“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”
– Benjamin Franklin
We love this quote because it really encompasses who we are and what we do.
With VFC Engineering, you get high caliber, high quality repairs using OEM parts. And we stand behind everything we do with the best warranty in the business—3 years/36,000 miles.
The best part for you? We’re deliver all of this at a fair price.
We know this because we periodically survey other shops and dealers. Recently, we called four auto shops that specialize in German automobiles to find out what they charge for brake service on a 2011 BMW X5. We were pleased with our findings…
2011 BMW X5: Four-Wheel Brake Service
Estimates Include: Cost of labor and parts for installing four new pads, four rotors and wear sensors.
| Brake Service | Total Cost |
| VFC Engineering | $758 |
| Shop 1 | $819 |
| Shop 2 | $810 |
| Shop 3 | $834 |
| Shop 4 | $770 |
(We didn’t include the names of the shops here because our goal is to show you the value you get with VFC, not put down any of our competitors. If you’d like to know more about the validity of our pricing survey, please just call us at 773-275-4832.)
What Type of Parts Are Being Used?
We think it’s worth noting that we would use Textar PRO and PRO+ brake rotors and brake pads on this BMW X5 brake service. Why is this important?
- By using Textar brakes and rotors, we’re putting components on your vehicle that are made to work and wear together. This ensures quiet, smooth braking and minimal brake dust.
- The rotors are coated, which helps them last longer and helps prevent excessive brake pad wear due to rust. You’ve no doubt seen Chicago gutters back up during heavy rainstorms, when the water pools around the wheels of cars parked on the street. The braking components on these vehicles are exposed to the water and humidity, which leads to rust on non-coated rotors. (Btw, in our experience, dealers typically do not use coated rotors.)
Why Do We Need to Replace the Rotors?
Our clients often ask us why they need to replace the rotors every time they need brakes. They remember the “days of yore” when you could machine, or turn, rotors. However, the rotors on any German vehicle built since 2007 are already at their minimum thickness when they’re put on the vehicle. So when the brake pads wear, you must replace the rotors.
If you don’t, the rotors are going to warp because they won’t be able to dissipate the heat. You’ll end up with brakes that pulsate when you stop. While this isn’t necessarily unsafe, it is very unpleasant to drive this way. Do yourself a favor and do the job right the first time: Replace those rotors.
Whether you have an X5 or another German automobile, you can trust us to deliver the most value for your hard-earned dollars. You’ll drive home with a high quality repair using OEM parts, and you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing it’s guaranteed for 3 years or 36,000 miles.