Good afternoon to all,
A friend just purchased a "certified preowned" S 550" (lucky him!) with 13,000 mi. on the car. the front rotors (looking thru the wheels) seem to have an unusually uneven wear on the wear surface and a very pronunced outer ridge. Can you tell me if this is to be expected at 13,000 mi. or is it excessive? Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom!

A friend just purchased this "certified preowned" car with only 13,000 miles on it. The front rotors have a lot of uneveness on the wear surfaces and there is a very pronounced outer ridge also. Can anyone say for certain that he should expect that much wear on the front brakes at that amount of miles? the rear rotors appear almost new.
Thanks in advance for words of wisdom!

Things happen.

No need to condemn Mercedes.

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

MB rotors are softer than pads and are designed to wear. The pad doesn't cover the entire rotor creating that lip. Fairly common to change rotors every other brake pad change.

Impossible to say if it is uncommon wear without knowledge of how the person drives. Prob to be expected if driver charges up to every stoplight expecting it to change and then brakes hard........If you charge around too much and overheat the rotors they may be wrapped.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

I don't think it was "certified" properly. To get to that level of wear means the previous owner rode the brakes and that the dealer didn't change the rotors.
Take it back and have them also check the calipers if they are not sticking.

It's expected that the front wear out faster than the rear on a S class but what you're describing is borderline neglect.

I've seen several 221's and 216's go through front brake pads in less than 15,000 miles. They were all regularly driven in New York City, if that matters. The lip on the rotor is normal, as long as the rotor thickness is within spec (30mm MIN. for an S550), so they shouldn't need to be replaced.

I've gone through front brake pads on my 560SEL's and 560SEC in 11,000 miles. At the end of the 11,000 miles I had a very pronounced ridge on my rotors too. However they were still within specifications until the next 11,000miles when they were out. It depends on driving and subsequent braking style that affects brake/rotor wear. I've never gotten less than 11,000 miles or more than 20,000 miles on any set of front brake pads.


'87 300SDL 254,000
'94 SL500 42,000

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jcciem
'94 SL5000 60,000
'91 350SDL 545,000
'91 350SD 197,000
'00 E55 AMG 77,000