M3 brake calipers

[R2M3]

I'm sorry if this has been discussed, but why did we get such awful looking calipers for a high performance car costing +60K? I would figure BMW would have at least put on Brembo 6 piston calipers! The car is otherwise gorgeous in every way and then we have to look at these generic looking calpiers. Bleh!

Thoughts?

And no I don't want to spend $$$ on new ones, when they should have had them from the begining.

[torredresen]

You are right!

[newtom3]

agreed totally. that being said the current brakes seem to do the job nicely.

[darkalley]

Originally Posted by newtom3

agreed totally. that being said the current brakes seem to do the job nicely.

I agree as well but lets say bmw offered a $200 charge for red or yellow brake calipers with the m3 logo..... I would think money well spent.....

[newtom3]

agreed... if there was a $1000 option for Brembos or $200 for colored calipers with M logo I would have taken either.

[AZ-BMW]

Originally Posted by darkalley

I agree as well but lets say bmw offered a $200 charge for red or yellow brake calipers with the m3 logo..... I would think money well spent.....

+1

[inmotion]

They probably will for the next gen Ms

[rzm3]

There are a million threads on this topic in the proper section.

Here are the most infamous threads (because they usually end up being personal attacks )

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...hlight=caliper

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...hlight=caliper

[1989baby]

and if you just paint them it looks ghetto, I mean every car at my local swap meet has Red Yellow or Blue painted calipers. and im talking TJ hondas with 3' spoilers. so they gotta be legit calipers to have some color. bummer...

[MJC///M3]

agreed. It would be awesome if the m3 came with an option for a brembo brake upgrade. For 70K...they should be included IMO.

[MJC///M3]

Originally Posted by 1989baby

and if you just paint them it looks ghetto, I mean every car at my local swap meet has Red Yellow or Blue painted calipers. and im talking TJ hondas with 3' spoilers. so they gotta be legit calipers to have some color. bummer...

hahah...so true!!

+1

[swamp2]

Disagree completely. The real issue is that the brakes are a bit sub par for very hard track work. Rather than having a blinging red or yellow multi piston brake set up I would prefer a system that works perfect under harsh conditions. The rotors are huge and a wonderful design. I believe the biggest deficiency of the system is sufficient brake cooling through ducts and air flow.

Look, I like the aesthetics of Brembos and the like as well, but the M is about function over form. I find it highly entertaining that the majority of folks here respond and concur with this gripe that is focused on looks.

[R2M3]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Disagree completely. The real issue is that the brakes are a bit sub par for very hard track work. Rather than having a blinging red or yellow multi piston brake set up I would prefer a system that works perfect under harsh conditions. The rotors are huge and a wonderful design. I believe the biggest deficiency of the system is sufficient brake cooling through ducts and air flow.

Look, I like the aesthetics of Brembos and the like as well, but the M is about function over form. I find it highly entertaining that the majority of folks here respond and concur with this gripe that is focused on looks.

While I agree with most of your statement, I would still prefer something that doesn't look like it came off a 325. Sure brembos would be nice, they work well and look great. I'm sure the OEM brakes work quite well under most conditions. This is just my personal observation. Brembos are also standard issue on some cars costing half as much as the M.

[kronzprinz]

function over style

[1989baby]

Originally Posted by kronzprinz

function over style

Money over Bitches? haha

[urbo73]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Disagree completely. The real issue is that the brakes are a bit sub par for very hard track work. Rather than having a blinging red or yellow multi piston brake set up I would prefer a system that works perfect under harsh conditions. The rotors are huge and a wonderful design. I believe the biggest deficiency of the system is sufficient brake cooling through ducts and air flow.

Look, I like the aesthetics of Brembos and the like as well, but the M is about function over form. I find it highly entertaining that the majority of folks here respond and concur with this gripe that is focused on looks.

Brakes are fine - the pads are not. As for sufficient cooling for hard track use, hey, this is not a hard track car. It's a street car that can be taken to the track. And the brakes are better than the competition.

[NewM3driver]

My brakes squeak just before coming to a stop, especially under light braking. Normal?

[valeram]

This was discussed and pounded for several times. The OEM with less piston is better than the G35 Brembo brakes, as tested. It is not the number of pistons but the cooling efficiency and the brake pads.

[lilcow]

Agree, brakes could look a little better.

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by R2M3

While I agree with most of your statement, I would still prefer something that doesn't look like it came off a 325. Sure brembos would be nice, they work well and look great. I'm sure the OEM brakes work quite well under most conditions. This is just my personal observation. Brembos are also standard issue on some cars costing half as much as the M.

And these particular Brembos on low end cars are just as low end as the car itself. These may look good but that is all they do. They are nowhere near a typical aftermarket Brembo BBK. They are poseur brakes clear and simple. They are all about looks and nothing else. Take for example the 350Z - the brakes fade like crazy and don't have good stopping distance.

[Radiation Joe]

Originally Posted by swamp2

And these particular Brembos on low end cars are just as low end as the car itself. These may look good but that is all they do. They are nowhere near a typical aftermarket Brembo BBK. They are poseur brakes clear and simple. They are all about looks and nothing else. Take for example the 350Z - the brakes fade like crazy and don't have good stopping distance.

That's not entirely correct. Much of a car's ability to stop within a shorter distance than others has nothing to do with the braking system. It has everything to do with traction of the tires, suspension geometry, suspension compliance and the CG of the car.

So it's not fair to blame the 350Z braking performance on inferior Brembos. More likely the fade is due to improper pad selection, and the long stopping distances to vehicle design.

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

That's not entirely correct. Much of a car's ability to stop within a shorter distance than others has nothing to do with the braking system. It has everything to do with traction of the tires, suspension geometry, suspension compliance and the CG of the car.

So it's not fair to blame the 350Z braking performance on inferior Brembos. More likely the fade is due to improper pad selection, and the long stopping distances to vehicle design.

Correct. Most braking systems are traction limited which indeed comes from tires, suspension and chassis.

However, the poor pads with the Nissan system are indicitive of a generally poorly put together system and the fade is the result. Again it is quite fair evidence that Brembos alone do not make a good braking system.