2007 MINI Cooper S ~ 60k miles.

The rear brake sensor has tripped so I would like to get the front & rears done at the same time.

What do I need to buy?
Where can/should I buy it?

I have a good local mechanic that will do all the work if I get the parts. I would like to get pads that have less dust than the ones that are on there now (don't know if they're stock, we bought the car at 57k miles).

Do I need rotors at this point or can I simply buy/replace the pads and wear sensor(s)? Do I need to replace the front sensor since it hasn't tripped yet or can we just put it into the new pads?

Thanks in advance!

 

First thing is to check which tripped the sensor. You will need the sensor for that end.

If you want low dust pads you have a lot of choices including Hawk. However, most ceramic paid will be fine if you don't do performance driving.

If you are not doing the brakes yourself, which I recommend to learn your car and to save money, have the shop check the thickness of the rotors. If under spec replace, if not just pads.
Now, I am in the minority here on NAM. Most say put new rotors on with every brake change. If you want to do that it is not much more expensive and you won't have to worry until you need new pads.
I check my brakes every 5,000 when I rotate my tires so I don't worry about putting new rotors on until they are needed.

Recap,
Sensor for the end that tripped
Ceramic pads for low dust
Rotors for all four wheels if you want to forget brakes until you need pads again.

 

Here are some options: http://www.fastmini.net/combokits.html

 

 

Since you bought the car used it is hard to say of you need rotors. OEM is a very nice setup on the MINI, especially if you are not an aggressive driver. If you are looking for lower dust, you can go with EBC green or something along that level. If you want a more aggressive pad then you can go with ceramic. If you go with high performance and don't get them well heated you will lose braking power and if you go with regular pads you may experience brake fade if they overheat. So, the choice on pad greatly depends on how you drive.

You will need a new sensor to get the light out.

So, just get an idea of what you are looking for in a setup and we can kind of guide you from there.

 

It's the wife's car and only gets driven hard when she lets me get the keys on weekends. She doesn't push it very hard at all.

Should I get my mechanic to check the rotors to see if they need replacing and then go from there?

 

That is what I would do. If you are looking for a decent street pad that has less dust than the OEM, EBC greenstuff are pretty nice. They are basically a direct replacement for OEM.

Way carries a nice assortment of pads and rotors. EBC are there and he has some low end rotors as well.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/07-10-c...ndling/brakes/

 

I like Carbotech Bobcat 1521 on my cars. Not the cheapest but good quality, great modulation and low dust. Centric premium is a decent inexpensive OEM replacement rotor.

Be careful with the brake pad numbers when ordering EBCs. They used to have a confusion about which pad fits which Mini and can send you the wrong ones. Not sure if they have updated that info yet.

 

I, too, like and recommend Carbo Tech 1521 Bobcat pads. I've changed out the OEM pads and 2300 miles; much, much less dust and, IMO, very good braking/stopping power. They are not cheap!

 

BennyG19

I just, today, did the brakes on my 2007 Cooper S. ( 62,000 )

I contacted Way Motorworks and he set me up with EBC green stuff Pads, Zimmerman Rotors, new sensors, oh yeah, and 4 new Torx T-50 screws.
I broke the pads in today. Everything is fine.

You will need both sensors. You can get away with one, but order both. Mine had to be "mechanically agitated" to get out. I broke them both. The plastic was pretty brittle /fatigued after three New England winters.

I personally think you should get the rotors. Your fronts are probably shot, mine were, and while I could have reused the rears, I preferred to have the same material(s) on all 4 brakes.

This job, as quoted by Mini Service, was going to be ~ $1200.00. The parts shipped, from Way Motorworks, was less than 1/2 that amount.
I used to do brakes and front end work for extra $$$ during college, so it was a very easy job for me to do. It took longer to get that rear sensor replaced than anything else.


"It's the wife's car and only gets driven hard when she lets me get the keys on weekends. She doesn't push it very hard at all.

Should I get my mechanic to check the rotors to see if they need replacing and then go from there?"

Most states have regulations/laws that stipulate that the pad to rotor contact has to exceed a percentage of the pad's face, ie. 100%. Calipers are also covered,and the brake service business is on the hook, liability wise.
There are only two ways to achieve this. Turn the rotors, or replace the rotors. The OEM fronts on my vehicle could not have been turned, and still had minimum thickness, and I have the ability to turn them myself. They actually are pretty low quality rotors in my opinion. Have all 4 rotors ready. Worst that happens is that you have rotors sitting in the garage for replacement in the future.