BMW Performance brake upgrade

[gangst]

Hi,


I am considering upgrading from the stock brakes to the Bmw performance ones. Does anyone have some pictures of them fitted and what the back brakes look like. I live in the Uk and will be fitting them to a 118i hatch, not the fastest of cars but hopefully a nice upgrade, however I am worried I may be wasting my money. Do I need any special parts to fit these brakes to a 1hatch if I purchase from the US.


Thanks for any help!

[Mad Dragon]

Are you talking about the yellow 6-piston calipers? I don't see why they wouldn't fit, but I'm sure you need at least 17" wheels.

[gangst]

Originally Posted by Mad Dragon

Are you talking about the yellow 6-piston calipers? I don't see why they wouldn't fit, but I'm sure you need at least 17" wheels.

yep, the yellow 6 piston brakes. I have 18s on my car so there should be plenty of room.

[WhiteOut]

Can someone fill me in on the diff between the performance brake upgrade and the stock 135i brakes? TIA

[scottn2retro]

Originally Posted by WhiteOut

Can someone fill me in on the diff between the performance brake upgrade and the stock 135i brakes? TIA

+1 - Has anybody gotten these yet? Are they made by Brembo as well?

[clived]

The callipers are the same (save the colour) I beleive. Which is why the brake upgrade is listed as not available for the 135i by BMW.

[pavelitto]

I'm getting those on my 135i. there are different opinions to what the differences are between them and stock 135i brakes. Anyhow I don't care because the obviously won't be worse, maybe a tiny bit better but the look with white car and performance wheels just can't be beaten.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5539/img1454lo0.jpg
the picture of back wheel

[pavelitto]

[S54dan]

Originally Posted by clived

The callipers are the same (save the colour) I beleive. Which is why the brake upgrade is listed as not available for the 135i by BMW.

That's incorrect. There are two part numbers, one for the 128i and one for the 135i.

128i: 34 11 0 444 772
135i: 34 11 0 443 865

[scottn2retro]

Originally Posted by Dan@UnitedBMW

That's incorrect. There are two part numbers, one for the 128i and one for the 135i.

128i: 34 11 0 444 772
135i: 34 11 0 443 865

Is it possible to get just the calipers by themselves (if you don't wan't cross-drilled rotors?)

[S54dan]

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

Is it possible to get just the calipers by themselves (if you don't wan't cross-drilled rotors?)

Yes it's possible, but the cost doesn't justify not buying the kit. The calipers alone are $604 each (front and rear) and at the 1addicts discount, would be $453 each making the total $1812.00 before shipping is calculated (this doesn't include brake pads). With the brake kit that bmw offers, I can offer it for $1837.50 plus shipping which is much better deal since it comes with 4 calipers, 2 sets of brake pads built in, and 4 rotors (2 performance rotors - front : 2 rotors - rear)

[Kris]

That's an unreal price dan!! Just wish the US dollar was better

[scottn2retro]

Originally Posted by Dan@UnitedBMW

Yes it's possible, but the cost doesn't justify not buying the kit. The calipers alone are $604 each (front and rear) and at the 1addicts discount, would be $453 each making the total $1812.00 before shipping is calculated (this doesn't include brake pads). With the brake kit that bmw offers, I can offer it for $1837.50 plus shipping which is much better deal since it comes with 4 calipers, 2 sets of brake pads built in, and 4 rotors (2 performance rotors - front : 2 rotors - rear)

For most people, you're right, but in our case, we don't need the rear calipers, slotted rotors or the brake pads. I may just have to take you up on a pair of front calipers.

Does anyone know, other than the color, what differences there are between the Perf. package calipers and the OEM ones?

[clived]

Originally Posted by Dan@UnitedBMW

That's incorrect. There are two part numbers, one for the 128i and one for the 135i.

128i: 34 11 0 444 772
135i: 34 11 0 443 865

Ok, let me re-state that. In the UK, where perhaps a caliper being yellow isn't seen by itself as a performance upgrade, the front upgrade is listed as not available for the 135i - on the basis that is is mechanically the same as stock.

[Dano]

i heard once that the perfomance break upgrade can only be retrofitted from the 123d up. So the 120i , 118i. etc etc. cannot upgrade...

[S54dan]

Originally Posted by clived

Ok, let me re-state that. In the UK, where perhaps a caliper being yellow isn't seen by itself as a performance upgrade, the front upgrade is listed as not available for the 135i - on the basis that is is mechanically the same as stock.

The UK and all Euro vehicles still use the same part # as stated previously (34 11 0 443 865) for the 135i.

[clived]

Sure, there may be a specific part number, but "being yellow" doesn't qualify as an "upgrade" in my mind. I have the dealer-only marketing training booklet for the performance range at home - I'll try to find it later to help illustrate my point.

[imported_ralphwarren]

What I'd like to find out here centers around the brake caliper pistons.

The aluminum pistons in the 135i charcoal-colored pistons don't seem adequate for HARD track use. We are having trouble with them as they don't seem to be holding up very well.

Are the pistons in the yellow calipers made of a different material - like steel maybe? I heard the piston material is different.

Will the pistons in the "Performance" kit fit in the charcoal calipers? Can those pistons be purchased separate?

Evosport is thinking about making or finding replacement pistons that will fit in the charcoal calipers.

-Ralph

PS. If anyone from BMW is listening here... connect with me at ralphwarre@yahoo.com I have some very interesting information for you and Brembo about the aluminum pistons. We've raced the 135i and lets just say - they are not holding up well - and we are concerned about the safety of others who take the 135i on the track.

[Endre]

Originally Posted by Dano

i heard once that the perfomance break upgrade can only be retrofitted from the 123d up. So the 120i , 118i. etc etc. cannot upgrade...

Thats absolutly NOT true!.

[scottn2retro]

Originally Posted by WhiteOut

Can someone fill me in on the diff between the performance brake upgrade and the stock 135i brakes? TIA

I sent an e-mail to Dan Cordes at BMW NA (he either is or at one time was the Performance Parts line manager) to try to see if there is any difference in the components of the calipers.

[pavelitto]

Originally Posted by clived

Sure, there may be a specific part number, but "being yellow" doesn't qualify as an "upgrade" in my mind. I have the dealer-only marketing training booklet for the performance range at home - I'll try to find it later to help illustrate my point.

Clived, I'm getting my 135i in UK and I AM getting the Performance upgrade as stated on my order

So it is available for the 135i cars in UK otherwise the system would spit it out as it happened with the order of front cf splitters with m bumper.

[pavelitto]

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

I sent an e-mail to Dan Cordes at BMW NA (he either is or at one time was the Performance Parts line manager) to try to see if there is any difference in the components of the calipers.

Let us know what once he replies