BMW Repair: Brake failure and repair, brake pads and rotors, brake failure
Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I have a 2002 325i (23K miles) that had a complete electrical failure in the middle of the road about a month ago. I had it towed to the dealership and they returned it to me two days later claiming to have "repaired" it (mentioned replacing alternator and related parts). However, upon getting it back there were still three lights on in the dash - the brake light, the fuel light, the ABS light. I took it back asking why they had returned my car with warning lights still on. A week later they finally took it back in and spent two more days repairing it and advised they had "repaired" my brakes. Yesterday, I had the first circumstance arise where I had to do a hard and fast full brake (crazy city bus pulled out in front of the car before me). But when I hit my brakes, the pedal gave way and sank to the floor - I had no brakes whatsoever and hit the car before me. Luckily I was only going about 5 mph, so it wasn't serious. After the accident, I had to pump the brakes about 7-8 times to bring the pedal back to some kind of firmness. I brought it back again to the dealership and the first thing they said was "oops, looks like we forgot to flush and bleed the brake lines when we changed your roters and pads". Is the brake failure (and this accident) their fault for not properly changing my brakes? What would cause my brakes to completely fail like that? Can it happen again (I'm afraid to drive it now)?
Answer -
how long did you have the car back after they repaired the brakes? did the pedal go to the floor during this time? what exactly was done to repair the brakes the 1st time?
Reply-
I had the car about three weeks, but did not use it very much due to a couple of hurricanes and being out of town two weekends in a row. There were no brake problems during that time. BMW admitted now that they only changed the brake pads and rotors but forgot to bleed and flush the brake lines when they did the work. Would not bleeding and flushing the brake fluid after changing the brake equipment have an effect on the function of the brakes? (someone mentioned bubbles?)
Answerbleeding the brakes is not a normal procedure when replacing brake pads and rotors. what was the cause of the ABS light coming on-worn brake pads will not cause it to come on. you should have an explanation of repairs performed while it was in for service.
