PSA: How to Avoid Buying a Big Brake Kit that is Worthless!

[jritt@essex]

Hello Gents,

Lately we've been getting more and more calls and emails with questions about grey market brake kits (those not sold through authorized channels), as well as 'brake kits' consisting of low quality, mismatched, and improperly integrated brake components. People are purchasing these products with the expectation that they will function as well as a legitimate, properly designed brake system, and are extremely upset when they realize they've sunk thousands of dollars into what in many cases amounts to worthless junk.

In our latest Essex Blog article/video series, "How to Avoid Buying a Big Brake Kit that is Worthless!", we take a deep dive into some of the common traps to avoid when shopping for an aftermarket brake upgrade. We do so by first highlighting how we bring our AP Racing by Essex Brake Kits to market and subsequently support the buyer. Then we contrast our approach vs. the ways in which some of these sellers are hanging their buyers out to dry. Finally, we have a video produced by one of our customers, demonstrating how he unknowingly fell into one of these traps.

We're tired of watching our fellow enthusiasts pour their hard-earned money down the drain, and wanted to produce these assets as a public service announcement to all would-be brake kit buyers. You need to be careful not only about what exactly you are buying, but who you are buying from! As always, thank you for your continued support.


How to Avoid Buying a Big Brake Kit that is Worthless! (Part 1)- Article

How to Avoid Buying a Big Brake Kit that is Worthless! (Part 2)- Video


Which of these caliper adapter brackets would you want on your car when hurtling towards a wall at 150 mph?

[Bmwdoubles_]

Nice thanks for sharing excellent remarks about what kind of aluminum and metals are used. It’s important because some grades of aluminum can only be stretched so far.

Something else to mention. Whether a high-end official part or an aftermarket refurbished caliper set, the overall pedal feel may seem the same or weaker than stock. I have a rebuilt set on my E92, and this is due to not using the proper brake bleed procedures and DSC test plan in ISTA. Simply using the old school technique of having your buddy pump the brake on the E9x M platform is not the way. You must run the ISTA brake bleed procedure and then the DSC Unit reset script.

That test plan resets the pedal feel to almost new. It tests the clamping force min/max on your new pads. The amount of force it applies is something you couldn’t do with your buddy. To summarize the ISTA brake bleed vibrates air bubbles out of the DSC unit and DSC test plan resets min/max clamping force. Both cannot be done manually.

Here is the way for the DSC test plan:

Go to operations > Read out vehicle data > Complete identification

Vehicle management, service functions, chassis, and suspensions

Traction control, adjustment DSC unit, dsc unit adjustment > display > continue > yes

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by jritt@essex

Hello Gents,

Lately we've been getting more and more calls and emails with questions about grey market brake kits (those not sold through authorized channels), as well as 'brake kits' consisting of low quality, mismatched, and improperly integrated brake components. People are purchasing these products with the expectation that they will function as well as a legitimate, properly designed brake system, and are extremely upset when they realize they've sunk thousands of dollars into what in many cases amounts to worthless junk.

In our latest Essex Blog article/video series, "How to Avoid Buying a Big Brake Kit that is Worthless!", we take a deep dive into some of the common traps to avoid when shopping for an aftermarket brake upgrade. We do so by first highlighting how we bring our AP Racing by Essex Brake Kits to market and subsequently support the buyer. Then we contrast our approach vs. the ways in which some of these sellers are hanging their buyers out to dry. Finally, we have a video produced by one of our customers, demonstrating how he unknowingly fell into one of these traps.

We're tired of watching our fellow enthusiasts pour their hard-earned money down the drain, and wanted to produce these assets as a public service announcement to all would-be brake kit buyers. You need to be careful not only about what exactly you are buying, but who you are buying from! As always, thank you for your continued support.

How to Avoid Buying a Big Brake Kit that is Worthless! (Part 1)- Article

How to Avoid Buying a Big Brake Kit that is Worthless! (Part 2)- Video

Which of these caliper adapter brackets would you want on your car when hurtling towards a wall at 150 mph?

