Brake pad Life on your E-Class
#1
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Brake pad Life on your E-Class
I know that there have been tons of people who have had to replace their brakes somewhere around 20,000 miles. I normally only get about 45,000 miles out of my front brake pads on my cars, the rear last for a long time (well over 100,000). I was expecting to have to change my brakes sooner than normal when I bought my W211, but this W211 has exceeded all my expectations as far as brakes go! I now have 48,000 miles and I still have over 50% of the pads left. The difference is that all 4 brakes are wearing out equally.
I do drive long distances about once a year, but I only drive about 6 miles a day to get to work and back (all in the city). My summer OEM Continentals were bald (down to the TWIs) by 22,000 miles and my Blizzaks are on their last winter at about 17,000 miles. Seeing how my tires are not lasting particularly long (I am a spirited driver) I am surprised that the brakes on my W211 are holding up so well. I imagine I will be seeing almost 70,000 miles before I get around to replacing them. This is on a car that is supposed to have brakes that wear out prematurely (according to posters on this board).
So, how many miles are you getting out of your brakes (front and back) and what kind of driving do you do?
Just curious,
Steve
I do drive long distances about once a year, but I only drive about 6 miles a day to get to work and back (all in the city). My summer OEM Continentals were bald (down to the TWIs) by 22,000 miles and my Blizzaks are on their last winter at about 17,000 miles. Seeing how my tires are not lasting particularly long (I am a spirited driver) I am surprised that the brakes on my W211 are holding up so well. I imagine I will be seeing almost 70,000 miles before I get around to replacing them. This is on a car that is supposed to have brakes that wear out prematurely (according to posters on this board).
So, how many miles are you getting out of your brakes (front and back) and what kind of driving do you do?
Just curious,
Steve
#2
When my car was still running OEM 17" wheels, I got about 50,000 miles on my front pads doing 80-85% freeway driving. After switching to 19" wheels, I got 20,000 miles on the front pads.
#3
i just returned my leased '07 E350/4M with 22k miles and the brakes were fine. Never had an issue with them whatsoever and felt like they could go for many more. Not the case with my '07 GL450 however. I think they are going to get replaced in the next month or so and I have 23k on that. Makes sense as its a larger vehicle.
#4
Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 191
Likes: 17
From: Rose Creek Golf Club, Edmond, OK
2023 E450W, 2020 GLC300
When I took my 2006 E350 in for the second service, at 22,000 or so miles, the dealership wrote that "brake service was needed soon", and showed pad thicknesses of 5 to 6mm. New pads are 10mm, so these pads had at least 3mm wear remaining, good for probably another 10,000 miles. Maybe the techs call for new pads a bit soon, and owners go ahead with replacement before it is actually needed.
That said, I was amazed at the quick pad wear on a car so gently driven, mostly by my wife, who has gotten 90,000 or more with previous cars (not M-Bs) before pads needed replacement, and then it was front only. M-B must use very soft pads.
My 1995 Porsche, with 44,000 miles, is nowhere near needing new brake pads, and I drive it a good bit harder than the M-B gets driven.
That said, I was amazed at the quick pad wear on a car so gently driven, mostly by my wife, who has gotten 90,000 or more with previous cars (not M-Bs) before pads needed replacement, and then it was front only. M-B must use very soft pads.
My 1995 Porsche, with 44,000 miles, is nowhere near needing new brake pads, and I drive it a good bit harder than the M-B gets driven.
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#11
03 E500
Front pads at 28000 miles $425
Rear pads and rotors at 40,000 miles $525
at 58,000 miles the + showed for the front pads.
I assumed (wrong) that the front rotors would need replacing as the rears went at 40,000 miles. I measured the front rotors at 58,000 miles and found 60%+ thickness remaining. I replaced the pads with pads I bought from MB parts supplier. This week at 82,000 I inspected pads front and rear. They show about 80 % of the pad remaining and not even close to the wear sensor.
Don't know why the front/rear pads/rotors failed so soon unless they were just close to the sensor and the dealer needes some extra $$.
However I will say that based on my measurements (your measurements may vary), that when the wear sensor is triggered I have at least 30,000 miles of life in the front pads remaining.
So now at 82,000 miles no sensor is close to triggering and I expect pads to go longer. However I still have both new front rotors in my shop for the next replacement if the rotor is worn below minimum spec. Please note I am using MB specifications for wear on both rotors and pads.
Front pads at 28000 miles $425
Rear pads and rotors at 40,000 miles $525
at 58,000 miles the + showed for the front pads.
