Do I need Brake Discs changing aswell or is the garage having me over?

Aubrey_Thicket

Hi all

I own a MERCEDES ML350. The car is relatively new and has done 40,000 miles. Recently an indicator came on the dash saying 'Check Brake Pad Wear'. Also, the MOT I had last week mentions that I need to change the front and rear pads. Therefore, I rang an independent MERC dealer and he quoted me £350 to change the pads. I accept that but he also told me "You may need to change the discs aswell". I said "Surely not. The car has only done 40,000 miles". His reply was "Yes, but if you put new pads on old discs the new pads will mould their way into the old discs and this could cause squeaking etc. You are really supposed to change both the discs and pads at the same time"

If this is the case then so be it. I'll pay the £750 but it just seems a little hard to believe that a Merc would need new discs after about 38,000 miles.

Any suggestions from mechanics please?

bobbymotors

£350 to change brake pads??? Are they gold ones or something?

Go elsewhere. Even Kwikfit as long as you say PADS ONLY and shut out any other nonsense about exhaust, shocks etc.

I doubt you need discs. Any wheel wobble / vibration when you brake?

DUTR

Depends how the car has been driven, £350 for pads and discs all round is still a swallow but more acceptable.

neilmcl

Aubrey_Thicket wrote: »

Hi all

I own a MERCEDES ML350. The car is relatively new and has done 40,000 miles. Recently an indicator came on the dash saying 'Check Brake Pad Wear'. Also, the MOT I had last week mentions that I need to change the front and rear pads. Therefore, I rang an independent MERC dealer and he quoted me £350 to change the pads. I accept that but he also told me "You may need to change the discs aswell". I said "Surely not. The car has only done 40,000 miles". His reply was "Yes, but if you put new pads on old discs the new pads will mould their way into the old discs and this could cause squeaking etc. You are really supposed to change both the discs and pads at the same time"

If this is the case then so be it. I'll pay the £750 but it just seems a little hard to believe that a Merc would need new discs after about 38,000 miles.

Any suggestions from mechanics please?

How new is "relatively new"? Are you following the correct service schedule?

pappa_golf

"You may need to change the discs aswell".

neilmcl

The fact that an indie merc garage is "suggesting" that you have the disc changed is fair enough, the likelihood is that if you take it to a main dealer they would probably replace the pads and discs as a matter of course as a result of the warning indicator.

At the end of the day the choice is yours.

bobbymotors

DUTR wrote: »

Depends how the car has been driven, £350 for pads and discs all round is still a swallow but more acceptable.

No, its £350 for pads, £750 inc discs.

They must have diamonds in them or something

Nobbie1967

Modern pad materials are much more abrasive since they banned asbestos and so new discs at 40000 miles wouldn't be that unusual depending on how the car has been driven which the merc dealer won't know until they inspect it. You can get unusual wear patterns on discs which are fine with the existing pads, but will cause a problem when you fit new ones.

I'd ask that if the dealer does think the discs need replacing then to keep the old ones for you to inspect if you think may may be creating work. Sounds to me like a fair warning of what may be required.

EdGasket

£350 for pads is way too much.
Try a different garage. You would normally only change disks every other time you change pads (i.e. half as often). They should still be OK after 40K unless you do lots of heavy braking.

Aubrey_Thicket

I realise its my choice but i would just like the opinion of some of you guys in the know before I make that choice. The car has always been serviced (at the suggested intervals) by MERC main dealers. Im not suggesting for one minute that i shoul not have the pads replaced. I am merely looking for advice on the costs and if those discs are likely to need replacing. To answer the question about breaking I would say that I am a medium to heavy breaker. My aim in writing this was to verify the costs of the quote from the garage and a few of you have suggested that £350 is a little steep. One thing i learned here is thatvquick fit is an option. Would quick fit use genuine MERC parts? Is it really necesary to use genuine MERC parts is it a case of paying for the name?
To reiterate... I a NOT complaining about the cost of the works. I just want to know if the works are actually necesary (Discs) and if I should accept the suggested quote.

Thanks all.

Aubrey_Thicket

Forgot to add...
There is no wheel wobble, vibrations or funny noises when breaking. The only reason I knew the brake pads required changing is because it appeared on the dash indicator and also the MOT man said.
Thanks again.