Is this a bit steep for new front brake pads?

[TW]Fox · 22 Feb 2011 at 10:23

booyaka said:
I had my front pads done about 1 month ago from a local BMW/Audi Specialist on my 530D.

Pads replaced, worn sensors replaced and fitted. BMW OEM pads and sensors etc. £120 inc fitting.

How old is the car?

Sanchez · 22 Feb 2011 at 10:52

Funnily enough, the front pads and disks on my 330d are shot and need replacing. I've been quoted £250 by a local indie. Assuming that my local BMW garage to the same deal as Barons Farnborough, I might as well take it there and it will be £10 cheaper.

[TW]Fox · 22 Feb 2011 at 10:53

Sanchez said:
Funnily enough, the front pads and disks on my 330d are shot and need replacing. I've been quoted £250 by a local indie. Assuming that my local BMW garage to the same deal as Barons Farnborough, I might as well take it there and it will be £10 cheaper.

See how useless indys are?

Sanchez · 22 Feb 2011 at 11:01

[TW]Fox;18521919 said:
See how useless indys are?

With prices from the dealer being cheaper it does beg the question, why use them at all?

I was surprised that BMW are cheaper for the work. I knew about the Value Service and was going to take it to BWM for that. But for general wear and tear stuff I assumed it would be more expensive, and by a long way. I'll certainly be giving Halliwell Jones a call in future when things need replacing.

AHarvey · 22 Feb 2011 at 11:02

Knowing nothing about Bmws, but is it not something you can do yourself?

I did the brakes on our Golf purely because it was so much cheaper than the dealers, and they were cheaper then the indy garage.

booyaka · 22 Feb 2011 at 14:10

[TW]Fox;18521706 said:
How old is the car?

55 plate

Gaygle · 22 Feb 2011 at 15:45

AHarvey said:
Knowing nothing about Bmws, but is it not something you can do yourself?

Yes, you can. It is very very easy. I did my rears a few months ago and it took about 1.5 hours + £35 for OEM pads.

Gaygle · 22 Feb 2011 at 15:47

[TW]Fox;18521919 said:
See how useless indys are?

They are for silly things, but if you need something that is a bit more labour intensive, a good specialist can cost hundreds less for the same level of expertise and care. This just makes sense to me.

Django x2 · 22 Feb 2011 at 15:50

Question, why does your lighter, newer car, need new brakes and pads, when my fat, front heavy filthy diesel, which is older and has 45k on the clock, tell me that I have about 11k miles of life left in my front and rear pads and discs

Dave M · 22 Feb 2011 at 16:09

whats mileage got to do with brake pad life?

[TW]Fox · 22 Feb 2011 at 16:18

Telescopi said:
whats mileage got to do with brake pad life?

Because if you dont drive a car you wont wear the brake pads out?

Anim · 22 Feb 2011 at 16:33

They also wear out if you dont drive your car enough as i found out

but more in a corrosion way, whilst it wasnt BMW it was ~£300 for front discs and pads from the dealership.
Looking at getting new brakes very soon anyway and i can see why they become expensive, some good brake sets easily push 4 figures!

Scuzi · 22 Feb 2011 at 16:39

Lucero said:
Question, why does your lighter, newer car, need new brakes and pads, when my fat, front heavy filthy diesel, which is older and has 45k on the clock, tell me that I have about 11k miles of life left in my front and rear pads and discs

Because the light on the dashboard is on