Brake pedal softness - BMW 3-Series Forum (F30 / F32)

RPM90 · 12-25-2012, 01:13 AM

There have been some comments about the F30's brakes feeling too soft, spongy, and lacking in feel.

My 335i Msport also has those negative attributes, and pretty much every other F30 I've driven has the same not so great brake feel.

Many descriptions make it sound like there may be air in the lines.
A few days ago I was testing out the brake pedal and noticed that when I come to a stop I can pump the pedal 3-4 times and the pedal feel FIRMS up.
This is odd as it indicates that maybe the brake booster is not providing proper pressure, especially for a firm feel with better modulation.

Try pumping your brake pedal while stopped and post what you feel.
Does the pedal firm up or stay the same?

Elk · 12-25-2012, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPM90

A few days ago I was testing out the brake pedal and noticed that when I come to a stop I can pump the pedal 3-4 times and the pedal feel FIRMS up.

Completely normal.

jddssc121 · 12-25-2012, 08:34 PM

ZOMG it even happens in my wife's SUV. It must be contagious!

pkim1079 · 12-26-2012, 04:58 AM

Mine feels fine even at the track - instructor was saying that the sport mode function maybe making the brake pedal more sensitive as well. Lol. Even on taps it brakes hard. Maybe mine has no air bubbles?

I always seem to get lucky with cars out of the factory.

BravoX · 12-30-2012, 09:45 PM

I am not a fan of the brakes on this car. Not really mushy, but I don't feel the bite the way I would expect on a car of this caliber. I had chalked it up to the transition from the brembos on my Evo X, but seems others are making similar comments. I may try new brake pads this spring.

snowghost · 12-30-2012, 11:08 PM

Coming from an E46 M3 the brakes don't seem deficient at all.

DerekS · 12-31-2012, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPM90

There have been some comments about the F30's brakes feeling too soft, spongy, and lacking in feel.

My 335i Msport also has those negative attributes, and pretty much every other F30 I've driven has the same not so great brake feel.

My 335i M Sport has the factory installed M Sport brakes, with Brembo callipers front and rear (not available in USA, except as port-installed "M Performance brakes"). These brakes are flawless; powerful, progressive and so far, silent !

MotoEV · 12-31-2012, 01:23 AM

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...eneration.html

daxtor · 01-02-2013, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerekS

My 335i M Sport has the factory installed M Sport brakes, with Brembo callipers front and rear (not available in USA, except as port-installed "M Performance brakes"). These brakes are flawless; powerful, progressive and so far, silent !

I totally agree with this as well since my car also has the M Sport brakes. Brake feel is solid, not mushy at all.

elistan · 01-02-2013, 12:03 PM

Initial application of brake force feels like it's proportional to brake pedal travel distance, rather than force applied to the pedal. Only after a certain distance of pedal travel does it feel like the pedal firms up.

Personally, I find it much easier to modulate braking force by modulation the force I'm putting on the pedal, as opposed to adjusting the position of the medal. Ideally I'd like a pedal that never, ever moves. (That's basically how my S2000 brakes feel.)

I don't know if this is by design or not (possibly the booster, or the lines, or the calipers, or...) One of these days I'll try my own fluid bleed in case air in the lines is the cause. And if that doesn't work and I'm feeling adventuresome I'll install some braided steel brake lines. (Which my S2000 has.)

12-25-2012, 01:13 AM	#1
RPM90 Major General Drives: 335i Msport w/sport AT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,668 iTrader: (1)	Brake pedal softness There have been some comments about the F30's brakes feeling too soft, spongy, and lacking in feel. My 335i Msport also has those negative attributes, and pretty much every other F30 I've driven has the same not so great brake feel. Many descriptions make it sound like there may be air in the lines. A few days ago I was testing out the brake pedal and noticed that when I come to a stop I can pump the pedal 3-4 times and the pedal feel FIRMS up. This is odd as it indicates that maybe the brake booster is not providing proper pressure, especially for a firm feel with better modulation. Try pumping your brake pedal while stopped and post what you feel. Does the pedal firm up or stay the same?
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12-26-2012, 04:58 AM	#4
pkim1079 Major Drives: e90 ///M3 ZCP + e82 135i DCT Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: lost angeles Posts: 1,478 iTrader: (0)	Mine feels fine even at the track - instructor was saying that the sport mode function maybe making the brake pedal more sensitive as well. Lol. Even on taps it brakes hard. Maybe mine has no air bubbles? I always seem to get lucky with cars out of the factory. __________________ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8.3 shift! (repeat!!) who needs software when you can tune the DRIVER?

12-30-2012, 09:45 PM	#5
BravoX New Member Drives: 328i Sport Line Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 29 iTrader: (0)	I am not a fan of the brakes on this car. Not really mushy, but I don't feel the bite the way I would expect on a car of this caliber. I had chalked it up to the transition from the brembos on my Evo X, but seems others are making similar comments. I may try new brake pads this spring. __________________ _______________________________________ 2012 BMW 328i Sport Line, Jet Black (Sept '12) 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X, GSR Graphite Gray (traded-in)

12-30-2012, 11:08 PM	#6
snowghost Lieutenant Drives: '13 335i M-Sport 6MT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 474 iTrader: (0)	Coming from an E46 M3 the brakes don't seem deficient at all. __________________ F30 Sapphire Black 335i 6MT\|2PE\|4AB\|LCSW\|ZMM\|ZPP\|ZCW\|ZDA\|ZDB\|ZTP\|415\|688 Previously - E46 M3, E39 530i, E46 325i

12-31-2012, 01:23 AM	#8
MotoEV Private Drives: BMW Active Hybrid 3 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Atlanta Georgia Posts: 65 iTrader: (0)	BMW Brake Energy Regeneration http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...eneration.html

12-25-2012, 08:34 PM	#3
jddssc121 Second Lieutenant Drives: vroom Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 202 iTrader: (0)	ZOMG it even happens in my wife's SUV. It must be contagious!

01-02-2013, 12:03 PM	#10
elistan Private First Class Drives: F30 328i, AP1 S2000 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 135 iTrader: (0)	Initial application of brake force feels like it's proportional to brake pedal travel distance, rather than force applied to the pedal. Only after a certain distance of pedal travel does it feel like the pedal firms up. Personally, I find it much easier to modulate braking force by modulation the force I'm putting on the pedal, as opposed to adjusting the position of the medal. Ideally I'd like a pedal that never, ever moves. (That's basically how my S2000 brakes feel.) I don't know if this is by design or not (possibly the booster, or the lines, or the calipers, or...) One of these days I'll try my own fluid bleed in case air in the lines is the cause. And if that doesn't work and I'm feeling adventuresome I'll install some braided steel brake lines. (Which my S2000 has.)

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