Is there a how-to for replacing the pads/rotors on a 2001 X5 3.0i? I found a bunch of info on the 3 series/M3 but nothing for the X5? I am asking for a friend of mine who needs new brakes front and rear. She was just quoted $1200 for the repair and I think I can do it a LOT cheaper. I have replaced the brakes/rotors on my Maxima a couple of times and this doesn't look that much harder. Where is the best place to buy OEM parts? I was looking here:

www dot realoem dot com


I listed the parts below that I think I need. Am I missing anything? Also, what are all these HEX keys I see on the parts website? Do i need them?

Front:
REPAIR KIT, BRAKE PADS ASBESTOS-FREE $111.04
BRAKE PAD WEAR SENSOR $18.41
BRAKE PAD PASTE $2.50
HEX BOLT (?????) $2.44
ROTORS $118.30

Rear:
REPAIR KIT, BRAKE PADS ASBESTOS-FREE $99.88
BRAKE PAD WEAR SENSOR $18.41
BRAKE PAD PASTE $2.50
ROTORS $72.54

Total: $450

Thanks for any advice!!

If you can do a maxima you can do the X5, its just the parts that look different.

Call Patrick at BMA as they've always given me great deals on parts for my Euro M5.

I assume you mean BMAauto.com? How do you know which parts are OEM? I want to make sure I use the same parts she would get at the dealership.

All bmws are pretty much the same, the X is just bigger. You don't require sensors unless the brake warning light illuminated.

Last time I did brakes I bought from Cobalt Friction and the service was great,and the price was good as well.

It's not hard to do the work... just time consuming... that is where the high cost is coming from. Dealerships don't work for free, they have operating costs to deal with. Normally I think BMW charges 1 1/2 hr labor per axle for pads/rotors.

Try X5World (http://www.x5world.com), they have a diy for pretty much anything to do with your X.

Here (http://www.x5world.com/articles/x5/brakes/9584-bmw-x5-complete-brake-job-diy.html) is the link right to the DIY for brake pads/rotors

I would get the parts from Autohaus in New Hampshire. That's who I used when I changed out the pads.

Honestly, the only hard part about changing brakes is making space for the new pads with the calipers

I did the brakes on my 4.4 and it really is pretty much like doing a larger version of any standard disk setup. For parts I went to www.tirerack.com (http://www.tirerack.com) since they have a warehouse in Reno, which saved me the shipping on the heavy rotors. Patrick @ BMA is a great source as well, excellent service.

The Hex Bolt fastens each brake rotor to the hub. You may not need to replace it, but it could very possible strip out and if you don't have one handy, it will require a trip to the dealer for one. For a couple of bucks, get two, just in case.

Nothing special about the brakes. If you've done brakes on any car built within the last decade, it should be no problem doing the X5.

It is possible to do the brakes and reuse the brake sensor if the warning light isn't illuminated, but again, if you break it taking it out, it's a special trip just for that. Again, for 20 bucks, just get it while you're there.