Best Brake Fluid for 'Spirited' Street Driving

1QuikWS6 · 05-23-2018, 04:57 PM

Swapping over to MPerf brake system soon on my 435

Car is DD on street only, but typically 'spirited' driving

What Brake Fluid do you all use for this app?

Is the BMW OEM DOT4 fluid good enough, or should I go with either the ATE Type200 (same as old blue version just different color) or Pentosin just for a litte xtra?

Cost doesn't matter, just want best for street driving

And if ATE or Pentosin, I assume it mixes well with the OEM fluid & I won't have to do a full flush?

Give me your vote & comments

indigochim · 05-23-2018, 05:12 PM

I was suffering with brake fade on my weekend toy and when fitting new bigger discs and calipers went with the ATE fluid. So long as you don't mix DOT5 (silicone based) with DOT 4 or DOT5.1 (both Glycol based)

The ATE exceeds the DOT4 standard by quite a margin but I understand that there are others rated even higher. At the end of the day I think so long as it's not really old you'll find any DOT4 or better fluid more than good enough for road use.

MacklinUSOB · 05-23-2018, 05:31 PM

I run Motul RBF600, lots of folks on here do. It doesn't have as high dry boiling point as Castrol SRF, but it's much cheaper and still performs very well in a street/track car. Note that it changes your suggested interval from 2 years to 1.

skier_du · 05-23-2018, 06:38 PM

I also run Motul RBF600. It definitely helped with peddle feel. My car is mostly street driven, but I do HPDE a few times a year. It's helped with standing up to track heat and has been fine daily, all the way down to -15 f in the winter.

enjoythemusic · 05-24-2018, 10:08 AM

Another vote for Motul. Used it in the heavily tracked / street modded Ferrari and Formula 2000 car. Tried others, yet for me the feel of Motul is just right, especially during threshold braking. JMHO YMMV

D041987 · 05-25-2018, 01:11 PM

ATE, Pentosin or Castrol get my vote. Cant go wrong with any of those. Also if you want better brake feel. Ditch the Stock brake lines and get braided ones. You will notice the difference upon spirited driving with lots of braking going into corners etc. Stock lines swell up and you loose pedal feel.

MacklinUSOB · 05-25-2018, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D041987

Also if you want better brake feel. Ditch the Stock brake lines and get braided ones. You will notice the difference upon spirited driving with lots of braking going into corners etc. Stock lines swell up and you loose pedal feel.

Seconded. I can't say that they feel any different for normal driving, but when modulating stop after stop the feel stays consistent.

1QuikWS6 · 05-25-2018, 02:47 PM

Thanx all

And yes I have the ecstuning ss brake lines on the way

F32Fleet · 05-26-2018, 10:22 AM

OE fluid without a doubt.

IIRC racing brake fluid doesn't have sufficient corrosion inhibitors.

View Poll Results: Best Brake Fluid for 'Spirited' Street Driving?
BMW OEM DOT4	5	21.74%
ATE Type200 DOT4	7	30.43%
Pentosin Super DOT4	0	0%
Other-Specify	11	47.83%
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll

05-23-2018, 04:57 PM	#1
1QuikWS6 No 55mph 1622 Rep 8,476 Posts Drives: F32 435ix MSport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Blitzburgh, PA iTrader: (113) Garage List 2022 BMW M440ix Vert [0.00] 2015 BMW 435ix MSport [0.00] 2000 Pontiac Trans Am [0.00]	Best Brake Fluid for 'Spirited' Street Driving - Vote Now Swapping over to MPerf brake system soon on my 435 Car is DD on street only, but typically 'spirited' driving What Brake Fluid do you all use for this app? Is the BMW OEM DOT4 fluid good enough, or should I go with either the ATE Type200 (same as old blue version just different color) or Pentosin just for a litte xtra? Cost doesn't matter, just want best for street driving And if ATE or Pentosin, I assume it mixes well with the OEM fluid & I won't have to do a full flush? Give me your vote & comments __________________ F32 435ix//MGM//M Sport-Prem-Tech-Driver Assist-Lighting-Cold Weather-Dyn Handling Pkgs//M4 Black Lthr Int w/M4 Alum Blade Trim//HK w/Bavsound Stg3//763M//M4 Euro LCI Tails//M4 Mirrors w/CF Covers//AWCarbon CF F/R Spoilers-Side Splitters-Diffuser 6WB/ID6 HU+HUD/IND M4 Alcantara Armrest//PURE S2 Turbo//AA FMIC+DP//ER CP+TIC//3.5bar TMAP/TS DV//AWE Tuning Exh w/Blk Tips//Turner MS CF Intake//BM3 Cary Jordan Tune//MPerf Diff//PrecRW Ignition Kit
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

