pfletch

I know there are many variables, but what is the expected life of the brake pads and rotors. Yeah dumb question I know, but also I have been told by 2 different people that the rotors can not be resufaced an a Mercedes, is this true?

Carsy

I would not be machining the brake rotors unless absolutely necessary anyway ,as it shortens their life. I have never had to machine rotors in 30 years of driving with disc brakes but I know thre are circumstances that can arise to make it necessary. Best to ask your service manager.

methodz

i'm sure we have a sensor, if not you should hear a weird noise if the pad has a sensor on it like a hiss. just look at it after about 20k miles depending on how you drive. when the pad looks low, bring it to a brake shop.

AkaSigFreak

You can not machine drilled or slotted rotors. I don't think the luxury model has drilled rotors.

jrct9454

-Yes, MB wants you to replace the rotors at the same time the pads are replaced.

-That can be anywhere from 20k-80k miles - there simply is no "average" brake life.

Our cars are used mostly for highway driving on extended trips. Since we retired, and this kind of use has become our "average", pad life has always exceeded the time we had our cars....but looking at the thickness of the pads, the absolute MINIMUM I would see would be 60k miles.

If you drive mainly in the city, on short trips, hills, etc, the corresponding number is going to be much lower. I don't know how you come up with an "average", particularly with the extremely small sample represented by a forum like this one.

MBTex

+1 to that....it just depends on how you drive the car and under what conditions.

mac911

If you wear out the pads early on (first couple years), I'm pretty sure sometimes they only replace the pads, don't they? I had been told this before, but don't know.

jrct9454

Yeah, a good dealer tech will actually MEASURE the rotors to see if they are still within spec, and react accordingly...if the pads go really early, the rotors may still be good.

They are supposed to do the measurement before a knee-jerk replacement, but after about 40k miles it's usually a formality, and replacement is all but certain.

RLE

Based on my experience with my W203 C320, I am expecting about 45K miles before replacing the pads all around. And I make no particular effort to conserve the brakes. Replacing the pads is something everyone except the terminally helpless can do at home.

Generally speaking, on average, rotors are replaced every other pad change.
MB has always maintained that the discs should not be machined. When the time comes, the brake pad wear sensors will activate the light.

maninblack

where are you ? , in canada we have a 2yrs/40000km no charge brakes replacement policy

mac911

Also, perhaps @204 wears better than W203?

Many have noticed less brake dust on W204. Have you? I can't say as this is my first MB.