Brake question - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

M5finally · 11th August 2007, 23:38

Today I replaced the rear brakes and rotors on my girls 02 M5. Instead of spending 1500 dollars at the stealership, I saved 1260 dollars (with the help of Dave Z) and did them myself. I will happly spend the 1260 in hawaii in OCT. My question to you all is, she got the "Check Brake Linings " Message and the brake light came on the dash before and after I replaced the brakes. I did replace the sensor located on the passanger rear side, however where it plugs in under the wheel well, I was not sure if I plugged it in correctly. I heard and felt it snap in, but it was a little wierd. Also on american cars as far as I can remember, if you got the brake light on, it usually meant that you had to add fluid in the resivoir. I bled the brakes as well, so I had topped it off at the right level. The dealer told me that I would have to reset the code with the peake reader, but it never threw an SES code. Just a message, like when I installed the HID fogs and I got the check foglight message. After I installed that bypass relay, it went away.. I just wanna know if I really need the peake reader, or should I go back to the sensor...

Thanks
Tom

jclyman · 12th August 2007, 01:45

Couple of possiblites:;

1. Was the light on before you replaced the brakes? If so, you will have buy a NEW sensor.
2. It could be the front sensor. On the left front..
3. Could be a bad connection, but I doubt it.

M5finally · 12th August 2007, 05:00

I replaced the sensor today when I did the brakes

gsfent · 12th August 2007, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5finally

I replaced the sensor today when I did the brakes

Check with Dave Z. I believe the sensor simply makes an electirical connection and when you break the sensor, the connection severs and the light goes on.
Try taking the sensor out and reseating. If that doesn't help, simply jumper the connector with some small guage wire and see if that causes the light to go out. Only takes a few minutes to try and costs $0!
Regards,
Jerry

Beasty5 · 14th August 2007, 07:09

When my mechanic replaced my brake pads on all four corners with Axis Deluxe pads form Dave Z..great guy, he also replaced the brake pad sensors on the left front wheel and the the rear right wheel. The "check brake linings" message and the brake light came on which prompted the service.

The brake light went off but the "check brake linings" message remained. There is a way you can reset the message without a peak code reader. I think the way I did it was turn the ignition to position 2 for a few seconds, then back to 0, then back all the way to starting the car.

I am not 100% sure how I did it but it worked. The message disappeared ie if you do not have a faulty sensor and/or if the sensor is well seated. If you do a search on "check brake linings," you'll see that someone posted the exact proceedure.

Vic

CWY_M5 · 14th August 2007, 08:02

I've done break on my E34 and a friend's E39, and to my knowledge, the message should just simply go away without any reset or any peake tool. Just need to make sure you got the new sensor plugged in correctly.

If this is wrong, I would like to know, and I suppose I just got lucky before and somehow reseted without me really trying to do so.

MileHiM5 · 28th August 2007, 01:28

Zeckhausen on their website syas that resetting the sensor is a matter of leaving the key at the 'on' position (without the engine started) for a minute or so and the sensor will reset automatically.