GP Brake Life

[Blatman]

Hi All

Was wondering what life you have been getting out of the works brake pads. I have about 5000 miles on the clock and my pads are toast! Is this normal or am I braking to late

[Goonery]

Brakes are only for emergencies in my view, maybe you are having too many emergencies

[ALD0]

Just out of curiosity, are the GP brakes up rated or the Same as a MINI ONE like the Cooper S brakes?!

[alski]

aldo, i am sure someone has suggested they are the same as R56?

[ZZTOP]

This is def. not normal for day to day road use. Maybe if you did a few track days, yes...

But its in S Africa so you have motorplan so brake pad consumption is not an issue , until it expires of course

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by ALD0 (original)

Just out of curiosity, are the GP brakes up rated or the Same as a MINI ONE like the Cooper S brakes?!

The R52/3 Works and GP Front Brakes are basically scavenged from the parts bin of the previous 5 Series Bimmers (not current) and painted red. The R56 versions are basically similar. So a 2001 5 Series up to the change to the latest version will have a set of pads that fit and shoul d last well as the 5er was a much bigger and heavier car and the pads on those lasted pretty well.

[Blatman]

Thanks for the comments guys I did notice the BMW logo on the pads and the replacement tip.

And yes it has involved a few track days (only 2 if i recall correctly with limited track time) but i would have expected a bit more from so called uprated brakes.

With regard to the motorplan dealers are quick to decline claims that are outside the normal service intervals, (which is insainely long for this car if you ask me) - under the premise of abuse! As with my Subaru I will have point out that it is talented abuse

[AlexF2003]

9k including 3 trackdays and a trip to the ring!

Alex

[ZZTOP]

Blatman

You should book your car in at Midrand for a so called "formula 1" service. You drop it and they put new pads and/or disks in so there is not a specific service time. I have done it a few times with no questions asked.

Which track did you trackday at? I would like to see how the GP shapes around Zwartkops. i am there often and I am the only MINI there....Too many GTI Vs and Focuses (Foci?).

I entered the VW club go-kart challenge there on the weekend, it was one of me vs millions of VW / Audis. I did a quicker time than most of them, only two chipped GTIs were quicker by a few knacker hairs. Proud to say I was faster than an RS4 no less.....

VW Club Go-Kart Track - 27th May 2007

[Blatman]

ZZTOP thanks for that info will check out Midrand.

I have been to the BigZ once, MIdvaal and the dynamic handling track at Gerotek. Gero was the most fun because the track is so tight but after 3 laps the brakes are smoking badly.

AlexF some of us can only dream of going to the Ring (unless is PS2) .....you luck B#@%$ There are a few of us who ever year threaten to put our cars in a container and send them over so we can go drive the Ring. Maybe one day

[AlexF2003]

But I have been fairly gentle on the brakes as they do fade easy...

Alex

[Rakey]

I got 30k out of my fronts, which I recently had changed along with the disks

[Joogle]

34k now and only had the front pads changed at around 26k and the rear pads at around 31k. Had the disks checked at the same time and the last service and the garage said they were fine.