05-23-2018, 05:12 PM	#2
indigochim Private 13 Rep 92 Posts Drives: F31 330d Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I was suffering with brake fade on my weekend toy and when fitting new bigger discs and calipers went with the ATE fluid. So long as you don't mix DOT5 (silicone based) with DOT 4 or DOT5.1 (both Glycol based) The ATE exceeds the DOT4 standard by quite a margin but I understand that there are others rated even higher. At the end of the day I think so long as it's not really old you'll find any DOT4 or better fluid more than good enough for road use.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-23-2018, 05:31 PM	#3
MacklinUSOB Captain 518 Rep 891 Posts Drives: f30 328i 6MT Sport Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	I run Motul RBF600, lots of folks on here do. It doesn't have as high dry boiling point as Castrol SRF, but it's much cheaper and still performs very well in a street/track car. Note that it changes your suggested interval from 2 years to 1. __________________ 328i RWD \| MW on CRed Slick Top \| 6MT \| BM3 \| MPE \| GPlus FMIC \| CSF Radiator \| Millway Street Camber Plates & Monoballs \| KW V2 6k/18k Swift Springs \| F80 LCA/TS \| SPL Bump Steer Kit \| APEX SM-10 \| R-S4 \| DS2500 \| RBF600 \| SS Lines \| Past: E36 328is & E38 740i
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-23-2018, 06:38 PM	#4
skier_du Second Lieutenant 148 Rep 205 Posts Drives: 14 F30 335i xDrive Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Miami iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 335i xDrive [0.00]	I also run Motul RBF600. It definitely helped with peddle feel. My car is mostly street driven, but I do HPDE a few times a year. It's helped with standing up to track heat and has been fine daily, all the way down to -15 f in the winter.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-24-2018, 10:08 AM	#5
enjoythemusic Captain 364 Rep 775 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 435i Dinan Stage 4 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Another vote for Motul. Used it in the heavily tracked / street modded Ferrari and Formula 2000 car. Tried others, yet for me the feel of Motul is just right, especially during threshold braking. JMHO YMMV __________________ Enjoy the Drive, Steven 2014 435i M-Opt, M LSD, Dinan CAI/IC/BTurbo/Stage 4, ER TIC/CP, GFB DV+, Fabspeed HJS cat DP & Mich PS4S.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-25-2018, 01:11 PM	#6
D041987 Big Turbo Boys N Girls 327 Rep 579 Posts Drives: 2012 328I 6speed Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Lynnwood, WA iTrader: (0)	ATE, Pentosin or Castrol get my vote. Cant go wrong with any of those. Also if you want better brake feel. Ditch the Stock brake lines and get braided ones. You will notice the difference upon spirited driving with lots of braking going into corners etc. Stock lines swell up and you loose pedal feel.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-25-2018, 02:47 PM	#8
1QuikWS6 No 55mph 1622 Rep 8,476 Posts Drives: F32 435ix MSport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Blitzburgh, PA iTrader: (113) Garage List 2022 BMW M440ix Vert [0.00] 2015 BMW 435ix MSport [0.00] 2000 Pontiac Trans Am [0.00]	Thanx all And yes I have the ecstuning ss brake lines on the way __________________ F32 435ix//MGM//M Sport-Prem-Tech-Driver Assist-Lighting-Cold Weather-Dyn Handling Pkgs//M4 Black Lthr Int w/M4 Alum Blade Trim//HK w/Bavsound Stg3//763M//M4 Euro LCI Tails//M4 Mirrors w/CF Covers//AWCarbon CF F/R Spoilers-Side Splitters-Diffuser 6WB/ID6 HU+HUD/IND M4 Alcantara Armrest//PURE S2 Turbo//AA FMIC+DP//ER CP+TIC//3.5bar TMAP/TS DV//AWE Tuning Exh w/Blk Tips//Turner MS CF Intake//BM3 Cary Jordan Tune//MPerf Diff//PrecRW Ignition Kit
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-26-2018, 10:22 AM	#9
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3575 Rep 10,355 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	OE fluid without a doubt. IIRC racing brake fluid doesn't have sufficient corrosion inhibitors. __________________ "Drive more, worry less. " 435i, MPPK, MPE, M-Sport Line
	Appreciate 0 Quote