Will I need brake pads & discs?

Doozergirl

My light has come on for brake pads. I have never owned a car long enough that they needed changing

The local company that fitted my tyres have quoted me just under £300 for front pads and discs. Will I need discs as well?

It is a 2 year old MINI Cooper S, has done just under 30k now and it's an out-of-town car that does a fair proportion on the motorway. It's just had a valet today so can I check myself if they need replacing? and how?

Does the price and the need for both pads and discs sound correct? I think BMW had suggested £200 for just the front pads fitted but that was over the phone and you'd expect them to be expensive anyway. Another company £84 + VAT for front pads fitted btu again, they haven't seen the car. When BMW reminded me at service that the pads would need doing soon, they didn't mention the discs.

On one of the MINI forums, there was a link to an ebay seller doing discs & pads for all corners for £150. Could I buy some and ask someone to fit them for me?

I have no idea what I'm talking about actually which is why I'm stressing about getting ripped off. I'm tempted to trade it in for a new car to solve the problem! :rotfl:

harveybobbles

Doozergirl wrote: »

I'm tempted to trade it in for a new car to solve the problem! :rotfl:

My god! So, soend £10,000 on another car to save £200....?! LMFAO!!

Anyway, does it have the TLC pack? I know BMW do 3 steps on their Service Inclusive program to include brakes...

Doozergirl

Yes it does have TLC. I don't have the book for it though, I don't think but they have it on record.

Wow, if it includes brakes, I love you!

waynedance

Will you trade it in when the wiper blades start smearing?

Brakes do wear down, as you have done get a few quotes.

Doozergirl

Ah, according the website it doesn't cover "repair and maintenance items, such as tyres, brake pads, top-ups etc."

I retract the love though I appreciate the gesture

Doozergirl

waynedance wrote: »

Will you trade it in when the wiper blades start smearing?

Brakes do wear down, as you have done get a few quotes.

No, that's not expensive enough. I shall drive with smeared windows until the tyres wear down.

bubblegumcola

Is this your first car/ have you not been driving long?

I hardly think you will need to trade your motor in for another one due to your brakes needing replaced when the car is so young. You're lucky if that's all you've had to get done to your car in the two years you have owned it.
(Trust me I've previously owned a new car and it had several things fixed under the warranty and then it was constantly needing fixed the older it got but we had very high mileage)
Shop around and get recommendations for garages from friends. Once you have a car you are forever having to get something fixed on it, from bulbs to timing belts to exhausts and tyres. The more mileage the more you will need done. When's your MOT due? That'll probably throw up a few surprises for your bank balance.:eek:

If you love the car and there's no other major problems with it, keep it and get the brakes fixed.

somech

christ £300 pads fiited £65 discs pair fitted £90 plus wear indicators £18
no point going to dealer for brakes way tooooo expensive prices based on passed experience.
on a side note peeps try and avoid the crap they sell at unipart (total rubbish)
euro car parts or gsf do a nice range of bosch brakes for german cars at decent prices

Doozergirl

bubblegumcola wrote: »

Is this your first car/ have you not been driving long?

I hardly think you will need to trade your motor in for another one due to your brakes needing replaced when the car is so young. You're lucky if that's all you've had to get done to your car in the two years you have owned it.
(Trust me I've previously owned a new car and it had several things fixed under the warranty and then it was constantly needing fixed the older it got but we had very high mileage)
Shop around and get recommendations for garages from friends. Once you have a car you are forever having to get something fixed on it, from bulbs to timing belts to exhausts and tyres. The more mileage the more you will need done. When's your MOT due? That'll probably throw up a few surprises for your bank balance.:eek:

If you love the car and there's no other major problems with it, keep it and get the brakes fixed.

Guys, I was only joking about trading it in! although it will probably go when the MOT is due, so about another 15k

So it is perfectly normal for both discs & pads to need replacing at this point in a car's life? My perception was that the discs would be harder than the pads and last longer?

Browntoa

at that age it should only need pads unless somethings gone badly wrong or you have driven it round for months with the light on and its running on the rivets

somech

is not uncommon for discs to need replacing, they have a min thickness which the garage should measure.