Now that's what I call seriously standing behind your product while at the same time delivering outstanding customer service (delighting your customer)! Kudos to Essex for doing all of that, for making this PSA posting here on the M3post forums, and for the technical information contained in the video (How to Avoid Buying a Big Brake Kit that is Worthless! (Part 2)). Great job guys. Well done.
PS:
Does the AP Racing by Essex Road Brake Kit for the E9X M3 fit under the OEM 18 inch wheels? I might be in the market for a front kit soon, and you're not that far up the road from me.
https://www.essexparts.com/essex-des...61380mm-bmwE90

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by Bmwdoubles_

Nice thanks for sharing excellent remarks about what kind of aluminum and metals are used. It’s important because some grades of aluminum can only be stretched so far.

Something else to mention. Whether a high-end official part or an aftermarket refurbished caliper set, the overall pedal feel may seem the same or weaker than stock. I have a rebuilt set on my E92, and this is due to not using the proper brake bleed procedures and DSC test plan in ISTA. Simply using the old school technique of having your buddy pump the brake on the E9x M platform is not the way. You must run the ISTA brake bleed procedure and then the DSC Unit reset script.

That test plan resets the pedal feel to almost new. It tests the clamping force min/max on your new pads. The amount of force it applies is something you couldn’t do with your buddy. To summarize the ISTA brake bleed vibrates air bubbles out of the DSC unit and DSC test plan resets min/max clamping force. Both cannot be done manually.

Here is the way for the DSC test plan:

Go to operations > Read out vehicle data > Complete identification

Vehicle management, service functions, chassis, and suspensions

Traction control, adjustment DSC unit, dsc unit adjustment > display > continue > yes

This just fixed my soft brake pedal, thanks for sharing!

[jritt@essex]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

Does the AP Racing by Essex Road Brake Kit for the E9X M3 fit under the OEM 18 inch wheels? I might be in the market for a front kit soon, and you're not that far up the road from me.

Thanks for the kind words! The Road Kits are going to be a tough fit in most 18" wheels, and they will definitely not fit the OEM 18s. We do have a Competition Kit however, that will fit the stock 18's and many other 18's. It's this one: (Part#13.01.10037) CP9660/372mm. It's available in ENP or Anodized finish.

Here is the wheel fitment chart for that kit: https://www.essexparts.com/storage/w...l_template.pdf

Below is a list of confirmed wheel fitments for our CP9660/372mm BBK.

Confirmed wheels that fit without a spacer:

BMW OEM 18" Wheels
BMW OEM ZCP 359M 19 x 9" ET31
BMW OEM 220M 19 x 8.5" ET29
APEX ARC-8 18 x 10" ET25
APEX EC-7 18 x 9.5" ET22
APEX EC-7 18 x 10" ET25
BBS FI 18 x 9.5" ET22
Enkei NT03+M 18 x 10" ET25
OZ Challenge HLT 18 x 10" ET25
Signature Wheel SV503 18 x 10.5” ET22
Titan 7 TS5, TS7, and TR10 18 x 9.5" ET22
Titan 7 TS5, TS7, and TR10 18 x 10" ET25
Titan 7 TS5, TS7, and TR10 18 x 10.5" ET25
Volk Racing TE37 18 x 9.5" ET22
Volk Racing ZE40 18 x 9.5" ET20

Wheels that require spacer:

BMW OEM 219M wheels with a 15mm spacer
Signature Wheel SV501 18 x 9.5” ET28 (had to add a 7.5mm spacer to clear the spring perch from Öhlins R&T)

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

Now that's what I call seriously standing behind your product while at the same time delivering outstanding customer service (delighting your customer)! Kudos to Essex for doing all of that, for making this PSA posting here on the M3post forums, and for the technical information contained in the video (How to Avoid Buying a Big Brake Kit that is Worthless! (Part 2)). Great job guys. Well done.
PS:
Does the AP Racing by Essex Road Brake Kit for the E9X M3 fit under the OEM 18 inch wheels? I might be in the market for a front kit soon, and you're not that far up the road from me.
https://www.essexparts.com/essex-des...61380mm-bmwE90

Like Jeff mentioned the road kits are going to be a tough fit with 18s. I run them on my street E90 and stick with 19s for that car. Excellent kit & look amazing - but if you want run 18s I would stick with one of the competition kits.