Bmw 320i Brake Pad Wear Sensor in US

A disc brake pad wear sensor on the Bmw 320i is your vehicle's advance warning system for brake pad replacement. It eliminates the need to rely on audible squealing from your 320i to know your pads are getting thin, instead triggering a dashboard warning light at a preset minimum thickness on the Bmw 320i, giving you time to plan the replacement before the pads wear through to the metal backing plate. Replacing a triggered sensor with every 320i pad change is the only way to keep that early-warning system working for the next service interval.

How the Brake Pad Wear Sensor Works on the Bmw 320i

The wear sensor on the Bmw 320i is a small probe embedded in or clipped to the brake pad. When the 320i pad wears down to the replacement threshold, the probe contacts the rotor surface. This contact creates a circuit change that signals the Bmw 320i ABS or brake control module, illuminating the brake warning light. Once the probe on the Bmw 320i has contacted the rotor, it is destroyed and cannot be reused. It is a single-use component by design on the 320i.

Why Replace the Wear Sensor at Every Bmw 320i Pad Change

Installing fresh brake pads on the Bmw 320i without fitting a new wear sensor defeats the entire purpose of having a brake monitoring system on your 320i. A previously triggered sensor probe is worn through and has no remaining material to detect the next set of 320i pads wearing down. From day one of the new Bmw 320i brake pads, the warning system is non-functional without a new sensor.

Signs the Wear Sensor on Your Bmw 320i Needs Replacing

• Brake warning light staying on your Bmw 320i after new pads have been fitted
• Intermittent brake warning light on your 320i that clears and returns without obvious cause
• Visible wear notch or contact mark on the Bmw 320i sensor probe tip
• OBD fault codes on your 320i referencing the brake pad monitoring circuit

Why GeoBrakes for the Bmw 320i Brake Pad Wear Sensor

Wear sensor compatibility for the Bmw 320i is more exacting than most brake parts. The probe length, contact resistance specification, and connector design must all match the 320i brake monitoring circuit precisely. A wrong sensor triggers Bmw 320i warnings at the wrong pad thickness, or not at all. Every sensor in the GeoBrakes catalogue is sourced to original equipment probe and connector specifications for the Bmw 320i, with front and rear positions listed separately.

Frequently Asked Questions - Bmw 320i Brake Pad Wear Sensor

Do I need to replace the brake pad wear sensor every time I change pads on my Bmw 320i?

Yes, on Bmw 320i vehicles equipped with electronic wear sensors. The sensor probe on your 320i is a single-use component. Once it has contacted the rotor and triggered the 320i warning light, the probe is consumed. Always replace the Bmw 320i sensor during every pad change.

Does my Bmw 320i have electronic brake pad wear sensors?

Many vehicles use a mechanical wear indicator instead of electronic sensors. Check your Bmw 320i owner's manual or use the GeoBrakes vehicle selector to confirm whether your 320i uses an electronic pad monitoring system.

Can a faulty wear sensor keep the brake warning light on my Bmw 320i on after new pads are installed?

Yes. If the Bmw 320i wear sensor from a previous brake service was not replaced, or if the probe has been damaged on your 320i, the brake warning light will remain on even with new pads. Replacing the 320i sensor will clear the fault and restore normal operation.