Help: What does it mean when....

1886 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by clomax, Jan 17, 2003

seattle

Discussion Starter · Oct 29, 2002

Every time I press on the brake pedal, a light on my instrument cluster turns on. It's the indicator light that has a circle with a bunch of lines around it. I press the brake, it turns on. I let off the brake, it turns off.

I never had a manual for the car (which is an 85' 190E 2.3) so I have no idea what that light is for. Hopefully it's just a 'change your brake pads' light but I'ld rather hear it from one of you guys who knows what you're talking about.

Thanks for the help fellas.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

MTI

· #2 · Oct 29, 2002

The brakes have wear sensors built into the calipers and the signal you're seeing is the...

The brakes have wear sensors built into the calipers and the signal you're seeing is the sensor signal indicating its time to have your pads and/or rotors checked.

steve_f_

· #3 · Oct 29, 2002

sensor

you can actually take the sensor thing off i got the guy to do it last time he changed my pads

MercedesMax

· #4 · Oct 30, 2002

not recommended!!

Yes, you can take the sensors off - but they are a mere couple of dollars (or in your case Â£1 ish) each.

A new disk rotor on the other hand is more in the region of $50 (Â£20). You do the sums?

My recommendation is that if you do take them off, then keep a close eye on your pad wear. When you replace the pads, be sure to replace these. You'll hardly ever have to replace rotors.

Piotr

· #5 · Nov 9, 2002

actually, the sensors should be replaced with each pad change. They are about $3.00 each ...

actually, the sensors should be replaced with each pad change. They are about $3.00 each and they simply click into the pad springs. Takes guessing out of when to change break pads

seattle

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 11, 2002

Re: not recommended!!

Yes, you can take the sensors off - but they are a mere couple of dollars (or in your case Â£1 ish) each.

A new disk rotor on the other hand is more in the region of $50 (Â£20). You do the sums?

My recommendation is that if you do take them off, then keep a close eye on your pad wear. When you replace the pads, be sure to replace these. You'll hardly ever have to replace rotors.

I just picked up new front & read pads. I also decided to just go ahead and get the wear censors too. $6 each, needed two of them (for front only). Front pads were $65, rear were $30. Just out of curiosity, I checked the price on new rotors. $425 each. I don't know where that $50 figure came from but if that's the case, you might want to pick up a ton of them. You could make some serious cash.

Now I just have to get dirty and do the work. Hopefully it's as simple on this Benz as it was on my Honda's and Acura's.

Thanks for the help fellas.

MTI

· #7 · Nov 12, 2002

Re: Re: not recommended!!

Just out of curiosity, I checked the price on new rotors. $425 each. I don't know where that $50 figure came from but if that's the case, you might want to pick up a ton of them. You could make some serious cash.

Click to expand...

$425 each for rotors? No way. Vented ATE rotors retail for $72.34 each and can be mail ordered (shipping will kill ya) for around $55. If you're re-doing the brakes, you might as well do the rotors, maybe upgrade to some cross-drilled Brembos, which are on e-bay for $110 per pair!.

MercedesMax

· #8 · Nov 12, 2002

$425? Someone's laughing very hard at your expense!!

They really are. You can get them genuine from a Benz dealer much cheaper - I have ventilated disks on my 190 because it's the turbo model and I think I paid all of CDN$60 each for them. A set of pads shouldn't set you back even that much (I think I paid CDN $50 for the last set).

You'll find many repairs on your Benz will in fact be easier than they are to do on many other cars. There is a lot of thought that goes into the design of these cars, and that includes repairs. I've always found things to be in very logical positions on all the Benzes I've owned and found them much more enjoyable to work on than other cars where things can be very difficult to service because of poor design.

seattle

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 15, 2002

That $425 figure for a new rotor was from Seattle's biggest Mercedes-Benz dealership. Cal...

That $425 figure for a new rotor was from Seattle's biggest Mercedes-Benz dealership. Call around to all the auto-parts stores and nobody had them for less. If I can get new rotors for less than $100 canadian, it's worth the 3 hour drive to Vancouver BC. Especially after I change my USD to CAN.

