Trying to get a quote is a pain.
Can't decide whether to have my rear brake pads replaced here which are due in 1500KM or wait until my local garage in Devon can do them when I return in 3 weeks....anyone know roughly the cost from a BMW dealer here? I tend to use Heidegger in Leichtenstein or AutoGraf in Meilen, ZH
I've no idea on the costs, but replacing pads is one of the handier jobs for an at home mechanic. About a 3/10 on the imaginary scale in my head.
For the cost of labour here, I'd wait until Devon if they're safe to drive with.
Somewhere between 400 - 450.
60 minute job at 209/hour plus 200-250 for the pads.
Binelli Automobile AG (Filiale Adliswil) charged me with 1.1k for changing them (BMW 2 series Gran Tourer)
Thanks for the replies....is as I suspected, just couldn't remember from having the front one's done how expensive it is. Will be a UK job then, less than £200 quoted by my Devon BMW dealer.... hey ho!
ouch!!
Would that not also include the discs? Would the two not be done together?
If you're changing the discs, you should change the pads. Heavily recommended.
Discs will last at least 2 sets of pads depending on the pad material.
Mind you a cheeky garage wouldn't be unknown to say you need to change both discs and pads at once because the pads are worn out.
Just the pads...discs are fine.
Not necessarily....wear at different rates
Aaaahhh, I see. I guess both must last quite a while, as I've never had to do it and my last car I had for 5 years from new. (Unless they got changed with the 'free' service, but I'm pretty sure consumables are not covered)
Even changing disks is easy at home.
Tom
my dealer wanted 4k to change the brakes last month. i've already sold the car back to them while waiting for the new one so it seemed a bit rich. i bought the front pads (the only bit that actually needed changing) for 500 from them (still eyewatering compared to online prices but there is a reason i won't go into) and changed them myself in about 20 minutes all in.
Rear brakes usually last longer. Basic physics. Most of the weight is stopped by the front brakes. Rear basically keeps the vehicle stabilized.
Not so much basic physics as the way road cars are set up by manufacturers for safety to ensure there is no risk of rear brakes locking before fronts. Given the rears are usually much smaller they could wear faster but road cars always have excessive bias towards the front.
So if you had already sold the car back to the dealer, why bother investing Chf 500.-- on new front pads ?
The dealer would have certainly known about the state of the pads if he had examined the car before buying which i presume he must have given some viewing too.
We use Top Garage under the railway bridge in Uetikon (ex Graf mechanic) just down the road, good guy and prices, worth a call (if you have Deutsch!)
i did a deal where i can keep using the car until my new one arrives in feb or march. meanwhile a regular service became due (2k) which was of course known and my responsibility and that is the point at which they helpfully offered to change the brakes for another 4k.