My BMW X3 m40i goes in for brake pad replacement: Experience & costs

There was no force, no scary tactics but, a simple recommendation that its always recommended to change the rotors along with pads.

BHPian mobike008 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Rear Brake Pads & Rotors Replacement at 42,000 miles (67,000 kms)

For folks who follow this thread, you might know that in the last 4-years of ownership, I have spent only $450 for service and $1350 for new Michelin tires.

I feel super lucky to have just spent $1800 bucks on a car of this stature in a 4-year ownership and I'm a living example who can shoot down the myth that BMW ownerships aren't expensive anymore. The old adage might still exist but, it's most definitely going away.

My rear brake pads replacement notification started coming around 40,000 miles (64,000 kms) and I drove the car for nearly 2,000 miles before deciding to give the “Blau Rakete” a 2025 New Year’s present of replacing the brake pads.

I checked the quote with an external service center where I serviced my car previously (Non-BMW but, they service only BMW and Mini Coopers).

Their quote was $1,100 ++ for rear brake pads and rotors replacement.

I dwelled on it for sometime and then contacted BMW Seattle and got an awesome quote of $759 ++ as they were running specials for the holidays and I decided to time the service around New Years right after our vacation to Miami and Key West.

There was a recall reminder for last 6-months (Some cargo rail replacement) which was part of the boot and they replacement the rails and bolts in the same appointment at no cost.

I dropped the car off on December 31st in the morning and since they were closed on Jan 1st, I decided to pick up the car on Jan 2nd before the end of the day.

My BMW adviser mentioned that brake pads were at 4th/10 but, only for one side of rear and inside portion and rotors were good. If I decide to get just the brake pads replaced the cost was $350 and if inclusive of rotors it would be the $759++ cost.

There was no force, no scary tactics but, a simple recommendation that its always recommended to change the rotors along with pads. I knew that so it didn’t need any convincing so I signed up for both parts replacement.

He offered to throw in a nice car wash and interior clean up.

Even though it was just a 4-hour job, I was in no mood to spend my holiday sitting in a BMW dealership so I asked for a loaner. They normally don’t give loaners for such simple jobs but, coaxing people is my profession so I was able to wriggle a loaner and due to my strategic scheduling, I got to keep the loaner for 3-days.

Cheers to 2025 and Looking forward to a continued delightful ownership experience.

P.S : Can anyone guess what loaner I got???

BMW dealerships started this new concept of updating the owners thrice by sending a text with a video link. I'm not sure if this concept exists in India but, I love it as there is no need to meet anyone when you pick up the car and you can be in and out in 10 minutes which is what I did.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ZWkvXTm9fPs

It was nice and clean when I got it back on Jan 2nd, 2025. BMW Seattle is strategically located. Can you spot the T-Mobile Stadium and Lumen Stadium (Home ground of Seattle Seahawks) right across the street?

Driving back home- That's Bellevue City in the distance !!

Later in the night, along with friends we went back to Seattle to enjoy the Fireworks at midnight. This time it was sponsored by Alaska Airlines (drone on the left in Alaska Airlines logo formation)

Happy New Year to BHPians for a Healthy and Enjoyable 2025

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