[Endaar]

Hi All,

I'm wondering what a reasonable cost is for replacing brakes and rotors all around for a 2017 M240 xDrive Convertible. I was quoted nearly $2500 by the BMW dealer and this seems astronomical.

Thanks,
Endaar

[pikcachu]

It's 750 for rotors, 300 for the pads and maybe 100 for misc parts and pins for genuine parts

[Sportstick]

Just tried this on tirerack.com for OP's model. $650 for Akebono Euro pads and Centric High Carbon 125 Series plain rotors..front and rear, total. Just need a good independent installer..they can help if you don't have a qualified local shop.

[Endaar]

Thank you both!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Endaar

I was quoted nearly $2500 by the BMW dealer and this seems astronomical.

It is astronomical; it seems to be how shops pay their rent, whether they're independents or dealers.

[harma24]

Based on what I paid for front rotors and pads for 4 corners, pikcachu's price is right on.

$2,500 for the job is highway robbery. It's also a fairly easy job if you have a decent toolbox. I did the front rotors and pads and rear pads in my driveway. First front corner took me about an hour to figure out, but the other side took maybe 30 minutes as I already knew exactly what to do. Rear pads took maybe 10 minutes per side. That includes jacking up 1 corner at a time. If I had a lift and did this for a living, I could probably crank out all four corners in 1.5 - 2hrs.

Just be careful not to strip the little screws holding the rotors in place; they are made from the softest metal you can imagine. One stripped entirely, the other really tried to. No biggie though; I put the new rotors on and picked up new screws a few days later. The screw just holds the rotor in place when the wheel is off; makes getting the wheel bolts in much easier so the rotor doesn't move around on you when trying to align everything.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by harma24

If I had a lift and did this for a living, I could probably crank out all four corners in 1.5 - 2hrs.

I suspect that's typical, as long as the parts aren't welded together by corrosion. Those of us who don't permit that to happen to our brake systems end up paying at the shop for those who do, as the book rate labor hours are somewhere in the middle.

I wonder how many people do the math to figure out the true labor rate they're paying for jobs like this one. Regularly, it's got to be hundreds of dollars an hour; i.e., far above the labor rate posted in the shop (assuming the shop has it posted).

[Rollo`]

I have been doing my own brake jobs for decades. Pads and rotors are a piece of cake on most fairly new cars if you have a jack and jack stands. Are you sure you need replacement rotors?

[Unicorn123]

OP,

Another option that may save you a few dollars is to work it out with your local indie (on Long Island, there are plenty of reputable BMW indies I expect) for you to purchase the parts and have your local indie install. Your local BMW club members would also be able to recommend a good shop to you as well.

This is a privilege you don't want to abuse, so you need to throw your local indie a job where he/she can make some margin on the parts sales occasionally, however most reputable shops will work with you. Even on Long Island, not everyone is made of money, despite the impression made by Nelson DeMille novels. Good luck.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Unicorn123

OP,

Another option that may save you a few dollars is to work it out with your local indie (on Long Island, there are plenty of reputable BMW indies I expect) for you to purchase the parts and have your local indie install. Your local BMW club members would also be able to recommend a good shop to you as well.

This is a privilege you don't want to abuse, so you need to throw your local indie a job where he/she can make some margin on the parts sales occasionally, however most reputable shops will work with you. Even on Long Island, not everyone is made of money, despite the impression made by Nelson DeMille novels. Good luck.

This may also be a possibility: I used a shop that would increase its labor rate by $10/hour if I brought my own parts.

It was a terrific shop, so I didn't do that more than a few times over the 17 years we took our Tundras, Volvos, and BMWs to them. I stuck with instances where I was able to get the parts much cheaper than the shop could.

[Arominus]

Do it yourself and save a ton of cash, its not a hard job at all. You can likely have the rotors refinished if you want, but i'm not above doing a dirty little pad slap if the rotors are not jacked up and at minimum thickness.

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by Arominus

You can likely have the rotors refinished if you want

The M240 and M235 rotors are compound rotors that the BMW TIS explicitly says can’t be resurfaced (as there is some lateral flex possible between the aluminum hat that is riveted to the rotor), they can only be replaced if not within spec.

[morphomeman]

Right, resurfacing is a false saving that will only lead to grief down the road.
And Long Island is verrry long, but it has many BMWs per capita and many great indie shops to choose from. I can recommend a great place in Port Jefferson, about half way out on the North Shore.

[BEM-S4]

Are you not still under warranty with brakes included? My 2016 just expired last week.

[cooolone2]

YouTube & Google are you friend! Even if you don't have the tools, for less than a few hundred you can make an investment in them, order quality parts BMW or others and save a bundle better spent on other endeavors! $2,500... Just lol!