We recently had a fellow BMW Fanatics member bring his F30 330d in for an inspection. He’d been experiencing some concerns and wanted to check it out before continuing to rack up more mileage.
Once the car was on the lift, we immediately noticed a major safety concern — the front brake discs had developed visible cracks. This isn’t something we take lightly, so we advised that the discs and pads be replaced urgently. The customer agreed, we placed the parts order, and once they arrived, the vehicle was dropped off and we got to work.
Cooling System Check-Up
While prepping for the brake work, we popped the bonnet and noticed low coolant. Opening the cap revealed some unusual residue, so we gave it a clean, topped it up with fresh coolant, and pressure tested the system. We left it under pressure for a good amount of time and, after confirming no leaks, moved on to the main issue — the brakes.
Front Brake Service
The front brakes were stripped down and we noted two things:
✔️ Dust shields
✔️ Caliper brackets
✔️ Guide pins
✔️ Retaining clips
✔️ Bolts
✔️ Brake calipers
Once all components were free of brake dust and dirt, we prepped our new Hella Pagid brake pads with anti-squeal spray and applied anti-seize paste on the wheel hubs to avoid future sticking. Everything was reassembled with care — ready for action with safe, responsive stopping power.
Rear Differential Service
Next up was a differential oil service.
We opened the diff, extracted the old (and very dirty) fluid, then refilled with fresh Motul diff oil. Area around the drain plug was cleaned up neatly — no mess left behind.
Final Touches
The customer collected the vehicle and took it on a long-distance trip. A few days later, we followed up — he’d clocked over 1,000 trouble-free kilometers and was extremely pleased with the work and overall experience.
Another solid 330d, back in top shape and ready to put in the miles. Another happy customer.
Once the car was on the lift, we immediately noticed a major safety concern — the front brake discs had developed visible cracks. This isn’t something we take lightly, so we advised that the discs and pads be replaced urgently. The customer agreed, we placed the parts order, and once they arrived, the vehicle was dropped off and we got to work.
Cooling System Check-Up
While prepping for the brake work, we popped the bonnet and noticed low coolant. Opening the cap revealed some unusual residue, so we gave it a clean, topped it up with fresh coolant, and pressure tested the system. We left it under pressure for a good amount of time and, after confirming no leaks, moved on to the main issue — the brakes.
Front Brake Service
The front brakes were stripped down and we noted two things:
- The brake pads were unevenly worn and slightly oversized.
- The wheel hubs were heavily rusted, making wheel and disc removal difficult.
✔️ Dust shields
✔️ Caliper brackets
✔️ Guide pins
✔️ Retaining clips
✔️ Bolts
✔️ Brake calipers
Once all components were free of brake dust and dirt, we prepped our new Hella Pagid brake pads with anti-squeal spray and applied anti-seize paste on the wheel hubs to avoid future sticking. Everything was reassembled with care — ready for action with safe, responsive stopping power.
Rear Differential Service
Next up was a differential oil service.
We opened the diff, extracted the old (and very dirty) fluid, then refilled with fresh Motul diff oil. Area around the drain plug was cleaned up neatly — no mess left behind.
Final Touches
- We ran diagnostics and cleared out old fault codes.
- Reset the front brake service in the CBS menu.
- Gave the engine bay a much-needed clean, followed by plastic trim dressing to restore that showroom black finish.
- Charged up the battery to ensure optimal starting and electrical health.
The customer collected the vehicle and took it on a long-distance trip. A few days later, we followed up — he’d clocked over 1,000 trouble-free kilometers and was extremely pleased with the work and overall experience.
Another solid 330d, back in top shape and ready to put in the miles. Another happy customer.
