[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

F30 3 Series M Performance Brakes Installed

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One of the more exciting items from the full BMW M Performance Parts catalog for the F30 3 series are the M Performance Brakes. These are Brembo 4-piston aluminum fixed calipers on the front axle and 2-piston aluminum fixed calipers on the rear axle. They come in red, yellow, or orange and feature the M logo on the calipers.

The internally-vented lightweight sports rotors measure 370 x 30 mm (diameter x thickness) on the front axle and 345 x 24 mm on the rear axle. Unlike the M Sport brake discs, the M Performance brake discs are cross drilled for better grip and grooved to reduce water film build up. The BMW M Performance sports brake system is only approved in combination with at least 18" aluminum wheels and unfortunately do not fit the E9X generation cars (including M3).

The M Performance BBK just became available to the North American market and F30POST member nexusonemeover and Turner Motorsports have fitted a pair on their 328i and 335i, respectively. Here are some photos of the rotors and calipers, installed and uninstalled. Initial impressions are good - providing both aesthetic improvements and some performance gains. They chose the yellow versions.

The BMW M Performance Brakes for the F30 retail at $2,300, but we've already seen them being sold for sub-$2000.

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[nexusonemeover]

Had the brakes installed this morning... job was from 730am to 120pm.

[E90Fleet]

Looking Good

[eric@helix]

Fantastic looking. What difference do you feel in normal-driving brake bite? Any? What's the ball park for parts and install.

[verbs]

How much of a performance gain is there in numbers? I've never seen rotors where the holes weren't drilled all the way through; what's the benefit of what was done with the holes that don't go all the way through on these rotors vs. most other performance rotors?

[lukeb817]

They look great- they really fill up the 18s! Looking forward to hearing your feedback on the brakes after you put some miles on.

[CoolDude196]

Look great but damn... That's a tight fit

[justinnum1]

what are your thoughts???? how much were they after install?

[nexusonemeover]

To answer a few questions in one...

So far the biggest difference is how cool the car looks. I haven't used them other than regular braking.

Pedal feel under normal braking is similar. I think I feel less linearity with these than stock. Less grab up front...but could just have been cold brakes too.

Will post more as they get some miles.

And yes, the fit is just about too tight with the 18s.

~$3500

[Prophet]

looks damn nice

just one question - are the M Performance brakes the same as the future option M Sport brakes?

[J1n]

They're different m sport and m performance. The m sports brakes will only be coming with the blue callipers

[bmrm396]

hollaaaaaaaaaaaa. those are awesome. i cant wait to get a pair ... dunno what color yet but gold looks good buddy

[Elk]

Originally Posted by verbs

I've never seen rotors where the holes weren't drilled all the way through; what's the benefit of what was done with the holes that don't go all the way through on these rotors vs. most other performance rotors?

Both dimpled and drilled rotors offer no performance advantage over plain rotors; they are there for looks alone. Dimpled have the advantage of cracking less. Drilled rotors quickly develop stress cracks with harder use.

[jopa489]

Those look awesome!!

[clarence]

Originally Posted by Prophet

looks damn nice

just one question - are the M Performance brakes the same as the future option M Sport brakes?

If the cars on sale in ur market is to EU/ROW spec, then they're identical apart from the colour of the calipers (blue) & the discs (no grooves/dimples).

[Blake P]

Awesome! That color looks fantastic.

[Prophet]

Originally Posted by clarence

If the cars on sale in ur market is to EU/ROW spec, then they're identical apart from the colour of the calipers (blue) & the discs (no grooves/dimples).

thanks for the clarification yep, i'm in the EU market so i guess i'll be getting the blue calipers (although i'd rather get the yellow ones, gotta see what my dealership has to say about a color swap)... the plain disks are no problem to me - when they wear out, i'll just put the sloted/drilled ones

[nexusonemeover]

So this morning on the way to work I used them much more aggressively than normal. They're is definitely more bite grab what ever you want to call it. I think I get a bigger shit eating grin from braking now than anything else with the car.

Multiple heavy braking from triple digit speeds over 45 minutes and no fade. What do you guys want me to do to them and I will?

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by nexusonemeover

What do you guys want me to do to them and I will?

Bed them in first

[darmawaa]

Which vendor sell this brake cheapest?

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by nexusonemeover

Had the brakes installed this morning... job was from 730am to 120pm.

Attachment 691105

NICE!

This is not personal at all, I just want to say something, those aren't really "cross drilled" in the traditional sense. Cross drilling is drilling all the way through.
These are drilled rotors, but the way they are don doesn't give the added cooling effect of drilling all the way through.

But, I like this better, as you probably won't get the same noise/sound that's inherent in traditional cross drilled rotors where the air rushing through the holes makes a distinct sound/noise.
I had a Brembo set like that on one of my former cars, and that sound was kinda annoying in day to day driving. Cool at first, but became tiresome pretty quickly.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Elk

Both dimpled and drilled rotors offer no performance advantage over plain rotors; they are there for looks alone. Dimpled have the advantage of cracking less. Drilled rotors quickly develop stress cracks with harder use.

I agree with some of that, but those angled slots do have a purpose and added benefit.
They vent gas build up during hard use allowing the pad to better maintain contact with the rotor.

Also, the edges provide a "shaving" effect where pad material is removed by the slot edges and that helps keep the rotor surface cleaner to help pad to rotor surface mating for better and more consistent braking.
And, those added edges provide an additional friction surface for harder bite.
The negative is that pad material collects in those grooves over time, and that will lead to not looking so great later in life. But, just keep'em clean.

Also, the larger rotor size helps to keep the rotors/brakes color, and that's very beneficial on hard canyon runs, and especially track use.