Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Wheel brakes
- Brake pads:
Brake pads must be replaced when the warning threshold of the brake pad wear indicator is reached. See BRAKES - TECHNICAL DATA .
Brake pads must always be replaced on both sides of any axle.
The friction surfaces of the brake pads must not come into contact with oil or grease. The brake pads must be replaced if they are fouled by such substances.
In the case of rotation-dependent brake pads, make sure the arrow marking points in the direction of rotation of the brake disk for when the vehicle is moving forward. Brake pads with left/right markings must be fitted on the relevant side of the vehicle.
One-sided angled areas on the brake pads must be located on the disk contact side of the brake caliper for when the vehicle is moving forward.
- Brake discs:
Brake disks must not be scored or cracked. Furthermore, minimum brake disk thickness , disk runout, parallelism and surface roughness of the friction surfaces must not exceed or drop below the permitted values. See BRAKES - TECHNICAL DATA .
Always strip preservative off new parts before installation. With the rear brake discs, also strip preservative off brake drum on parking brake.
- Always strip preservative off new parts before installation.
- Brake calipers:
Only approved pastes on the basis of glycol must be used for repairs on brake calipers.
All moving parts on the brake caliper must move freely: note grease specifications.
Use only BMW-approved lubricants to grease caliper guides.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.