Rotors and brake pads replacement?

[chasej]

Owned my first German car (2010 S5) for a little less than two years now.

Pad sensors went off a few weeks ago and I'm taking it in tomorrow to get them replaced. I've called a few shops for quotes now and all of them without exception say that the rotors have to get done with the pads ... several have said they won't do the work otherwise. The last shop said that in his experience the rotors are too thin relative to cars whose rotors can be flipped.

Two shops I called are well recommended on these forums and by friends with German cars. Another is my dad's regular mechanic (not high-end/euro) who is also very well reviewed locally. All make the same claim.

Thoughts?

Sidebar - any thoughts on going to a non-specialized shop?

[gersonz90]

every time i take my car for break job, they change the rotors, this last time the did front and back, cost around $1800 at the audi dealer ...

[JoshDub]

It's pretty common for people here to just drop it off at the dealer and say "change please" without actually knowing what is needed.

You'd need to measure the thickness of the rotors to know for sure, but really they aren't all that expensive. You can get Zimmerman's for $200 a pair then another $50-100 for pads. I wouldn't pay more than $500 forma front rotor and pad swap. It takes all of an hour and a half with bleeding the brakes.

Don't go to a run of the mill shop. Those guys are usually idiots (midas, led Schwab, ect). We have a plethora of competitive euro shops around the greater Seattle area.

[chasej]

It's pretty common for people here to just drop it off at the dealer and say "change please" without actually knowing what is needed.

You'd need to measure the thickness of the rotors to know for sure, but really they aren't all that expensive. You can get Zimmerman's for $200 a pair then another $50-100 for pads. I wouldn't pay more than $500 forma front rotor and pad swap. It takes all of an hour and a half with bleeding the brakes.

Don't go to a run of the mill shop. Those guys are usually idiots (midas, led Schwab, ect). We have a plethora of competitive euro shops around the greater Seattle area.

The shop i took to is called Dougs auto tune. thanks.