I assumed (wrong) that the front rotors would need replacing as the rears went at 40,000 miles. I measured the front rotors at 58,000 miles and found 60%+ thickness remaining. I replaced the pads with pads I bought from MB parts supplier. This week at 82,000 I inspected pads front and rear. They show about 80 % of the pad remaining and not even close to the wear sensor.
Don't know why the front/rear pads/rotors failed so soon unless they were just close to the sensor and the dealer needes some extra $$.
However I will say that based on my measurements (your measurements may vary), that when the wear sensor is triggered I have at least 30,000 miles of life in the front pads remaining.
So now at 82,000 miles no sensor is close to triggering and I expect pads to go longer. However I still have both new front rotors in my shop for the next replacement if the rotor is worn below minimum spec. Please note I am using MB specifications for wear on both rotors and pads.
#15
BRAKE PADS LIFE FOR E CLASS
I know that there have been tons of people who have had to replace their brakes somewhere around 20,000 miles. I normally only get about 45,000 miles out of my front brake pads on my cars, the rear last for a long time (well over 100,000). I was expecting to have to change my brakes sooner than normal when I bought my W211, but this W211 has exceeded all my expectations as far as brakes go! I now have 48,000 miles and I still have over 50% of the pads left. The difference is that all 4 brakes are wearing out equally.
I do drive long distances about once a year, but I only drive about 6 miles a day to get to work and back (all in the city). My summer OEM Continentals were bald (down to the TWIs) by 22,000 miles and my Blizzaks are on their last winter at about 17,000 miles. Seeing how my tires are not lasting particularly long (I am a spirited driver) I am surprised that the brakes on my W211 are holding up so well. I imagine I will be seeing almost 70,000 miles before I get around to replacing them. This is on a car that is supposed to have brakes that wear out prematurely (according to posters on this board).
So, how many miles are you getting out of your brakes (front and back) and what kind of driving do you do?
Just curious,
Steve
I do drive long distances about once a year, but I only drive about 6 miles a day to get to work and back (all in the city). My summer OEM Continentals were bald (down to the TWIs) by 22,000 miles and my Blizzaks are on their last winter at about 17,000 miles. Seeing how my tires are not lasting particularly long (I am a spirited driver) I am surprised that the brakes on my W211 are holding up so well. I imagine I will be seeing almost 70,000 miles before I get around to replacing them. This is on a car that is supposed to have brakes that wear out prematurely (according to posters on this board).
So, how many miles are you getting out of your brakes (front and back) and what kind of driving do you do?
Just curious,
Steve
I received call from the SA telling me that I need from and rear brake pads. I questioned the need for brake pads so soon and the need for the rear brake pads. The SA said the car system was brake by wire and all the brakes wear out at the same time. The cost was about $600.00. I asked why it was so expensive compared to my 2000 E 320. The SA said it was because of SBC and the shutting down of the brake system.
During service on the fourth year at about 43,000 miles I received a call from the dealer different SA telling me I need rotors and pads front and rear at a cost of about $1,200.00. I question the need for pads so soon. The SA said I could wait until the brake warning light comes on.
I checked the information on the web and found a local garage. I need pads for the front and rear. I only needed rotors in the front.
#16
2004 E500. New rotors and brake pads were put on 17,000 mi ago. I just have the tires rotated, and there's about 25% pad life left. All pads are wearing out evenly. The rotors also have considerable wear. Probably need rotors & pads in about 5k mi. I do ~70% city and 30% hwy driving. My BMW 530i gets about 35k mi on pads & rotors (same type of driving). However, the MB E500 is a much heavier car.
#17
BRAKE LIFE E CLASS 211
2004 E500. New rotors and brake pads were put on 17,000 mi ago. I just have the tires rotated, and there's about 25% pad life left. All pads are wearing out evenly. The rotors also have considerable wear. Probably need rotors & pads in about 5k mi. I do ~70% city and 30% hwy driving. My BMW 530i gets about 35k mi on pads & rotors (same type of driving). However, the MB E500 is a much heavier car.
I am in the Los Angeles area and my driving may have been 80% City and 20% highway. My 2003 E500 had the SBC Brake. I try to time the lights on the surfarce street so I do not have many hard brake stops. Most of the posting states the rear brakes should last twice as long as the front.
I would check around with some brake shops that specializes in MB.
#19
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,690
Likes: 1
From: Irvine, CA
2008 E550, 2012 GL450, 2014 GLK350, 2015 S550, 2020 GLC350e
08 E550, at my 1yr/13k service I was told 90% front and back. I consider myself to be a spirited driver. I don't know if brake wear is linear though .. I doubt that means I'll be at 0% at 130k miles
#23
2007 E350
33k miles. Brake warning light was on, so I just had my front pads and rotors changed at dealer for $525. They said I'd have to change the rear pads in another 5k-8k miles.