamp and both times it's been the cable that runs down the suspension strut.

The cable insulation perishes and the copper in the cable oxidises and breaks the circuit over bumps and on certain amounts of lock. I've replaced them both times with a new cable from the dealer

WIRING BRAKE WEAR WARNING INDICATOR 61121367674

Cheers,

Iain T

What on earth do they put on the roads up there in Lancashire? I've never seen perished insulation ever on any E30 wiring, butif it went as you say, this would indeed cause the ops problem.

[Templ8e30]

Both my e30's have developed an intermittantly flashing pad wear lamp and both times it's been the cable that runs down the suspension strut.

The cable insulation perishes and the copper in the cable oxidises and breaks the circuit over bumps and on certain amounts of lock. I've replaced them both times with a new cable from the dealer

WIRING BRAKE WEAR WARNING INDICATOR 61121367674

Cheers,

Iain T

What on earth do they put on the roads up there in Lancashire? I've never seen perished insulation ever on any E30 wiring, butif it went as you say, this would indeed cause the ops problem.

They use more bleedin' salt on the roads up here than I've ever seen anywhere else. There was a period last winter when the gritter was out twice a night every night for 12 days in a row . It was like driving on gravel and took months to wash it all away.

I went through 5 litres of concentrated screenwash in a month and had to wash the car every other day. No wonder my doors are starting to rust

Cheers,

Iain T

[DaveD]

remember to look at the back as well as the front...! i didn't till ihad bought a new set of front pads