Alibaba Bbk

[ETM3]

Will probably get some heat for this as this might be a controversial topic. But has anyone taken the risk to install the Alibaba dicase “brembos”? Was quoted $1750 shipped for front and rear brakes, rotors, lines. Curious how they perform/feel and how they hold up.

[roastbeef]

Just get some caliper covers. You'll have enough money left over to hydro dip some engine parts in a carbon fiber pattern.

[Nebo]

+1 on the caliper covers if you want the look. Personally I would never go cheap on brakes especially if you're gonna do any track/auto cross time.

[ETM3]

Yeah you’re right. I guess I got too far into the budget m3 rabbit hole on YouTube. 😅

[GeorgeA]

Absolutely not worth risking your life experimenting with Alibaba brakes. Factory brakes will also perform much better.

[DR-JEKL]

This guy got them for his 335i, the mounts didn't fit he had to hassle the buyer a few times, than he did admit on a later video they were a bit meh..

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...zero+to+60+bbk

[ETM3]

Yeah that’s the video I saw. I guess it’s not worth the hassle or safety.

[NeverL8]

You’re willing to spend $1750…..why not save up a little more and get a used set of Brembos, StopTechs and etc.

[bbnks2]

I am sure alibaba brakes fine... The question is, what pads can you use with them? and, can you re-ring the rotors? Is it just an unbranded product like many other alibaba items? or is it really some one-off unknown junk that once they wear you'll have to just buy a new set?

I would definitely put your own pads into them.

[jritt@essex]

Warning...the following is a Public Service Announcement:

What most people don't consider is the level of support you'll receive post-purchase on an item like brakes. It's not at all uncommon to have questions and need support, particularly if you ever plan on driving your car hard. We constantly receive chats, emails, and phone calls from our brake customers looking for answers ranging from something incredibly simple, all the way to very complex. If you purchase brakes from a relatively unknown entity, particularly one abroad, you are going to be left to your own devices without any support.

I see this all the time on the forums, and it makes me crazy watching people put themselves through the headaches that come along with these types of deals. A well-meaning enthusiast looking for a bargain starts a thread titled, "Joe Schmoe in Uzbekistan is having a group buy on Brembos." Then as time passes, people realize that Joe Schmoe is just a teenager living in his mom's basement, that the "Brembos" are actually "Bembros", the product doesn't fit worth a darn when it arrives, and once Joe has your money you're never going to communicate with him again. The mess of brake bits you received is then typically sold on eBay at a substantial loss, and the buyer is back to square one...just a little poorer, and still without the brake system they really wanted. If you dig around a bit, you'll find threads right here on this forum exactly like I describe above.

As someone who has been in the aftermarket brake business for twenty years, I hate seeing fellow enthusiasts put themselves in that position. Historically, the number of times these situations work out in the manner the buyer hopes is next to none.

Do yourself a favor and save up for a proper and complete brake solution. Brakes are not an area to cut corners and go cheap. Save that for cosmetic mods. The best brake systems aren't cheap, but they hold their value and pay you back with a worry-free experience. When buying brakes, you are buying the company supplying them every bit as much as the actual product. Make sure the seller has deep roots in the technical side of brake system design and development. Anyone can throw a bunch of parts at a car, but few can integrate them seamlessly. Make sure the seller also has a strong track record of customer support, that they'll be around for the next however many years you plan to own your car, and that they can be reached when you need them.

Some other questions to ask yourself:

• Are spare brake rotors readily available and at a reasonable price?
• Are brake pads in a wide range of compounds readily available and at a reasonable price?
• Does the company offer a rebuild service if/when the calipers get tired?
• Are spare caliper components such as bleed screws, crossover tubes, piston seals, pistons, etc. readily available and at a reasonable price?

Here's a simple experiment. Pick up the phone and call the brake supplier you're considering. If you can't immediately get someone on the phone for to answer your questions when you need them, imagine your brakes as a steaming pile of molten metal, and the frustration you'll feel when you make that call and can't get any assistance. It won't be a good feeling.

I've seen this scenario literally play out thousands of times over the years, and I always feel really bad for those involved. Please don't put yourself in that position.

[Throatpunch]

Dont cheap out on something that can save your life.

[CPWINCH]

Originally Posted by Throatpunch

Dont cheap out on something that can save your life.

only post worth noting

[nrubenstein]

This is the company that used to be "Dickass." I'd trust their engineers about as much as I'd trust their marketing.

[roastbeef]

Dickass seems trustworthy.

[hotwired78]

has anyone experienced a failure with this kit yet? how have they stoodup to the test of time?

[bananabun]

The irony that this thread sits right above 'PSA: How to Avoid Buying a Big Brake Kit that is Worthless!' in the forum listing hahaha

[Redd]

Originally Posted by hotwired78

has anyone experienced a failure with this kit yet? how have they stoodup to the test of time?

Tbh I've never heard anything bad about Dicase brakes aside from the name. A friend uses it on his E60 M5 which gets thrashed in the hills and at track and it works as well as Brembo or other similar brakes.

However there are knockoff Dicase now, so be careful if you intend to buy them.