BMW Brake Pad Wear Sensor Replacement Guide

Does the brake light appear on your BMW dashboard, but the brakes are still working fine? Follow the procedures below to learn how to reset the light and replace the brake pad wear sensor.

The BMW brake wear sensor is nothing more than a wire that runs at the sensor’s tip. 12-volt typically feeds the sensor at all times. Once the brake pads wear out, the sensor’s tip where the wire runs is cut, opening the circuit.

The brake or DSC module will see high resistance now that an open circuit at the sensor triggers a fault code such as 5F12, 5F13, 5F14, 5F14, or 5F16.

Symptoms

The following message may remain on the instrument cluster even when you replace the brake pads. ” iDrive Message: Brake Pads are worn to the minimum depth. Have the pads replaced by the nearest BMW center”.

Brake Warning Light On Dashboard

Service Vehicle Symbol with a car on the lift.

Fault Codes

• 5F12 DSC Brake pad wear, front axle, brake pads
• 5F15 DSC Brake pad wear, rear axle plausibility.

What you will need

• BMW Brake Pad Wear Sensor
• Flat Head Screwdriver

Procedure

1. Determine if you are replacing a front or rear brake pad wear sensor.
2. Jack up the vehicle and remove the wheel. If replacing the front brake pad sensor, jack up the driver’s side wheel. If replacing the rear brake pad sensor, jack up the passenger side wheel. Remove the wheel from the vehicle.
3. Locate the brake pad wear sensor on the brake pad.
4. Use a flathead screwdriver to pry out the old sensor.
5. Unhook the sensor from the brake caliper release valve.
6. Unhook the sensor wire from the strut bracket by pulling it out.
7. Open the black box mounted on the wheel well. Inside, you will find the connector.
8. Pull the connector out of the box. Press the release tab on the connector and separate the wires.
9. Install the new sensor in reverse order.

Reset BMW Brake Pad Wear Reminder

There are two methods to reset the BMW brake wear sensor.

Reset the BMW Brake Pad Sensor via the Instrument Cluster

This video shows resetting the BMW brake light service reminder using the instrument cluster’s buttons.

Instructions

1. Turn the ignition on, but do not start the car.
2. Press and hold the reset button on the side of the dashboard.
3. After a few seconds, you will see the service menu at the dashboard’s center.
4. Press the reset button several times to see the front or rear brakes symbol.
5. Press and hold the reset button with the brake symbol on a small LCD until you see the words RESET.
6. When RESET displays on the screen, release the button and press it again for about 5 seconds to reset the brake light.

If the reset procedure is carried out successfully, the brake symbol on the small LCD will turn from RED to ORANGE.

Reset the BMW Brake Light with an OBD-II Scanner

Another method to reset the BMW brake warning is to use a scan tool. Many OBD-II scanners allow you to access the Condition Based Serving (CBS) menu and reset the brake mileage limit.

If you have tried method one but have been unsuccessful, the next step is to use a scanner.

In addition to resetting the brake light, a good scanner allows you to read fault codes from the DSC module and determine why the brake light won’t reset. The YOUCANIC Full System Scanner can read codes from every control module of your BMW, including the DSC module.

Can I Bypass the Brake Pad Wear Sensor?

Many BMW owners bypass (delete) the brake wear sensor by removing it and installing a clip or cutting the sensor wire, exposing the wires, and connecting them. This short-circuit wire emulates a “good” sensor but is not recommended.

CAUTION

It is not recommended to disable the BMW brake pad wear sensor permanently.

If you bypass the brake pad wear sensor, you will NOT know when your brakes are due for replacement. Your brake pads will wear completely until they reach the metal part, at this point, you will have metal-on-metal contact.

Not only will your braking be reduced, you will also hear a grinding noise, and your rotors will get damaged and require replacement.

How many brake pad sensors does a BMW have?

Typically two. One sensor is located on one front brake pad (left front). The second wear sensor is on the right rear brake pad.

What is BMW brake pad sensor resistance?

New Brake Pads: Zero resistance (or closed circuit).

Worn Pads: Infinity ohms ( open circuit) when the pads (sensor) wear out.

Where is the BMW brake pad sensor located?

Front left brake caliper. Mounted on the brake pad.

Rear right brake caliper. Mounted on the brake pad.

We hope you find the BMW Brake Pad Wear Sensor Replacement Guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your BMW vehicle.