So tonight I was at my best friend's house (Lexus content: I drove there in an LS460L) and we decided to throw pads and rotors on his early 2012 A6 Quattro that he's had since new.

After removing the wheel on this 50K mile car I was shocked.

Original pads. Over 6mm remaining. This means that after over 50,000 miles in the NY City area his brakes pass CPO standards. Crappy iPhone pics but they measured at over 6mm.. really closer to 7mm!

 

Does he drive straight highway miles???

 

Nope.

NYC metro area... Mostly suburban driving.

 

While it's not always the case, German cars, in general, have a reputation for hefty brakes because of the high speeds they are designed for on the Autobahn

 

it helps a ton too if he doesn't race to stop signs and red lights.... I bet my brakes will easily last to 100K

 

^^^ An Audi hypermiler!

 

I have 45K miles on my MB and last October during the service, the work order states 7mm too. Not sure if they actually removed the wheel to measure, probably just guessing...

 

I didn't swap pads on my IS 350 till 65K miles. I'm pretty gentle on brakes during routine driving..

-Mike

 

I don't know how much material is left, but my E90 is still on the original front pads at 62k. The rears may have been replaced, but i don't remember for sure.

 

I got 75k miles on the original front pads on my 2006 Acura RL and changed my rears during the timing belt service at 96k and they still had a few mm left.

Of course, I drive like grandpa (even though I'm not) and was amazed at how long they lasted. Every service required a brake inspection and it was literally five years before the fronts and seven years for the rear.

 

yeah vw audi brakes are awesome , but you have to replace light bulbs like crazy