BMW Z4 Brake Warning Light: Common Causes & Solutions

Hey there! I've got some experience with BMW brakes as I dealt with a similar issue on my 2017 BMW M2 (I also owned a 4 Series before). I'd say I have moderate experience with car maintenance. Your symptoms sound exactly like what I faced last year. Initially thought it was just low brake fluid too, but turned out my brake pads were completely worn down and needed replacement, along with the rotors. Took it to my trusted mechanic, and the total repair came to about 480 Euro, worth every penny for safety! Before I share more specifics about my repair experience, could you share: How many miles/kilometers are on your Z4? When was your last brake service? Is there any squealing noise when braking? Do you feel any vibration in the steering wheel during braking? This info would help me better understand if you're dealing with the same issue I had.

Thanks for your detailed response! My Z4 has 76288 KM on the clock and had its last service about 2 months ago. Actually, now that you mention it, I do notice a slight vibration in the steering wheel when braking, especially at higher speeds. There's no squealing noise though. The pedal feels kind of spongy, if that makes sense? Your experience with worn brake pads sounds similar to what I might be dealing with. Did your brake pedal also feel different before you got it fixed? The price you mentioned seems reasonable if it's a complete brake job. Really appreciate the help!

Hey again! Yeah, what you're describing sounds spot on with what I experienced with my M2. The spongy pedal feel was exactly what I dealt with, it's like the pedal has more travel than usual and feels less firm, right? When I had this issue, I initially thought it was just the brake fluid since my car had similar mileage (around 75K km). But the vibration in the steering wheel during braking was the big tip-off. In my case, the brake pads were worn unevenly, which caused the rotors to warp, that's what was causing the vibration. The spongy pedal feel actually got worse over about a week before I got it fixed. I remember being really nervous during that time because the braking response wasn't as sharp as it should be. When my mechanic checked it out, he showed me how the brake pads were worn down to almost nothing on the front wheels. Since you just had service two months ago, I'm a bit surprised they didn't catch this during inspection. Did they specifically check the brake system? Might be worth asking them about that. Trust me, get it checked soon, better safe than sorry with brakes. Let me know what you find out. I'm really curious if it turns out to be the same issue I had!

Thanks so much for the detailed explanation! You've actually made me feel a bit better about the whole situation, even though I'm now pretty sure I'm looking at a significant repair job. The way you described the spongy brake pedal getting worse is exactly what I'm experiencing. You make a really good point about the recent service, I just checked my service papers and brake inspection wasn't part of the routine maintenance they did. That explains why they didn't catch this. Definitely kicking myself for not specifically requesting a brake check now! I've just booked an appointment for tomorrow morning to get it checked out. Given what you've described about your experience, I'm mentally prepared for both brake pads and rotors needing replacement. At least I have a rough idea of the cost thanks to your experience. Will probably give them a heads up about the potential warped rotors too. I'll update you once I know what's going on. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it's been super helpful in understanding what I might be dealing with!