I can't find a discussion board like this on the Rennlist for the BMW and I hate posting on the bimmer.org board so I figure there should be plenty of experts on this board that can help me.

The brake wear warning light recently came on in my BMW (2000 E46 323ci). Even after I replaced the pads and the worn sensor the warning light is still on.

I have done a continuality test with a volt meter on the wear sensor end and the wires after the plug and they both showed a close circuit (which is what it needs to be).

I have called the dealer service department and no one can give me a definite answer about this. At the end they just told me to bring my car in to reset it for $84.

Anyone know anything about this?

Is there a procedure to reset this brake pad wear warning light or should the warning light go off by itself after I replace the pads and sensor?

I have some black electrical tape handy just in case I need to tape up that stupid light on the dash.

Bimmer = Bummer!

 

Did you try the roadfly.com boards? Someone there may be able to help.

 

George, Roadfly.com and Bimmer.org are the same.

 

Robin, what else do you expect from a BMW?

 

Robin,
Just a guess but is there a procedure to reset the oil change light or do you have to use one of those battery powered tools like my E36 did? Maybe that would work. My E36 brake light just reset itself once we change the pads and sensors.
Good Luck,
Greg

 

Kim,

Your are awesome!

It worked!

Stupid light is now gone!

Thanks a million

 

you have to turn key to some position. check manual. I sold my e46 dutifully including manual in sale. e36 m3 has a brake circuit light bug on some cars. basically all bimmers have funny idiot light issues. part of the bimmer game robin.

Edit: sorry, just saw that Kim beat me to posting answer in greater detail too!!

 

to bad you're $85/hr dealer couldn't recommend this to save you the trip and money.

 

And dealers wonder why they have a bad reputation?



E. J.

 

Yeah, they wonder about that all the way to the bank.

 

The trouble is it is so difficult a lot of the time for the average car owner (I include myself though I think I am probably way more into cars than the average punter) to even know whether they are getting a decent service from their garage or when they are getting robbed blind. It is therefore very difficult for the consumer to know when to try somewhere else. It's funny because I'm sure one of the major factors that goes through the mind of most people about to buy a car is 'how good is the servicing - ie how badly am I gonna get screwed' and yet as far as I can see the manufacturers do little to police the servicing outlets that create this perception in the first place.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a magazine or some such with a section devoted to randomly and continuously checking the quality of workshop service of various shops and reporting their findings whether good or bad. It would be easy enough to do - simply get car owners to write in and agree to have their faulty car checked over by their in house technicians and diagnose the fault before taking the car to the usual shop. This way good shops get more business and the thieves get less which is totally fair and doesn't naturally happen as a lot of people (myself included) don't really have a clue (and that's what the bad shops rely on).

Apologies for re-inventing the wheel if it already exists.

 

Mags,

I was responding to this particualr case. Here is how I see Robin getting treated if Kim had not helped out:

1. Robin takes it in to the dealer. He waits since it will be an easy scan on the reader.

2. Robin gets the car back in about 30 minutes during which time the tech put the key in the ignition and turned it to the accessory position for 30 seconds. Light goes off.

3. Robin is charged $80 for reading the fault codes - there were none - see #2.

4. Robin goes home smiling because he thinks $80 is a good price to pay to have the brake light functioning properly.

Here are my thoughts. If you are going to tell me that the tech and the service person Robin talked to on the phone did not know about the 30 second key deal, then I will probably call them a liar. And if they don't, then what business do they have holding their jobs?

If you ask me, Robin should call back or better yet go to the dealer and talk to the person he talked to on the phone, and then talk to the service manager, and then talk to the GM and tell all three exactly what happened. Robin does not expect to get anything out of this (no free repairs etc...), just the satisfaction of assuring the next DIY guy who calls in with the same problem will not have the same result.

If Robin was prepared to spend $80 to have that light fixed because he couldn't fix it himself, imagine what granny would pay.

Hopefully now you see my point. Now in closing, I would imagine all the high line car dealers in Atlanta are on alert after what happened with the Volkswagen dealer. Maybe you could really make a difference Robin.

I know there are honest car dealers in this country, we just never hear about them.

E. J.

 

EJ,

I guess the reality is that if everyone worked at the dealership were HALF as car loving, professional, knowledgeable, and dedicated as the few individuals (not including me of course) on the Rennlist we would never have any problem with the dealer services.

With that said.

What about the idea of bunch of us get together and open a place of our own?

 

Robin,
Count me in! I've been thinking about this for a while, and, although I haven't run the numbers, a well-run high-line repair shop has GOT to be a feasible business.

I'm about ready to get out of the technology business and in to a business where I have some hope of satisfying customers.

 

When? Where?
I am up for making something like this work.
Greg