Front brakes
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2015
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2017 E300
Front brakes
my dealer today at the 30k service advised my front pads are at 3% and the rotars are worn. He said the rotars are made of softer metal and wear with the pads and should be changed at the same time $990. Is this correct?
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Your front rotors need NOT be changed until you change the front pads a second time (i.e., every other pad change). It is true that the rotors are not designed to be "turned" but replaced instead. But they should be good for at least 70K miles, depending on whether you are a heavy use driver.
And BTW, you needn't change the front pads until you get the sensor wear warning, either.
Up to you, but I would never have the dealer do any of this work. Find an independent workshop if you insist on spending $500 for front brake pads (LOL)
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
The warning light usually comes on when you're at 25% of brake pad left. Yeah, looks like the dealer wants to do it early. Brakes are pretty simple, any place that offers any kind of $100 special could do them. You could get pads and rotors from FCPeuro and not have to pay for pads/rotors for the car again, they have a lifetime warranty on all the parts they sell.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
"Not very deep" is hardly worth worrying about. When I discarded the rotors on my previous MB, the grooves were nearly 1/8" deep, IIRC. I imagine an MB dealer tech would faint at this, but my brakes worked perfectly. I only replaced the rotors because it was the second replacement of the pads.
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2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Technically they should check the thickness of the rotors to determine whether they can be used again. I think if they're within something like a half a MM of being too thin, they suggest replacing the rotors. The service adviser may just be lazy and automatically recommend replacing them without even bothering to measure them. I think some SA's are paid based on commission on how much they write up so they're not going to keep the bill low.
I have followed the story of "warped rotors", rotors needing to be replaced with pads to avoid "squeaking" brakes, etc.
This is the biggest con out there.
Warped rotors: look at the rotors and then think about the heat and then instant cooling required to warp those rotors inches in thickness. Unless you are diving at extremely high speed with frequent application of brakes and then drive through a puddle of water the chances of warping your rotors is slim to non and slim just left town.
However if you replace your pads and feel pulsation or thumping when you apply the brakes then you might have warped rotors.
Brake pads: I agree with all the above. there is a sensor in the pads that in the old days you heard an audible metallic sound, now a warning on the dash. If you change the pads, quickly no damage has been done to the rotors. However if you wait, then the rivets in the pads might score your rotors. So if the light comes on, make arrangements to have your pads changed.
Rotors: Brake pads are designed to wear not rotors. I remember working on cars with drum brakes and how difficult it was to replace them and often had to turn the drums when you replaced the brakes. All that changed with disc brakes. Originally the service charge for disc was substantially less than change for replacing drum brakes. Not that everything is disc, both front and back, dealers are charging more for labor to change the disc pads than they used to change drum brakes, inflation considered.
Just my $.02 and hope this helps
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E350d
Also, if circumstances allow, try a different dealer next time that is hopefully less unscrupulous. Mine actually told me my brakes barely have any wear (as I cruise to a stop as much as possible and use lower gears on slopes).
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
YES!
Many years ago, if you remember the rims of Mercedes were always black, because they used a very soft brake pad that lasted 10,000 to 15,000 miles while other pads, like on American and Japanese cars last 40,000 to 50,000. Mercedes said the softer pads were necessary to achieve short stopping distances.
Of course the stopping distances on the Mercedes were the same or only marginally better than other cars.
Then came BMW and Audi with all maintenance for the first 3 years included.
Guess what happened: Both BMW and Audi changed their brake pads to last longer and so did Mercedes. Amazing - but not really: once BMW and Audi had to bear the cost of replacing the brake pads, they went to a harder pad that lasted longer and stopping distances remained the same.
The bottom line, at least here in the New York Metropolitan area is that we have over 20 Mercedes dealers competing for your business along with Audi, Jaguar, Maserati and BMW. So the profits that were made in selling have greatly diminished. Now it is up to the service department to pick up that slack.
In fact the service department, plus used car sales, are the prime profit centers for auto dealerships today.
Many years ago, if you remember the rims of Mercedes were always black, because they used a very soft brake pad that lasted 10,000 to 15,000 miles while other pads, like on American and Japanese cars last 40,000 to 50,000. Mercedes said the softer pads were necessary to achieve short stopping distances.
Of course the stopping distances on the Mercedes were the same or only marginally better than other cars.
Then came BMW and Audi with all maintenance for the first 3 years included.
