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DenKoe
BMW Z3 Brake Warning Signals Need Urgent Expert Check
4 comment(s)
DenKoe (Author)
Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! That sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Really helpful to hear how it played out for you. By the way, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for all that work? Also curious if you've had any other brake-related issues pop up since getting it fixed? Always good to know what to watch out for with these BMWs.
MaraWag
Hey there! Yes, I got it all sorted out, paid 480 € total for fixing those worn brakes, which honestly wasn't as bad as I expected for a BMW. Since seeing the mechanic, they fixed the low brake fluid issue along with replacing the worn parts, and everything's been running smoothly. Haven't had a single brake warning light or any other issues since then. The pedal feel is back to normal, nice and firm, just how it should be. It's such a relief not having that spongy brake feeling anymore! I'd definitely recommend getting yours checked out soon. These BMWs are fantastic cars, but when they give you warning signals about the brakes, it's best to act quickly. My old M3 feels as good as new now, and I'm actually glad I caught it when I did before it turned into something more serious. Just stay on top of the regular maintenance, and these cars will treat you right. Let me know if you need any other info about what they did during the repair, happy to share more details!
DenKoe (Author)
Thanks for all the info! Just got back from the mechanic today, and you were spot on. Turned out my brake pads were toast, and the rotors weren't looking great either. They did a complete brake service, new pads, rotors, sensors, and a fluid flush. Cost me about 550 € in total, a bit more than yours but still reasonable considering it's a BMW. The best part? The brake pedal feels amazing now, no more sponginess or warning lights! Can't believe I was nervous about getting it checked. The mechanic I found was actually super transparent, showed me all the worn parts and explained everything. Such a different experience from my last guy. Think I've finally found a trustworthy shop for my Z3. Really appreciate you sharing your experience. It helped me make the right call instead of putting it off. Now I can enjoy driving my Z3 without worrying about the brakes!
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MaraWag
I had similar issues with my 1998 BMW M3 last month. The brake warning lights were just the first sign, turned out my brake pads were severely worn, and the rotors needed replacement too. The pedal feel was spongy, just like you're describing. At the garage, they found the brake fluid was low because the worn pads allowed more fluid into the calipers. They did a full brake inspection and discovered scoring on the rotors. It was quite serious since brakes are critical safety components. The job included replacing pads, rotors, sensors, and a brake fluid flush. This isn't something you want to postpone, my mechanic showed me how the metal backing of the old pads was starting to dig into the rotors. Better to fix it now than risk complete brake failure. Have you checked your brake fluid level? If it's low, that's usually a sign of worn pads. You're at 90k km, so it's about the right time for a brake service anyway.