On Holiday - Brakes problem? Help Appreciated

[Tamman69]

Hi Guys

3 days left of an Italian tour here in my Z4.

When we arrived by Ferry - around 15 days ago. I had a 'yellow' brake wear warning come on the dash. Peculiar as I had the car serviced before coming over. Next time I started the engine, no warning.

This has been happening intermittently all through the trip, 50% warning days, 50% no warning. I feel absolutely no difference in my braking distances. I decided it was an electrical issue, perhaps caused by the service itself (never happened before). Decided to sort it at home.

Last night the warning came up Red instead. More worrying but I am still suspicious of the validity. I don't imagine I can just roll up to a BMW garage and get it checked 'while u wait'?. Labour charges are also much much cheaper back home in the balkans... I would rather drive carefully around and get home, what would you all do?

Do brakes catastrophically fail or do you notice the braking becoming heavier and longer first? As said before, I feel absolutely no difference right now (and hear no unusual noises either).

total KM on the clock just over 25000 - around time to get the brakes serviced lol

cheers for any replies

Tamman69

[jannisa]

How many km left for pads change are indicated on the obc screen?
Did you check the break fluid canister level?

[Tamman69]

KM for pad change? If you mean 'when does it indicate to check as a service' then I have just gone over that figure - 25,000

Fluid levels in the Brake Fluid tank look fine to me.

[Tamman69]

Quick update. Phoned garage back home. They did change the brake fluid but not the pads (which I knew). They don't think it is electrics but a genuine issue in likelyhood. They reckon around 1000km max driving after turning red to avoid damage to disks. Not normally a problem but I am 750km away from home! Slow and Smooth driving only from now on then. Shame, you should see the roads here in Central Tuscany...

[Kief]

Originally Posted by Tamman69

Quick update. Phoned garage back home. They did change the brake fluid but not the pads (which I knew). They don't think it is electrics but a genuine issue in likelyhood. They reckon around 1000km max driving after turning red to avoid damage to disks. Not normally a problem but I am 750km away from home! Slow and Smooth driving only from now on then. Shame, you should see the roads here in Central Tuscany...

Every two years the Z requires a "brake service." Perhaps this was your first time.

I had the similar "warnings--yellow to red" on my display and just had the service performed.

[siscobmw]

My friends with his 35i changed pads with 200 euro , here in Italy.
I had first inspection and costed me 414 euro, included brake fluid change and wipers.
When you will come back to italy and you have those problems , get in touch with me and I will talk personally to the dealer, just send me a proivate message and I will give you my numbers.....So no z4 owners wont be charged too much by stupid dealers/stealers....
Francesco

[siscobmw]

if you come back to uk, passing from Como, just let me know , I will come near swiss borders for a quick meeting!
Francesco

[Tamman69]

Thanks for the tips and help Francesco! Internet opportunities at our hotel proved very limited, sorry I didn't answer before now.

As it was, we got home ok. I covered around another 900km with a great deal of slowing down using the gears instead of the brakes, not a style of driving I will be looking to repeat...

It was a shame to end the holiday that way, there are some great and empty roads in Italy (as well as some bad and busy ones!). I will however have many happy memories of dealing with downtown Naples, Rome and Florence driving conditions. Having the Z4 punch gave me enough space to cope with the local driving technique

[MikeChrista]

Hi Tamman - Glad you got home OK. I am off for a 17 day trip to Italy in a few weeks. We use to live in Napoli so we are heading there, via some memory stops on the way, to see some friends (staying in Ravello)and then head back north to stop in Lucca for a few days. Have planned the passes over the alps and the car is being serviced today!

[Tamman69]

Originally Posted by MikeChrista

Hi Tamman - Glad you got home OK. I am off for a 17 day trip to Italy in a few weeks. We use to live in Napoli so we are heading there, via some memory stops on the way, to see some friends (staying in Ravello)and then head back north to stop in Lucca for a few days. Have planned the passes over the alps and the car is being serviced today!

Make sure you get the brakes done Mike Hope you have a good time. My first drive with the Z4 was from the UK to work in the Balkans via the Stelvio Pass, some great roads up there. Enjoy!