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      07-20-2012, 08:47 PM   #1
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Question 2012 BMW M3 stock calipers - how many pistons?

I cant find anywhere in any specs where it says how many pistons there are on the front and rear brakes of a 2012 BMW M3 competition. Anyone know?
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      07-20-2012, 08:48 PM   #2
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Single-piston from what I've seen (e.g. Insideline M3 suspension walkaround, etc).
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      07-20-2012, 08:49 PM   #3
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Believe all (4) are single piston calipers.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ccondo View Post
I cant find anywhere in any specs where it says how many pistons there are on the front and rear brakes of a 2012 BMW M3 competition. Anyone know?
Thought that was a little odd on a "performance" brake but...
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      07-20-2012, 09:01 PM   #4
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Seems kind of crappy for a car that expensive. Is it possible to have really good single piston calipers?
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      07-20-2012, 09:06 PM   #5
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      07-20-2012, 09:07 PM   #6
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They work pretty well in reality.

BMW held onto the single piston cost-savings strategy as long as they could, but the brake wars finally caused them to cave. I would expect most M cars from this day forward to feature mutli-piston calipers and proprietary M rotors.
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      07-20-2012, 09:07 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ccondo View Post
Seems kind of crappy for a car that expensive. Is it possible to have really good single piston calipers?
The brakes are extremely good for their intended purpose. They will only start to feel inadequate at the track assuming it's not your first or second time.
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      07-20-2012, 09:41 PM   #8
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^ Agreed and if you moderately track, a good set of pads with appropriate brake fluid on stock brakes does wonders.
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      07-20-2012, 10:10 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ccondo View Post
I cant find anywhere in any specs where it says how many pistons there are on the front and rear brakes of a 2012 BMW M3 competition. Anyone know?
hi troll!
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      07-21-2012, 06:12 AM   #10
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When BMW made the 1M, they ditched the 6 piston front calipers from the 135i and replaced them with the big single psiton sliders from the M3. Interesting.
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      07-21-2012, 09:50 AM   #11
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One piston. It's actually comparable to the 63's 6 piston set up 60-0 stop time if i remember reading correctly.

BMW better step it up though, people spending 80k on an M3 want it to look the part.

No denying those AMG's are sexy with those huge calipers..
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      07-21-2012, 09:58 AM   #12
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as others have said, calipers look sexy, but it's not neccessary as most buyer won't go to the track. Regardless of type of calipers, you need better fluid and pads for track duty for either types.
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      07-21-2012, 11:43 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CBS View Post
^ Agreed and if you moderately track, a good set of pads with appropriate brake fluid on stock brakes does wonders.
+2 - stock single-piston calipers with high-temp brake fluid and high-perf street pads are more than adequate for the street.
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      07-21-2012, 12:30 PM   #14
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Probably upgraded lines too...

Quote:
Originally Posted by dbarnes View Post
+2 - stock single-piston calipers with high-temp brake fluid and high-perf street pads are more than adequate for the street.
Of course I wouldn't be upset if BMW somehow decided to use the Brembo 8-pots like Audi does on the R8 and RS models here either. Whether or not they are needed on the M3 can be debated however they are probably lighter and certainly look the part =)
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      07-21-2012, 01:07 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IFX View Post
One piston. It's actually comparable to the 63's 6 piston set up 60-0 stop time if i remember reading correctly.

BMW better step it up though, people spending 80k on an M3 want it to look the part.

No denying those AMG's are sexy with those huge calipers..
Agreed 100%! This is one of my biggest gripes about the M3. The multi-piston monoblock calipers look soooo much better. A lot of less expensive have them now too... like the 135i.
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      07-21-2012, 01:55 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IFX View Post
One piston. It's actually comparable to the 63's 6 piston set up 60-0 stop time if i remember reading correctly.

BMW better step it up though, people spending 80k on an M3 want it to look the part.

No denying those AMG's are sexy with those huge calipers..
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      07-21-2012, 02:23 PM   #17
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IMO, the rotors are just as if not more important. The floating rotor is an excellent design which is durable and relatively inexpensive to replace. The OEM brakes work well...even the pads. Just can't withstand a long session of abuse.

Honestly, I'm glad BMW went with the sliders. Have you seen how much MB charges for their "proprietary" rotor from Brembo? Ok...so you'll get one from Brembo? You can't. A GTR owner was kind of smarting after their $5k brake job. AMGs aren't that far off in terms of cost.
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Last edited by bigjae1976; 07-21-2012 at 02:34 PM..
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      07-21-2012, 02:46 PM   #18
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Yep can get new front rotors for 600 and rears for 500 and with pagids and castrol srf and challenge lines my stocks work very well at the track.
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      07-21-2012, 03:00 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chriszeh View Post
Yep can get new front rotors for 600 and rears for 500 and with pagids and castrol srf and challenge lines my stocks work very well at the track.
I've had RBF600 in for a couple of months now...still good to go. Only other brake mod is the PF01 pads.

I will admit I am nowhere near as confident in the OEM brakes as I am in the Stoptechs on my 330. As I've said elsewhere, for people who track frequently, I think Stoptechs will save you money over the long-term.
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Last edited by bigjae1976; 07-21-2012 at 03:23 PM..
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      07-21-2012, 03:18 PM   #20
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A well designed, single piston sliding caliper, can be just as good as a multi-piston fixed caliper. The brake components on our M cars are well matched for feel and their intended purposes. Technically, the front sliding caliper is a monoblock. It is also made out of aluminium and not iron.
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      07-21-2012, 04:09 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigjae1976 View Post
I've had RBF600 in for a couple of months now...still good to go. Only other brake mod is the PF01 pads.

I will admit I am nowhere near as confident in the OEM brakes as I am in the Stoptechs on my 330. As I've said elsewhere, for people who track frequently, I think Stoptechs will save you money over the long-term.
I don't have stoptechs to compare to and probably a good thing. But stock vs rs19s, srf, stainless lines is hugely different. I feel like I am standing on the pedal and very very confident as compared to before. Next track day tomorrow with the weissach porsche boys. Should be fun.
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      07-21-2012, 05:11 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chriszeh View Post
I don't have stoptechs to compare to and probably a good thing. But stock vs rs19s, srf, stainless lines is hugely different. I feel like I am standing on the pedal and very very confident as compared to before. Next track day tomorrow with the weissach porsche boys. Should be fun.
I think I'd feel better if I had braided lines...probably more of a placebo effect. I smoked a set of front PF01s in 4 days. Probably could get a 5th out of them...maybe even another .5 day.

On my E46, I would get 3-4 weekends on front pads with my wilwood/UUC kit...probably a small upgrade from the sliders. With the stoptechs...just finished my 8th weekend on the front pads. They are the same PF01s that are changed out when on the street. Rotors have run out about .35...still have about 50% life left in the rotors.

From a cost perspective, I think the ST40/4 wheel kit will cut costs since the pad costs are not MUCH different. The ST60 pads are much more expensive...not sure how much longer they will last. I just bought a used ST BBK...I'll post the results on how long the pads/rotors last.
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