2013-2018 BMW X1 Brake Job Tools and Torque Specs

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

A brake job on a 2013-2018 BMW X1 needs a basic metric socket and Torx kit, a torque wrench, a caliper piston tool for the front, a new pad wear sensor, and - on the 2016-2018 F48 - a scan tool that can put the rear electronic parking brake into service mode. The single most important rule is to tighten every brake fastener to the value in BMW's repair data for your VIN, because the two generations of X1 in this range use different brakes, different rotors and different rear parking brake designs.

This guide walks through what changes between the E84 and F48 X1, the tools each one needs, the rotor and pad specs Brembo publishes for these cars, and how to handle torque without guessing.

Which X1 do you have: E84 or F48?

The model years in this guide cover two very different cars. The 2013-2015 X1 sold in the US is the first-generation E84, a rear-drive-based platform. The 2016-2018 X1 is the F48, a front-drive-based platform with a transverse engine. Brake parts do not cross over between them, and the rear brake is where they differ most.

If you are not sure which car you have, the model year is the quickest tell, and the rear brake confirms it: a center-console hand lever means E84; a parking brake switch and wiring running to the rear calipers means F48.

Rotor and pad specs for the X1

Brembo's catalogue data is a useful reference for what is on these cars, but it also shows why you must match parts to your exact build. The E84 xDrive28i lists two different front rotor sizes depending on brake package.

Brembo also shows that within the E84 range the front pad changed in March 2012, with a taller pad from that date on, and that F48 rotor sizes vary by engine and package, including larger fronts and a solid rear on some versions. Measure your rotor diameter or read the part number off the old pads before you order. The minimum thickness is stamped on the rotor itself; if a micrometer reading is at or below it, the rotor is done regardless of how it looks.

Tools you need for the job

The tool list is short, but a few items are specific to BMW and are easy to miss on the first attempt.

• Torque wrench covering the low range for caliper guide bolts and the higher range for carrier and wheel bolts. A click-type wrench is fine.
• Socket and Torx set. BMW uses Torx-head caliper carrier bolts on these cars, plus hex-head guide bolts. Have both on hand.
• Caliper piston tool or large C-clamp for the front calipers, which push straight back.
• Flat screwdriver or pry bar to release the anti-rattle spring on the front caliper.
• Wire brush and brake cleaner to clean the hub face and the caliper carrier abutments.
• Brake-specific lubricant for the guide bolts and pad backing contact points - not general grease.
• Scan tool with BMW parking brake service functions for the 2016-2018 F48. A generic code reader will not do it.
• New pad wear sensors. BMW sensors are designed to be replaced with the pads.
• Wheel lock key if the car has locking wheel bolts. Find it before you lift the car.

Torque specs: how to get them right

Every fastener on this job has a factory torque value: the front and rear caliper guide bolts, the caliper carrier bolts, the rotor retaining screw, and the wheel bolts. The values differ between the E84 and F48, and some BMW carrier bolts are specified as single-use. Torque each one to the value in BMW's repair information for your VIN, or in a professional service manual for your exact model year. We will not print a number here we could not confirm for your specific car, because a guessed carrier bolt torque is how calipers come loose.

A few practical rules apply on both generations:

• Clean the threads before torquing. Old threadlocker or corrosion throws off the reading.
• If the procedure calls for new carrier bolts, replace them; new carrier bolts usually come with threadlocker already applied.
• Tighten wheel bolts in a star pattern with the car on the ground, never with an impact gun at full output.
• Clean the hub face and the back of the rotor before installing it. Rust or scale trapped there causes runout and the pulsation that follows.
• Re-check wheel bolt torque after the first short drive.

Brembo's catalogue data for the E84 lists a tightening torque of 120 Nm with its front discs. Treat any published figure as a cross-check only and confirm it against BMW data for your car before relying on it.

The 2016-2018 F48 rear brake and the electronic parking brake

The F48 rear calipers carry electric parking brake actuators. BimmerWorld describes these as electronic actuators on the rear calipers that operate the parking brake, and notes that actuator failure is not uncommon on these vehicles. That changes the rear pad job in one important way: you cannot simply push the rear piston back with a clamp. Forcing it can damage the actuator.

