The brake pads on a BMW are important components that clamp the brake rotors when the brakes are applied, thereby stopping the vehicle. Brake pads will wear down and need to be replaced regularly to ensure the brakes function properly and the car stops safely. BMW recommends that brake pads be inspected every 10,000 miles and replaced if needed. Replace brake pads at an automotive shop or do it yourself with the right tools and instructions.
Ensure that the BMW is parked on a flat, level surface. Loosen the lug nuts. Raise the car with a floor jack and lower it onto jack stands at all four corners. Consult a workshop manual or owner’s manual for your particular BMW for the proper jacking points, which vary from model to model. Remove the wheels. Spray brake cleaner on the brakes and nearby components and wipe them with a clean rag.
Remove the two caliper guide bolts that hold the brake caliper on. Remove the large spring clip on the outer face of the caliper with a screwdriver. Slide the caliper off of the rotor. You may need to use a screwdriver to leverage the caliper off of the rotor. Remove the pad that is fastened to the caliper piston by prying the clip out that is attached to the back of the pad. Remove the other pad from the caliper carrier.
Compress the piston into the brake caliper to allow enough clearance for the new, thicker brake pads to fit over the rotor. Unlike some German automobiles like Audis which require a special tool to compress the caliper into the rotor, BMW pistons can be pressed into the caliper with a wooden handle leveraged against the caliper or with a C-clamp. If you are using a C-clamp, place one pad against the piston and one on the outside of the caliper and tighten the clamp to compress the piston.
Install the brake pad in the caliper piston by pressing the clip on the back of the pad into the piston. Install the other brake pad on the caliper carrier. Slide the caliper back over the rotor. Install and tighten the two bolts that hold the caliper onto the car. Reinstall the spring clip on the outside of the caliper. Repeat the above procedure for the remaining corners of the vehicle. Replace the wheels and lower the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts. Pump the brake pedal until the brakes feel firm again.
