My wife's 09 clubman base has 25k on it. An automatic, she drives it very easily. She had it at our independent guy (BMW specialist) for oil service and he told her brakes are "shot." I haven't looked myself yet due to the weather but I'm wondering if that seems premature to anyone.

 

Does seem a bit early for most cars but I have 28K on my MINI and I went through 1/2 the stock and one set of track pads and have just installed the 2nd set of front track pads. I track the car so this is expected. Drive style will have lots to do with it. I have found over the years that auto's eat brakes faster than manual trans cars. You have to hold the car back more with the brake and manuals tend to use more compression braking or drag. Driving style is the biggest factor. Some people tend to ride the brakes and that just eats up pads.

 

OE pads are very soft

25,000 to a set of fronts is not unusual at all - that was my average for 150,000 miles over two "S"

however brakes are also one of those things that a mechanic can easily frighten you into buying.

It is EASY to check them yourself just by looking and the seat of the pants rule is: when pad material is thinner than the backing plate ... it is time ...

Also there is NOTHING special about MINI brakes and ANY place that does brake inspections (often for free) can take a look - but first warning applies still . . .

btw, on my 95 Miata the original pads were still fine when I had 100,000 miles on the car! No soft pads there . . . Honda Element went close to that ...

lastly don't forget the car has brake pad wear sensors . . . if you are not seeing a warning light on the dash, you probably are not in dire straits yet.

 

Good post Capt. Miata's have brakes? Never seen many Miata drivers use them at the track. They just toss it into the corner and let it scrub off speed.
"We don't need no stinking brakes".

 

Not to start a gender battle here but anecdotally, I've seen women drivers being very careful drivers ride their breaks for two full blocks down residential streets. It all boils down to driving style, one set of pads doesn't come off the line softer or harder than the next (mostly). Just sayin'.

On another battle front, I had a H of a time getting my wife to keep her danged foot away from the clutch pedal at traffic stops and other times just resting her foot on it.

 

Good stuff all. I forgot about increased brake use on an automatic as I drive standards only. Wife drives stick well but wanted HC Clubman as an automatic for some reason. I will take a peak myself tomorrow.

 

It's hard to say what is normal as I've had some customer eat through brakes in 13,000 miles and had others go 80k on set. So I'd say the average is somewhere in the 30k range.
When you do it go with the EBC redstuff, they are great and cost effective.

 

Like has been said how brakes wear is very driver dependent. Some folks are hard on them & some folks not.

Are the EBC brakes still having pad separation issues or have they fixed that problem?

 

What is more detrimental to brakes, sudden stop or foot on the brake over a longer period? I see people all the time that run up behind someone or at a stop light and slam the brakes on at the last minute. Then others that slow down at a stop light with the brakes on over a longer period. Most people have automatics so they don't use the downshifting to help slow them down.

 

I'd say it is those who slam the brakes on at the last moment. Those are probably the same ones who visit bodyshops often.

 

I had my front pads and rotors replaced under warrantee at about 18,000m and it looks like I'll be doing the job this spring at 40,000m.
The car is mainly used for commuting in rush hour stop-and go type driving. Lots of hills too. We are easy on the brakes but the type of driving we do is not easy on them!