BMW 7 Brake Warning Light & Pedal Problems, Help Needed

Hey there! I had a pretty similar issue with my 2007 BMW 5 Series (also had a 3 Series before). I've got some experience working with cars, mainly basic maintenance stuff. When my brake warning light came on and the pedal felt spongy, I initially thought it was just low fluid too. Took it to my regular workshop, and turns out my brake pads were seriously worn down. The mechanic showed me how thin they'd gotten, pretty scary actually! They replaced all pads and rotors, which set me back about 480 Euro, but totally worth it for safety. What's the mileage on your 7 Series? And how does the pedal feel exactly, is it spongy, or does it vibrate? This could help pinpoint if you're dealing with the same issue.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Yeah, my car's at 155956 KM now and had its last service about 2 months ago. The pedal definitely feels spongy, kind of like stepping on a soft sponge rather than getting that firm resistance you'd expect. I'll probably have to take it to a mechanic soon since brakes aren't something to mess around with. Did your warning light stay on constantly or did it flicker? Mine seems to come on more when I'm braking on slopes.

Hey again! Yeah, that spongy feeling is exactly what I experienced with my 5 Series too. Mine was actually flickering at first, especially when taking corners or going downhill, but then it started staying on constantly. That's when I knew I couldn't put it off any longer. Given that you're at 155956 KM and the service was just 2 months ago, it's a bit strange they didn't catch this during the inspection. Did they mention anything about the brake system during the service? In my case, besides the worn brake pads, the mechanic also found that one of the brake lines had a tiny leak, which was causing the spongy pedal feel. That's why I initially thought it was just low fluid. The leak was so small that it wasn't leaving visible spots on my driveway, but over time it had affected the brake performance. I'd definitely recommend getting it checked soon. My repair bill ended up being higher because I waited too long and the rotors got damaged. Better to catch these things early. Let me know what your mechanic finds, I'm curious if it's the same issue I had!

Thanks so much for the detailed info about your experience! That's really interesting about the brake line leak, I'll definitely have them check that too. You're right, I am a bit surprised they didn't catch anything during the service. They just did an oil change and general inspection, but didn't mention anything specific about the brakes. I've actually booked an appointment for tomorrow morning because after what you've shared, I don't want to risk waiting any longer. The flickering pattern sounds exactly like what I'm experiencing, especially on slopes, so I have a feeling it might be similar to your situation. I'd rather pay for preventive maintenance now than end up with damaged rotors like you mentioned. I'll post an update once I find out what's going on with my car. Really appreciate your help with this!