E89 brakes any good?

J

JimsZ

Member
 Hampshire
Ok, so I have had the car around 2 months and what with the weather I have not really had a decent spirited run out other than day to day stuff.

Any how I have had the opportunity to push the go pedal on a couple of occasions albeit briefly and what I thought was just me the first time was Repeated when I got another opportunity to press the go pedal. To describe what it felt like is not easy but the feeling through the pedal was quite vague and I really got the impression that if the car was driven in a spirited manner that the feeling I have would turn into serious brake fade rather rapidly.

Any one else with experience willing to share opinions on this, particularly if you have taken your E89 on say a trackday, any one got any experience with doing this on OEM brakes on a 28i or similar E89 or did you upgrade due to using it for trackdays.

Quite frankly I have had lesser cars with out this feeling but the brakes in general do feel fine day to day but the experience I have had is not filling me with confidence that tthey are under powered.

Discuss... :poke:
 
In my opinion, the standard brakes are really not good for sportive rides.

You have several solutions to upgrade your brakes (from cheap to expensive):

1. better brake pads and discs for your standard brakes. Good for standard road use.
2. 35i/s brakes: 348mm x 30 mm with 1 piston calipers. Good and cheap for standard road use outside Germany and perhaps one lap on Nürburgring.
2.1 35i/s brakes with better brake pads and discs
3. BMW Performance/135i brakes upgrade: 6 piston brembo calipers with 338 x 26 mm discs (good solution for <35-models)
4. BMW Performance F30 brakes upgrade: 4 piston brembo calipers with 370 x 30 mm discs (good solution for hard road use and track days)
5. BMW M5/M6 brakes: 6 piston brembo calipers with 374, 396, or 400 x 36 mm discs (very good solution for every use) I have adapted these for the e89
6. Brembo/ PFC big brake kits: comparable solution to #3 to 5
 
Talking from experience and already upgraded yours?

Some good options listed there, thanks for the input. :thumbsup:
 
1. I never experiences, because too small model.
2. and 2.1 I already had installed.
3. I drove in the 135i
4. I experienced as passenger
5: I have installed at the moment
6. I just know from other cars.
 
During the brake bedding in procedure I follow with my 35iS I noticed that best braking performance was from the 2nd application down from 70mph to walking pace. On the 5th & 6th applications their performance was starting to fall off. The brakes seem to be speced for hauling you down from 155mph to 55mph in a fast, controlled manner when stone cold or slightly warm - autobahn oh **** a lorry has just pulled out into lane 2!

If you're looking to track the car then my first stop would be getting 35i(S) callipers & aftermarket fast road pads and sparsely grooved discs. If these prove insufficient then I'd look at some kind of BBK.
 
Hello

I have (sorry we have) a 35is .. and the brakes are fine for us ...

but I do plan some upgrades but purely cosmetic though

best regards
 
The performance drop off I experienced, it wasn't fade as the brakes remained progressive at all times, was during deliberate heat build up in the pads and discs. It would be more intense braking than even very late braking during fast road driving unless you're constantly into 3 figure speeds. For normal driving they're perfectly fine. My only issue with the brakes is the pad dust when braking gently.
 
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