Mini Cooper

[BOBSSHOES]

I HAVE A MINI COOPER WHICH I BOUGHT AS NEW IT HAS DONE 18000 MILES TODAY A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THE BRAKE DISCS NEED REPLACING, I THINK THAT IT SHOULD DO MORE MILEAGE, AS I AM ONE OF THE OLD SCHOOL WHERE YOU USE THE GEARS TO SLOW DOWN,IS THERE A LIMIT TO WHAT MILEAGE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET

[tonyav]

Disc's or pads ?.

18'000 miles isn't a bad innings for pads.

[retrocop]

Sorry I don't know. But as an old school Advanced driver we were always told to use brakes to slow down.
Brake pads/shoes cost less than clutches. If you read the ''system' of driving in the Roadcraft manual you will learn that. I knew an old friend who bought a brand new Kia. He was a minicab driver. He ruined his break pads regularly because of his awful driving techniques,especially, when approaching road humps.
You should get more than 18000 miles wear from a German built Cooper.

[tonyav]

a German built Cooper.

Built in Oxford.

[retrocop]

Thought they were owned by BMW ?

[retrocop]

//IS THERE A LIMIT TO WHAT MILEAGE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET //
I don't believe any car manufacturer can guarantee you that. It depends on the driver and his techniques as well as the road conditions. IMO

[tonyav]

They are, but are built in oxford.
Tata steel supply them with a lot of steel blanks for them to press into body panels.

[Hymie]

Have you had a garage confirm what the vehicle on board computer is telling you?

I don’t think the vehicle’s sensors monitor the state of the discs, only the pads – there are too many variables in the defects that could result in the discs needing replacing.

But I’d expect at least 40k miles from a set of pads; some years ago there was a national garage chain offering a lifetime guarantee on replacement pads (on the basis that two sets of pads should last the lifetime of most cars).

If it is the discs, unfortunately gone are the days when a garage would remove the discs and have a local engineering firm skim the discs (like new). There is more money (for the garage) in you buying new discs.

[Gizmonster]

One factor to consider - what kind of mileage are you doing?? Long distances at a time; or a lot of short journeys around town, etc??

If it's the latter, then your mileage expectation will be reduced considerably.

[nescio]

the discs need replacing?
most cars will show a warning when the pads are worn, but also, if the sensor fitted to the pads develops a fault - poor connection, broken cable, etc. Why don't you look at the brakes and assess their condition, rather than relying on a possibly spurious warning light?

[Gizmonster]

I just reread your initial post, plus the first comment by tonayav .... can you clarify, is it the brake discs, or pads that you're referring to??

[Vagus]

I had a Mini Cooper, the original one, blooming marvellous is was too ;)

[davebro]

Google says - "A set of brake pads can last from anywhere between 25,000 and 60,000 miles – possibly more. A major factor in the lifespan of the pads is down to the way the vehicle is used and driven."

I would suggest a visual inspection might show the pads are good for another few thousand miles. But if the warning light bothers you get them changed.

My RAV4 has just had 1st replacement pads on rear & 2nd replacement pads on front. Discs are all good. 86,000 miles.

[Arrods]

Also doesn't the transmission (auto or manual) have a bearing on brake wear? I was staggered to find our Mazda2 auto needed new pads after 6k miles, and I'm not an aggressive driver.

[davebro]

^^^^ mine is an auto & I do a fair bit of steep hill driving.

[Ryzen]

Take a wheel off and have a look.