» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | | | 04-17-2010, 08:17 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 181 | Brake Rotors Life Expectancy Quick question for you guys: What is the life expectancy of OEM BMW brake rotors? My car has vented rotors. [build date 5/1998] The Werk Shop here in IL replaced the brake pads, rotors, and sensors February of last year [for my previous owner]. Now, I drive the car mainly on the highway at about 70 to 75 mph. I notice that when I brake from 70 mph my steering wheel vibrates / shimmies. But at lower speed braking [say 40 and under] I feel nothing. Control Arm bushings are new, tie rods [both sides] were replaced last year, ball joints are fine, wheel bearings are fine. So I am left to presume that the rotors are warped. Unless you think worn brake pads cause a steering wheel to vibrate. Anyways, what's your verdict? P.S. The brake pads and rotors have about 19,000 miles on them. I was told by the dealership that brake pads are 4mm from being "worn out." __________________ B.M.W. = Be My Wife | | | 04-17-2010, 08:46 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Does the steering wheel shake under light/moderate braking? Does it shake under hard braking? __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 04-17-2010, 11:05 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | So how sure are you the shop used OEM BMW, That would be unusual, very few privateers buy from the dealer.... Dave __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 04-18-2010, 01:38 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 181 | The steering wheel shakes kind of violently under high speed braking. Very light at 50 mph braking and No vibrations at 40 mph and under braking. Actually I checked the rotors today and I found out: 1) The shop did not use vented rotors even though my model kind of specifies only vented rotors 2) The rotors have a run off. I am surprised the Werk Shop would do something like this given their reputation. lol, they charged my previous owner about $800 to do all four wheels. I find that a crying shame considering you can buy all the parts for $300 on autohausaz.com [Balo vented rotors, Jurid brake pads, sensors, and the head bolt for the rotor]. __________________ B.M.W. = Be My Wife | | | 04-18-2010, 01:46 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 | Quote: Originally Posted by Recon427 Actually I checked the rotors today and I found out: 1) The shop did not use vented rotors even though my model kind of specifies only vented rotors
| Are you sure you're supposed to have vented rotors? What's the production date of your car? I think they didn't change to vented to until after 4/98. I would expect you'd be having lots of other problems if they'd put solid rotors on there instead of vented. The solid rotors are significantly thinner than the vented ones (12mm vs. 22mm). I'm of the same mind as Dave. I would make sure they used OEM rotors and good quality pads. The only time I've ever had a problem like this on my ti it was caused by the pads I was using. They had left deposits on the rotors and the vibrations eventually got bad enough that it tore up the outer ball joints. I don't know if they still have any, but Bimmerworld had a killer deal on the solid rotors for the ti about a year ago. They were something like $20 each. Last edited by bullmand; 04-18-2010 at 01:48 AM. | | | 04-18-2010, 01:59 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | My 1995 has almost 30K on the front rotors and pads, solid disk Pagid pads... The solids tend to warp easier than the vented. Mine just developed the vibration in the last few weeks. Just about the time the pad wear sensor light came on. They probably just saw 318ti and ordered parts... sad. Dave __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 04-18-2010, 02:13 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 181 | bullmand: My production date is 05/1998 therefore vented rotors are specified. Thanks for your help guys. I will pull the trigger on the new rotors & pads this coming week. I am going to call the shop and ask them, politely, why they used incorrect rotors. Furthermore, that since they used the wrong rotors they are liable to fix their error free of charge. Sucks to be them that the second owner of this car, ME, actually likes to work on the car. lol....you should have seen their faces when I told them I changed my control arm bushings and subframe mounts myself. __________________ B.M.W. = Be My Wife | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |