Pat, mine came on just before the Irish Job in Feb, and I phoned the dealer in a bit of a panic. He told me I'd another good couple of thousand miles in it. Don't know how many I actually did before getting them changed, but I did the whole IJ weekend +++ with it on, so no worries
It depends how aggressively you drive. If you drive conservatively you probably have quite a while. If you are a very spirited driver, it can go in a matter of minutes.
Bear in mind that if you do go metal on metal, then you will need new discs as well, which adds to the cost
Cheers
Robbo
Mods: Hartge kit, CAI, oil cooler, headers, cat & exhaust, bilstein coilovers, adjustable bars & camber plates, quaife diff, roll cage, seats, harnesses GO MADDIE and SPARKY!
Technically they should probably be replaced before the light comes on.
Remember that the less pad you have the less area you have to dissipate heat = more likely to experience brake fade. Also the more heat the quicker the pad will wear.
The minimum recommended thickness of pads is 3mm. I don't know at what level the warning light comes on.
Also note that the sensor is only on one front/rear wheel (can't remeber which).
My light came on and went to replace the pads only to find the rear without a wear sensor had worn to the metal brakeshoe and scored the disc very slightly, so needing both discs replacing as well as the pads!
I had something similar. Went to the dealers for it's service and they said the front pads and discs would shortly need replacing( odd how the discs wear at the same rate as the pads). Two days later the dash light cam on. I took it in and thedealer phoned to confirm that they were changing the rear pads. I said that the fronts were the ones for changing. They said it was the rears that had brought the warning light on as they were completely out (interesting how that wasn't picked up by the dealer at the service). I was also informed by MINI in an email that although their minimum thickness for the disc is 20mm, it is safe to put on new pads with the disc at 20mm thick. I don't understand that but i read the email a couple of times and thats what it says.
I replaced my discs and pads before the warning light came on. The dealer had told me that they needed replaced. There was a small depth of friction material left on the pads but not much. If you replace before the light comes on then you don't have to buy a new sensor. Its a good opportunity to upgrade the brakes though. Get a set of Spiroslot discs and pads from GT Tuning they are ace!
40,000 miles, give or take a couple of hundred. was recceing a route today rather gingerly i'll be getting it booked in next week, only 1200 miles to service anyway
Mine came on after the mini2 run last tuesday. I'm guessing its the rear pads, as fronts were replaced after a track day at 24k miles. Got 46k miles out of the rears anyway.
Its booked in for this tuesday, and im guessing i'll need new pads on rear and discs front and rear. Also its a shame my brake fluid is due in 345 miles, and next oil service is in 4500 miles. So im gonna be in and out a bit .
Just a query on your brake fluid. How do you know it is due in 345 miles? As the indicator on the odometer for when your brake fluid is due a change is in days (........I think )
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i'll be getting it booked in next week, only 1200 miles to service anyway 
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(........I think 