Anyways... Saturday is the day I'm gonna do the work. Maybe I should start praying for sunshine now.

MTI

· #10 · Nov 16, 2002

Re: That $425 figure for a new rotor was from Seattle's biggest Mercedes-Benz dealership. Cal

Check this frequently run item on E-bay and I think you'll see what we've been talking about:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1872563549

That $425 figure for a new rotor was from Seattle's biggest Mercedes-Benz dealership. Call around to all the auto-parts stores and nobody had them for less. If I can get new rotors for less than $100 canadian, it's worth the 3 hour drive to Vancouver BC. Especially after I change my USD to CAN.

Anyways... Saturday is the day I'm gonna do the work. Maybe I should start praying for sunshine now.

seattle

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 18, 2002

Re: Re: Re: not recommended!!

I just picked up new front & read pads. I also decided to just go ahead and get the wear censors too. $6 each, needed two of them (for front only). Front pads were $65, rear were $30. Just out of curiosity, I checked the price on new rotors. $425 each. I don't know where that $50 figure came from but if that's the case, you might want to pick up a ton of them. You could make some serious cash.

Click to expand...

I don't know where you're buying your parts, but somebody must have seen you coming... Your price for pads is about double what they should cost, and your price on rotors is about 10 times the cost.

Ron

I live in Seattle. You can call any parts store here and they will all quote you nearly the same price. *shrug* Guess I should have drove up to canada to buy my pads huh?

seattle

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 19, 2002

I would have done just that if I knew about you guys before-hand.

BTW, I installed ...

I would have done just that if I knew about you guys before-hand.

BTW, I installed the new pads... Everything is fine except the wear-sensor light still comes on every now and then. New pads, new sensors. Any suggestions besides disconnecting them?

MercedesMax

· #13 · Nov 19, 2002

possible damage on installation...

Given our weather here in Vancouver lately, I'm guessing it's pretty wet in Seattle too? Rain does sometimes short out these wear indicators - but usually only if you accidentally damage them on the way in. It is a common issue on all cars (from Benzes, to Beemers, to Range Rovers) that have this feature. It basically works by grounding the indicator - if yours is grounding when it shouldn't the light comes on.

I can't believe a dealer would charge you like that. I really think they're having a go at you. Definitely look elsewhere for parts (including Ron @ Germanstar). Another option is to come up to Abbotsford (closer than Vancouver), great guy there at Eurotech for repairs and parts. A number of his customers come up from Wa to get service and buy parts for their Benzes, Porsches etc - yes CAN dollars are nicer to pay in

See less See more

Euro16

· #14 · Dec 17, 2002

If anyone else is looking to change rotors the tire rack has EBC slotted dimpled rotors an...

If anyone else is looking to change rotors the tire rack has EBC slotted dimpled rotors and pads for a reasonable price. I've been running mine for about 4-5 months now and I love them.

jbmbusa

· #15 · Jan 2, 2003

removing sensors

please dont remove them they are there for a reason,
they tell you to replace brakes, its a saftey thing
its like driving on bald tires, you just dont do it
merceds rotors are good for 2 sets of pads
some will stretch a 3rd set,
if you want to be cheap re-use them, all they do is close a circut

jbmbusa

· #16 · Jan 2, 2003

$425?

i work for benz and my quote
ft and rear pads and rotors and a new radiator
was barley $450
but i would love to ship you a few sets of rotors at
that price...........

Thomas.Schumacher

· #17 · Jan 9, 2003

Roters in Seattle 54.00 each

I just did my front brakes and paid 54.00 for each rotor.

You might check with Abe at MBMW Mercedes BMW Parts (In Seattle) at 206-523-1804. He sells the very same parts as the dealer and I am fairly certain can beat your price.

Good luck.

thomas

clomax

· #18 · Jan 17, 2003

Brakes, Rotors, and Sensors from Riverside Motors in Little Rock

After reading a quote for several hundred for rotors I called my dealership in Little Rock.

Front Pads Both Sides $55
Rotors Each $49.20
Sensors Each $5.00

For $110 I can't find a decent pair of rotors for my Cobra.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

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