Instead, a scan tool retracts the piston. ECS Tuning's BMW procedure, written on another BMW with an electronic parking brake, follows this outline:

1. Ignition on, engine off, scan tool plugged into the OBD port and the vehicle selected by VIN.
2. Open the chassis section, then the parking brake functions, and choose the workshop or service mode.
3. Follow the prompts to apply and then release the parking brake with the brake pedal pressed.
4. Let the tool fully retract the caliper piston, then wait about 30 seconds after it finishes before unplugging the caliper connector.
5. Replace the pads, reconnect, and run the tool's startup or exit routine so the system re-learns the piston position.

Menu names vary by tool, so follow the steps your tool shows. Do not start the engine while the parking brake is in service mode, and do not drive the car until the exit routine has finished and the parking brake applies and releases normally.

The 2013-2015 E84 rear brake and parking brake shoes

The E84 is simpler at the rear. The parking brake is a cable-operated hand lever that drives a small set of shoes inside the hat of the rear rotor. Release the hand lever fully before you try to pull the rotor. If the rotor will not come off, the shoes may be catching a lip worn into the drum surface; backing off the parking brake adjuster through the rotor gives you clearance. This is also the right time to look at the shoe linings and the expander, since they are only reachable with the rotor off. Adjust the parking brake per the service procedure once the new rotor is on.

What to replace together

Replace pads in axle sets and always fit a new wear sensor on each axle that has one. If the rotors are at or near minimum thickness, scored, or causing a pulsation, replace them in pairs with the pads. Inspect the caliper slide bolts and boots, and replace the hardware if the boots are torn or the pads were binding. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, so if it has been a while since the last flush, do it with the brake job using the fluid specified on the reservoir cap.

For pads that fit these cars, we carry EBC Bluestuff NDX front pads for the 2016+ X1 F48, EBC Yellowstuff front pads for the 2016-2017 X1 xDrive28i, EBC Yellowstuff rear pads for the 2016-2018 X1, and EBC Bluestuff NDX rear pads for the 2013-2015 X1. You can also browse our full range of brake rotors and brake hardware kits.

How hard is the job?

The front axle on either generation is a straightforward DIY job for someone who has done brakes before: two guide bolts, the anti-rattle spring, the carrier, and the rotor screw. The E84 rear is similar, with the extra step of dealing with the parking brake shoes. The F48 rear is the one to plan for: it is not mechanically difficult, but without a scan tool that supports BMW parking brake service mode, you should not start it. Budget extra time for seized rotors on older cars and for cleaning the hubs properly, which is what prevents vibration later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a scan tool to change the rear brakes on a BMW X1?

On the 2016-2018 F48, yes. Its rear calipers have electronic parking brake actuators, and the piston is retracted through the scan tool's parking brake service mode. On the 2013-2015 E84, the parking brake is mechanical and no scan tool is needed for the rear pads.

Do I have to replace the brake wear sensor every time?

BMW pad wear sensors are designed to be replaced with the pads. Once a sensor has worn through it will not reset, and a reused sensor can trigger a false warning. Fit a new one on each axle where the car has a sensor.

Can I reuse the caliper carrier bolts?

Check BMW's repair data for your car. Some BMW carrier bolts are specified as single-use, and replacements typically come with threadlocker already applied. When in doubt, use new bolts.

What is the minimum rotor thickness on the X1?

Brembo lists 22.4 mm for the 24 mm front rotors and 18.4 mm for the 20 mm rear rotors on the X1 versions shown above. Always use the minimum stamped on your rotor, since sizes vary by brake package.

Will E84 brake parts fit an F48 X1?

No. The 2016-2018 F48 is a different platform with different calipers, rotors and pads. Order by model year and confirm against the part number on your old pads or your VIN.

Sources

1. Brembo catalogue - BMW X1 (E84) xDrive28i - rotor diameters, thickness, minimum thickness, 120 Nm figure, Teves caliper system, pad change in 03/2012
2. Brembo catalogue - BMW X1 (F48) xDrive25d - F48 rotor specs, Lucas front and Teves rear systems, wear-indicator-ready pads
3. ECS Tuning - BMW rear brake pad replacement with electronic parking brake - scan tool service mode steps and the 30-second wait
4. BimmerWorld - Parking Brake Actuator, F48 X1 - electronic actuators on the F48 rear calipers and failure note