Guess what happened: Both BMW and Audi changed their brake pads to last longer and so did Mercedes. Amazing - but not really: once BMW and Audi had to bear the cost of replacing the brake pads, they went to a harder pad that lasted longer and stopping distances remained the same.
The bottom line, at least here in the New York Metropolitan area is that we have over 20 Mercedes dealers competing for your business along with Audi, Jaguar, Maserati and BMW. So the profits that were made in selling have greatly diminished. Now it is up to the service department to pick up that slack.
In fact the service department, plus used car sales, are the prime profit centers for auto dealerships today.
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Lots of good comments here.
Fully agree with coasting to a stop and using engine braking wherever possible. This extends brake pad life in a meaningful way.
Also, it cannot be overstated that avoiding the use of assist systems extends brake pad life. Lane keeping systems and Distronic aggressively use brakes. What is less widely understood is that basic non-Distronic uses rear brakes to decelerate if the actual vehicle speed exceeds the set/target speed.
I make an effort to manually deactivate cruise control on downhill descents and when I want to decelerate to a lower highway speed. This avoids use of rear brake pads.
Fully agree with coasting to a stop and using engine braking wherever possible. This extends brake pad life in a meaningful way.
Also, it cannot be overstated that avoiding the use of assist systems extends brake pad life. Lane keeping systems and Distronic aggressively use brakes. What is less widely understood is that basic non-Distronic uses rear brakes to decelerate if the actual vehicle speed exceeds the set/target speed.
I make an effort to manually deactivate cruise control on downhill descents and when I want to decelerate to a lower highway speed. This avoids use of rear brake pads.
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Lots of good comments here.
Fully agree with coasting to a stop and using engine braking wherever possible. This extends brake pad life in a meaningful way.
Also, it cannot be overstated that avoiding the use of assist systems extends brake pad life. Lane keeping systems and Distronic aggressively use brakes. What is less widely understood is that basic non-Distronic uses rear brakes to decelerate if the actual vehicle speed exceeds the set/target speed.
I make an effort to manually deactivate cruise control on downhill descents and when I want to decelerate to a lower highway speed. This avoids use of rear brake pads.
Fully agree with coasting to a stop and using engine braking wherever possible. This extends brake pad life in a meaningful way.
Also, it cannot be overstated that avoiding the use of assist systems extends brake pad life. Lane keeping systems and Distronic aggressively use brakes. What is less widely understood is that basic non-Distronic uses rear brakes to decelerate if the actual vehicle speed exceeds the set/target speed.
I make an effort to manually deactivate cruise control on downhill descents and when I want to decelerate to a lower highway speed. This avoids use of rear brake pads.
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.
I get frustrated behind a driver who is coasting to a stop 1/4 mile before a red traffic signal. Most of the time the signal changes to green and sometimes back to red before traffic arrives. I approach a traffic signal at normal speeds. In Florida as long as one has passed the start of the solid lane line when the signal turns amber, they can proceed without fear of going through a red light when traveling at the speed limit. In addition using brakes informs the following traffic that one is slowing. That may not be obvious when coasting.
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From: San Francisco, CA
2017 E300
I changed my front rotors at 40K miles, The dealer wanted me to change them at 30K but I knew they were lying about how much thickness I had on either. I decided to change the rotors because I couldn't stand the look of the record player like lines.
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
It's easy to see brake pad thickness without removing many M-B wheels. Look through the wheel spokes and locate the edge of the pad. A high intensity LED flashlight is a big help for this.
The backing plate is ~3mm, and the pad thickness can be estimated with respect to pad thickness vs the backing plate. I have 50k miles on my W166 and have quite a bit of pads left, front and rear. Rear rotors are smooth, front rotors have minor grooves. No vibrations when braking.
The backing plate is ~3mm, and the pad thickness can be estimated with respect to pad thickness vs the backing plate. I have 50k miles on my W166 and have quite a bit of pads left, front and rear. Rear rotors are smooth, front rotors have minor grooves. No vibrations when braking.
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Only MBs - the best or nothing
Actually the pad backing plate is almost 6mm. Full new pad thickness is 10mm and pads should be replaced at not less than 3mm. I replace pads at not less than 4mm and have all electronic aids inactive.
Senior Member
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2019 GLC300, 2017 E300
rotors and pads have a min thickness. Ask for measurements on the rotor and what the service limit. My 2017 213.049 w/ the sport package (Code U29) has a service limit of 34mm, new says 36mm in the service instructions.
