BRAKE and "garage lift" light illuminated...

[dougb]

I've got 52 thousand miles on my R56.

I'm driving along, 50mph, and make a normal slowdown to make a right turn. As I push the brake pedal, I get a boop-boop alarm tone, and red BRAKE idiot light, and a symbol that shows the car up on a mechanic's lift.

I didn't notice any braking issues as I slowed and/or made the turn.

I pull into the parking lot, pull out the manual and it says that a BRAKE combined with the mechanic's lift symbol indicate the car should not be driven, some sort of electrical problem.

huh.... So, with the help of a reflection in a store front glass window, I check to see the brake lights, backup lights, turn signals, etc are working just fine. No burned out bulbs, and apparently no blown fuse.

The car drives and brakes just like normal... I drove it home another sixty miles along 50mph two lane roads, with no issues or anomolies.

Any idea what's going on?

[minidiver]

Sounds like brake pads and wear sensor need to be replaced.

[dougb]

Yeah, I'm thinking the car believes the brake pads are worn down... but about 40 thousand of the 52 thousand miles are highway driving with the cruise control on... I can't imagine my brake pads need replaced.

I'm used to the old school brake pad squeelers - noise makers that tell you the pads are getting thin....didn't know there was a sensor on the MINI.

[HerryMonster]

I know that this is an older post. If I want to change the breaks myself, what kind of breaks do you all suggest that I get? Also where is a good place to buy them? My in-laws are very handy and have changed breaks for my other cars before and they said they will help me do this. I just have no idea what to get or where to get them.

[glmini]

Aug 25, 2015 22:31:39 GMT -5 HerryMonster said:

I know that this is an older post. If I want to change the breaks myself, what kind of breaks do you all suggest that I get? Also where is a good place to buy them? My in-laws are very handy and have changed breaks for my other cars before and they said they will help me do this. I just have no idea what to get or where to get them.

I have changed brake pads a couple of times on a MINI as well as other cars I have owned, and will say that doing it on MINI's is a bit more work. I found a post on North American Motoring in the forms that described how to do it pretty well. You will need to pick up a new sensor if yours has been set off. Most people seem to like the Green Stuff pads, does not get the wheels quite as dirty.

I changed the front pads on my Nissan truck over the weekend and it took less than an hour and when I did the MINI it was probably twice that long.