Am i being ripped off?

[Aggieland81]

Ok well my brake pad sensor light had just gone off so i took my bimmer into the shop. The thought just the pads would have to be replaced and it would be like 150$. They call today and said the rotors and sensors must be replaced too and its gonna be like 375$!!! I said i thought it would just be the pads, and he said we always change rotors with pads, and if you dont do it now, you will have to do it later. Am i being ripped off??

[fernguy]

He's right about the sensor once light goes on the sensor is no longer useable. About rotors some mechanics perfer to replace rotors because not to much material they are able to machine off to true them straight. They only have a certain amount material that they may take off before they become undersized.
In most cases by the time you have turned rotors so they are straight you are at the minimum thickness. So the next time you will have to replace them.
The sensors are priced about $25-$50 each depending on shop mark-up
Pay them now or pay them later is the famous saying.

[the///man]

take the opurtunity to upgrade. get brembo or just slotted or cross-drilled rotors

[GreenDragon]

Have you looked into getting the parts yourself to maybe save some money, and upgrade at the same time? Find out if they will put parts you purchase on the car, then see if that makes more sense. Or, you can change the pads yourself for like 60$ (if it's only the front or the back). Maybe you can have your rotors turned instead of replaced, then replace them next time.

BAVAuto has:
Cross drilled front rotors for a '98 e36 for 170
Front pads for same @ 55
Sensor for same @ 10
Total - ~240$ for parts.

You tell me, are you getting ripped off?

[Furious]

good chance that yes you might have to change rotors, its best to do so every other pad change i think

[Aggieland81]

Turns out he was right, and he explained to me why. Then he went to the trouble of looking over the whole car for me and telling me what condition everything was, what to watch etc. Turns out my front shocks are leaking which are gonna cost me about 600 later. One of my rear shock mounts is breaking apart which is another 210. And a cracked flex disc on the tranny driveshaft which is another 180. So it was a pretty depressing day haha. But the guy seemed really nice and really knew what he was talking about. He also said if im really interested in keepin this car awhile and maintaining it, that i should join the bmw club of america, anyone here in it? im sure lots of people are. Is it worth joining? do you get alot out of it?