Hello everyone. The brake-pad light on my 1993 300E recently came on. I assumed this just meant it was time for new pads, but after poking around on here it sounds like the light is supposed to come on only when the brakes are being used. Is this correct? Well, I ask because the light on my car is coming on right after the car is started and the brake pedal isn't being touched, and comes on sometimes while driving (it'll come on and off while driving on the highway, for instance).

Any ideas what might be causing this?

Thanks,
Mike

If the little nubs are worn down, it could possibly be touching all the time. Or there is a short somewhere. It is the brake wear indicator light, and not the other brake light, correct? (If you're not 100% sure, check your brake fluid)

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

You have ground the wear sensors down to bare metal.. You need brakes. This is something you need to address very soon.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

is that the orange/yellow sun looking light ? i thought it was tire balance light

any links to wear sensors for sale

There is no tire balance light

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

The light just came on; I've driven probably 50 miles since the light first came on. Would this indicate it's a sensor issue and not a brake issue?

Yep, it's the circle with lines on each side, not the one that says "brake."

Light for brakes comes on when it is grounded out, either by the pads being worn enough to allow the sensor to make contact to ground, or a break in the sensor wire etc causing a grounding of the sensor. Either way you need to pull the wheels and check the brake pads and sensors to see what the situation is. Either way you have something grounding the sensor system and it needs to be addressed either with finding the short or repalcing the sensors and brake pads.

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

Does anyone have an owner's manual??

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2012 E350
2006 Callaway SC560

Thanks. I'm not sure whether to keep my fingers crossed that it's the pads or a sensor issue.

Either is an easy fix...pads are cheap and the sensors are about $4 each. If the pads are even close to worn and you have to do new sensors, do pads to to be done with it. If you need pads, always replace the sensors, they are cheap and should be kept in working condition.

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

cool i found the sensor for 1 dollar .. ill add it to my little parts list ... mine comes on every now and then .. i alwys thought it was my wheel balance since i roasted the tread off my back wheels

I am not sure but wont that come on if the brake fluid gets low also.

The yellow "sun-looking" indicator is actually supposed to be a universal representation of either brake drum configurations of the past or perhaps a caliper/rotor icon...either way, it is simply the mechanism that tells you that your pads are due for replacing.

The sensor "grounds" itself when it comes in contact with the rotor , thus setting off the light. Even on cold start mornings before you even apply the brakes, the light may come on (consider that your pads are ALWAYS in contact with the rotors anyway). During the rest of the trip, the light flickers rapidly depending on the vehicle speed as you apply the brakes.

Any other brake related issue will set off the RED brake light indicator...low brake fluid, low brake pressure, or complete brake failure. This is a circle with a "B" in the middle. Again, it is red.

Unless you go shalom racing on weekends frequently, the pad wear indicator gives you PLENTY of time to address the issue. I went nearly two months under normal city/highway driving conditions (avg. 45 mi/day) before I pulled mine off...and they still had 30% of the meat left on the pads!

Before you go out and buy sensors, consider that most pad replacements kits already come with sensors included. Make sure you check with the parts guy at FastLane when you do. I am assuming you will purchase them here...you won't be dissapointed!

And W124s only have front pad wear sensors. You will have to inspect your rears visually to determine if they also need replacement. They don't take the brunt of the stopping force, so generally I find that they require replacement every other time I replace the fronts.

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

YES< What G-Benz said. He cleared up what the rest of up were trying to say. Good explaination

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red