08-30-2014, 05:15 AM | #1 |
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Are M Sport brakes worth it?
Well - in the perfect world I'd know the answer as I am a spirited driver, but with todays lowered BMW standards my question is this:
- what exactly is the difference between the regular brakes as available in 228i (or 220i and diesel models in EU), and the nice blue ones (standard in M235i or optional in the others)? Is it only the nice blue color of the calipers, or do we get a truly upgraded braking system with this option? PS. In my F10, the regular brake calipers are rusting so I guess having them painted blue (or whatever) from the factory would have been nice, but of course the painting alone I can do myself in my future 2-series, and from the M-Sport brakes I would expect more for all these $$$
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08-30-2014, 07:54 AM | #2 |
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M Sport brakes: fixed calipers, four-piston front, two-piston rear, large brake discs. Made by Brembo.
The regular bmw brakes are floating calipers with 1 large piston. Is it worth it..yes, its a bargain to upgrade thru options. In real world street driving, the msport brakes are alot smoother. On track, more resistant to fade. Another benefit is that the floating caliper has a sliding pin (to float the caliper) and if not lubricated correctly will make sqeak noise. Some Info on Fix vs Floating Calipers (im just copy/paste from someone) The more even the pressure on the pads, the smaller the risk of the pads chattering and the better control you have over the pads. Most brakes today are floating caliper, single-piston designs, though a few use floating caliper dual piston designs. On a floating caliper setup, the piston is on only one side of the caliper and the caliper itself slides slightly side to side on pins. Fixed caliper setups have pistons on both sides of the caliper and the caliper does not slide at all. Fixed caliper setups provide more even brake pad wear than floating calipers and also provide more consistent pressure between the two sides of the caliper because this setup does not rely on the caliper's sliding. Fixed caliper designs, of course, require at least two pistons; one for each side. Larger pads provide a greater swept area which means a greater area over which heat is generated. Because the total heat for a given stopping force is always the same, greater swept area means better heat dissipation and less brake fade. Having multiple pistons per side helps apply more consistent pressure over the entire surface of the pad which not only allows the larger pads, but also reduces chatter and flex, both of which generate additional heat as well as reducing overall brake feel. So, while a one-time emergency stop will not show much difference between a single piston sliding caliper and a 6-piston fixed caliper, the multi-piston fixed-caliper design will be more resistant to fade over several hard stops in quick succession.
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08-30-2014, 09:05 AM | #4 |
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IMO very worth it . Coming from subaru sti ( still owned) saved me many times. In different weather conditions . For safety it's a must for me. Didn't hesitate when I added it to my 2014 build
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08-31-2014, 04:43 AM | #5 |
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Thanks guys - no more speculation, just hard facts:
2-pistons front all fixed calipers elegant looks and color - these certainly make this option a no-brainer for me, should I ever configure any 2-series other than M235i (or M2, for that matter)
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08-31-2014, 08:29 PM | #7 |
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How much sooner will the M Sport brakes need to be replaced compared to standard ones under normal driving?
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08-31-2014, 08:53 PM | #9 |
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I would think they would last longer. Larger pads and discs, dissipate heat better and stay cooler. They are more powerful brakes therefore less wear for a given stop. Just a guess though..
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09-01-2014, 02:58 PM | #10 |
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My feedback - M Sport brakes with much higher boiling point DOT 4 brake fluid = TRACK READY!!!!
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10-12-2014, 01:11 AM | #12 |
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The supposed M-Sport brakes on my M235 are a complete disappointment with less performance than standard BMW brakes on my 335i.
one of the selling points of the M235 was is comes standard with M-Sport brakes. However, I'm not sure what that really is. since the car is different than the 3 series, BMW most likely designed a total different brake system and called it M-Sport. they are no way a comparable brake system to Brembo. Performance. The pedal travel is very mushy. there are several reviews stating the brakes are mushy. What is really disappointing is the Brake Fade when I step on the brakes hard. The car is very fast and brakes (stopping a fast car) are so important. When the car can't stop, it is scary. my 335i normal brakes out performs the M235 hands down. the pedal pressure required is low compared to M235. I have even compared it to M3 brake testing that is superior to both. if you are considering the M235, test the brakes and test them hard from at least 80 mph to 10 mph or so. you will be amazed at how poorly it slows. |
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10-12-2014, 09:21 AM | #13 |
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They are brembo brakes. better brake fluid and better pads are all they need if you want more performance out of them. They worked really great for me at the track until they got hot, but I was running the stock brake fluid
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10-12-2014, 10:17 AM | #14 | |
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Quote:
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10-12-2014, 06:44 PM | #16 |
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Haven't driven the upgraded MP brakes, I think even small increments in braking performance have large benefits on the road. I do like the initial bite of slotted brakes. 235 really pulls above 80-mph and the standard brakes (Michelin PSS) can give you a scare when you really need to scrub off triple-digit speeds.
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10-13-2014, 12:44 AM | #17 |
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Get your brakes checked.
I have m135i f20 as my DD in the UK. Same m sport brakes as m235i. Had n54 3 series before this for 5 years. Have tracked both and f2x m sport brakes are on par or better than the n54 335i brakes. |
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10-13-2014, 04:30 AM | #18 |
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Pave Dew - I'm sure my brakes are fine at 2500 miles.
I do think the 235 is very fast and with those very high speeds any amount of brake improvement is something to consider. |
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10-13-2014, 07:45 PM | #20 | |
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I suppose the pads are the same too.. |
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10-13-2014, 09:21 PM | #22 |
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Bigger better rotor and better pads
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