Does the brake pad sensor reset itself

You can turn the display off by replacing the brake pads.

Hi,

Typically you cannot "reset" the light. The light illuminates when it becomes grounded, via a small wire pushed into the brake pad itself. The only repair is to replace the brake pads, (turn/replace the rotors) and replace however many sensors are damaged.

Save money next time and inspect/replace before you ruin the sensors...

Doc

you need to replace the pad wear sensor when the pad wears down it wears the sensor and the sensor needs to be replace if you look at the sensor you can see the wire on the sensor wears threw

Hi Peters6709,
Sorry to tell you, but you need to replace the pad-wear sensors as well. They are the little trapezoid pieces that hang inside the tops of the inside pads. They should run about $10 each. Once replaced, disconnect the battery completely for about 10 minutes, if you have a stock radio keep the code handy.

Next time check the pads every 10-12K miles. I have been running the SAME pad wear sensors on my Z3 for the past 2 pad changes now after making the same mistake the first time.

Best of luck!

Brake wear indicator and low brake fluid warning indication are two different circuits.

They are not related.

==
Easy route to check brake pads is the measure the gab between the rotor and the metal portion of the brake pad.

If it's low then replace it.
==

The right way is to pull the tires and measure the thickness of the remaining brake pad.

===

Most shop give free brake inspection with oil change,

Check it out before the pad cuts into the rotor and it will DOUBLE the cost of your brake job.

turn on the ignition (not starting) and then press the littlie button in front of the odometer display for 10 seconds until you see the service indicator menu. use the stalk on the left and the up and down control to scroll thru to the front and rear brake pad picture and then press the end button on the stalk for 3 seconds until reset comes up, then it will show a little click spinning around, then release and press for another 3 seconds. This will extinguish the brake service light. This is the same for all service lights, but remember to turn off the ignition on and off for each reset Ie: for brake, for oil, for pollen etc. If not it might not recognize the reset. The pads on the 116i or should I say the indicator is crapo, in a extra crapo sense as it has at least 10k miles on the pad but the wear indicator shows it as need replacing, The handbrake light on symbol will be amber then red and stay on all the time until the sensor and pads are changed. Pads and sensor must be replaced together as sensor has resistance built into it it will be around 500ohms ( I think) when it has just touched and less with more wear, the new sensor is probably 1k ohms from each wire ie from one wire to the other = 1k ohms.In short the pad wear indicator is a rip off, there is a lot of life left in the pad when the sensor goes off. I estimate just above 1/3 left but more like just below 1/2.... BMW STICKING TO YOU AGAIN.

Did you change the sensors when you changed the pads?

As the brake pads wear, the brake pad wear sensor contained in the brake pad contacts the brake rotor. This causes the sensor to fail. When a pad wear sensor fails it opens the ground circuit of the pad wear warning light system causing the pad wear warning light to illuminate. Perform normal brake service to correct this condition and be sure to replace the brake pads with pads containing wear sensors. Once the brake pads and wear sensors are replaced, reset the brake pad warning system by turning the ignition switch to the "on" position. As long as continuity to ground exists through all the brake pad wear sensors the system should reset and the pad warning light in the dash will go out. If the pad warning light does not go out, a check of the pad warning circuit for an open circuit condition or poor ground must be performed.

I dunno if this will work on your BMW, but on my BMW Z3 and M3, it was....

Turn the ignition key to position 2, but do NOT start the car. Wait for about 45 seconds and the brake warning message will be reset.

If it doesn't reset, then the brake sensor was damage. You will need to replace the brake sensor. It sounds like you replace the brake right after you saw the warning, so the brake sensor should be okay.

Redmondeo34


A couple of things to check.
This is only if you replaced the front pads, after the warning light came on.
1. Make sure brake fluid is level and at the max mark
2. Did you replace the front pads sensors with the new pads.If not please do.
3. Check that the rear pads and sensors are not worn and do not require replacing.
4. If all above is good, Drive vehicle for about 5klm and switch off and on it will reset itself

regards
I hope this helps.