Multiple error messages - sure hope I didn't get a lemon

[Mike991M4]

1500 miles on the car.

Yesterday, I got this, and a brake malfunction warning, but it came and went 3 times before going away

they cleared after I restarted the car.

Today I opened the door, and something started clicking like a solenoid under the hood. went on for about 30 seconds.

Then when I started the car, I got all those failures again, including the brake malfunction. Had roadside assistance pick it up and take it in for me.

[Fake News 2017]

Good thing you took a picture

Now they can't say it didn't happen or no codes were thrown.

[Mike991M4]

I know, that's my biggest concern, that they wont be able to duplicate. My SA said the key should have stored the faults, but the car didn't.

[djMpower]

Damn, sorry to hear that! I remember seeing your modded pictures thread and thinking how tastefully done it was. Hope there aren't any major issues.

[NewM3driver]

No worries. You have a long warranty and BMW stands behind their product. Keep us posted.

[04RC51]

You will be fine! They will fix the car like new. It's just a bad sensor.

[Mike991M4]

looks like my screw up when I powdercoated the brakes. I've got fluid leakage. However, its got to be tiny, because I've driven the car 1500 miles over 2 and a half months before the fluid got low.

Dealer wants 6800 for new calipers. I bought 4 rebuild kits from rock auto for $40 instead.

One of my jobs is owning a powdercoat business specializing in rebuilding and refinishing brake calipers. (mostly retired from it now) I've done about 4000 sets of brakes since 2004, so rebuilding them won't be an issue. I'm just glad the set that failed was on my own car.

[f80er]

What did you do?

[Mike991M4]

I powdercoated them. I didn't separate the halves because I was lazy and they were brand new, and because they were mine and not a customers, so I just coated over the blue. I did remove the pistons and seals though. Probably got something inside one. No big deal now that I know what it is though. Just going to strip, redo and rebuild all of them to be safe.

[paliknight]

So if the regular brembos cost 6800, and the CCBs are an extra 8000 option, the CCBs are really 14800? Wtf lol

[Mike991M4]

its the weirdest thing I have ever encountered with brakes, and I've rebuilt 1000s of them. I held the brake pedal for a solid 30 minutes with the engine running and full brake pressure. Had paper towels taped to the wheels underneath the calipers and didn't get any drips. But, when I feel the bottom of the calipers, there is fluid there, so its just barely weeping out. I'm sure a rebuild will take care of it though. Usually, if a caliper leaks, it sprays out when full pressure is applied.

[Silenus]

I can't even count the times I've had a customer say "I hope this car isn't a lemon" and it turns out that it's something they did.

Thanks for following up and posting details. Good luck with the fix.

[GERMAN M3]

Hey Mike....which dealer did the you send the car to?

[Mike991M4]

gwinnett

[skyline408]

So did you have to reimburse BMW for the tow?

[Mike991M4]

no

[Mike991M4]

All fixed. stripped, recoated and rebuilt all 4 calipers. Could have just done the rebuild, but there were some stains from the leaking fluid (not visible), and I also always think its best to start from scratch when solving a problem.

I just wish that with all the computers and sensors, you would get a low brake fluid message before you got all the other messages that low brake fluid causes. Had it said low brake fluid, I would have found the problem on my own.

[f80er]

Yeah that would be nice to have. In my other car I had a leaking bleeder and the only reason I found out was by happening to look in the reservoir to see how empty it was.

Glad you got it figured it out. Now time to untint those tail lights.

[Mike991M4]

so.....I rebuilt the calipers, put them back on the car, and fluid was still seeping out.

Bought 4 more rebuild kits and all new pistons, rebuilt them again and left the car on jackstands while on vacation. Came home to leaking calipers !

Bought a used set of takeoffs here on the forum. Was going to leave them blue, but they were all chipped up, so I coated them, but I did not disassemble them (seals can take much more than the 380 powdercoat temp, I've done lots of calipers assembled when the customer insisted on it).

Put them on and left the car for a week while travelling, came home and ... Leaking!!!!!

Aaaaargh. I have rebuilt 1000s of calipers and I can't figure out why they are leaking. I took a front one off full of fluid and left it standing up on my workbench, and the fluid is definitely coming out of the piston seals.

Anyway, ordered a set of stoptechs for it. They are 2 more weeks out, so by the time I get them on, my car will have been out of service for 3 months.

Kind of makes me realize I can daily my 991.


frustrated in atlanta

[karbonM3]

note to self: do NOT touch the calipers.

[Mike991M4]

Originally Posted by meraki

note to self: do NOT touch the calipers.

strange thing is, I did the calipers on my M235i twice and a couple sets for Turner Motorsports with no issues.

[FriedPiston]

Originally Posted by Silenus

I can't even count the times I've had a customer say "I hope this car isn't a lemon" and it turns out that it's something they did.

QFT