[darkrom]

I am coming up on needing brakes on my 2019 540 xdrive. Since I am going to be doing the brakes with fcp parts and taking advantage of the lifetime warranty, I’m looking for the best reasonable brake setup that will fit the car without headaches. It is not going to be a tracked car, but the factory brakes leave a lot to be desired imo. Has anyone done an upgrade and ended up with something they are happy with?

[ppointer]

I have a 2008 QX56 owned since new, and one big weakness of that SUV was braking. I finally have them where I believe they are satisfactory. I changed to steel brake lines some years ago. When I needed new front brakes this summer, I went with StopTech slotted rotors and Akebono Street Performance Pads, basically a stage two setup. Subjectively this setup provides a lot more confidence, definitely less effort required on the pedal, and the feel is much more firm than OEM.

Except for my 2022, all my BMWs have steel brake lines, mostly from ECS. Otherwise, they usually get Zimmerman rotors and OEM pads. I am happy enough with this StopTech and Akebono set up that I will do something similar to my M Roadster next summer.

[darkrom]

How difficult would it be to upgrade to the m sport or m performance setup? Is it simply buy all the correct parts and they bolt on easily? Which is the better of the two and has anyone done that upgrade yet?

[salukimike]

M sport brakes are going to be a lot more aggressive. As contrast I’m coming from an Acura and the brakes are way more sensitive on my 540 with M sport.

For a daily driver I’d avoid drilled rotors.

BMW, brembo or ebc pads are high quality.

Zimmerman rotors are a good option to OE.


You should be able to do the upgrade. Do you have 19” wheels or bigger you’ll need for clearance. Off top of my head, you’ll need rotors, caliper carrier and housing, bolts. I think the dust shield is the same.

[darkrom]

Originally Posted by salukimike

M sport brakes are going to be a lot more aggressive. As contrast I’m coming from an Acura and the brakes are way more sensitive on my 540 with M sport.

For a daily driver I’d avoid drilled rotors.

BMW, brembo or ebc pads are high quality.

Zimmerman rotors are a good option to OE.


You should be able to do the upgrade. Do you have 19” wheels or bigger you’ll need for clearance. Off top of my head, you’ll need rotors, caliper carrier and housing, bolts. I think the dust shield is the same.

I have the 19” wheels yes. Would you think the m sport brakes are direct bolt on? What exactly is the difference between the red and blue versions I see talked about?

[salukimike]

I’m not sure if they have the same bolt pattern. Red or blue is just your color preference.

[darkrom]

Wow I didn't realize the red and blue were the same just color difference, that seems strange to me.

[Weekend Warrior G30]

Originally Posted by darkrom

Wow I didn't realize the red and blue were the same just color difference, that seems strange to me.

The reds are M performance and they are 395mm the blues are M sports and they are for the 374mm brakes. At least that's from what I've been researching. We need to put together a brake thread because all G series brakes are compatible. And plenty of the bigger cars come with 374mm brakes if you don't care for fancy colors.

[darkrom]

Originally Posted by Weekend Warrior G30

The reds are M performance and they are 395mm the blues are M sports and they are for the 374mm brakes. At least that's from what I've been researching. We need to put together a brake thread because all G series brakes are compatible. And plenty of the bigger cars come with 374mm brakes if you don't care for fancy colors.

It sounds like either would be better than my stock setup. I wonder how much better the performance performs in real world, and also if the costs are astronomical.

I’d love a brake thread but obviously I have very little to add since I’m asking questions about the basics on this platform.

[salukimike]

Isn’t M Sport (S2NHA) offered in blue and red?

M Performance is only in red? If this was even available as a factory option?

I think M sport is more popular?

[darkrom]

I’ve found retrofit kits for the full m performance around $3300. Does anyone make an m sport retrofit kit?

I’m thinking the best option might be to build a custom set using fcp parts to replicate the sport or performance set. Chances are good they have all the parts but they don’t seem to have a retrofit kit.

[salukimike]

Check this post out, it’s for the blue ones but gives you a run down of all part numbers:

https://www.7post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1811418

[darkrom]

Originally Posted by salukimike

Check this post out, it’s for the blue ones but gives you a run down of all part numbers:

https://www.7post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1811418

This is incredibly useful. I’m going to copy that info here In case that sells and is removed. Thanks!

[darkrom]

Front brakes part numbers:
(1) Front brake pads, set: 34106888459
(1) Front brake disc left: 34116875283
(1) Front brake disc right: 34116875284
(1) Front brake caliper housing blue left: 34116891303
(1) Front brake caliper housing blue right: 34116891304
(1) Protection plate left: 34106861797
(1) Protection plate left: 34106861798

Rear brakes part numbers:
(1) Rear brake pads, set: 34216867175
(2) Rear brake disc: 34216860925
(1) Rear brake caliper housing blue left: 34216881295
(1) Rear brake caliper housing blue right: 34216881296
(1) Rear caliper carrier blue left: 34206891915
(1) Rear caliper carrier blue left: 34206891916
(1) Protection plate left: 34206861801
(1) Protection plate left: 34206861802

[darkrom]

I'm still debating what to do with this. Just the calipers for the M SPORT upgrade make up the bulk of the kit of the M PERFORMANCE upgrade, but only ECS offers the M PERFORMANCE with a warranty. FCP Doesn't have the m performance parts at all, but they do seem to have the m sport kit if I order it part by part.

If the price is close is there really any reason to ever choose the m sport brakes over the m performance brakes?

Its a shame I can't seem to find any upgrades at FCP or ECS that would allow me to keep my stock calipers and save thousands...

[bryansna]

I believe different brake pad materials do make a bit of difference if cost is the factor. For example EBC makes different pads and they have them listed by color so you can compare based upon your desired application. Here is a link explaining the differences.

https://ebcbrakesdirect.com/store/fe...otivebrakepads

I use the Yellow in a VW Gti that I use for autocross.

[TEF]

Assuming one is not fixated on blue or red colored calipers, the same Brembo calipers in raw aluminum are used on the G11 (740i). They sell on ebay for a fraction of the cost of new colored ones from BMW and come in two sizes. The rotor size needed for each caliper is cast on the back. Essentially, one has two choices: 348 mm x 36 mm or 374 mm x 36 mm. The former fits stock 18" wheels with room to spare and the latter also fits an 18" wheel, but I cannot confirm this.

The larger and/or thicker rotors can be found anywhere assuming one pretends they are purchasing rotors for a G11 (vice G30). Pads are available from numerous manufacturers and cost about the same as those for the G30.

Installation is also easy. Just remove the OE G30 caliper, install new caliper and connect it using existing brake line, bolts and pad sensor.

In all fairness, I must credit another person on this forum, Hoa, who offers these used calipers at a very reasonable price. Since these are all BMW parts there is no downside to this conversion - something that often occurrs with many after-market "upgrades".

Finally, replacing pads with the Brembo calipers is much easier - remove two pins, slide out old pads, slip in new pads and replace pins. No removing bolts connecting caliper to steering knuckle.

[darkrom]

Originally Posted by TEF

Assuming one is not fixated on blue or red colored calipers, the same Brembo calipers in raw aluminum are used on the G11 (740i). They sell on ebay for a fraction of the cost of new colored ones from BMW and come in two sizes. The rotor size needed for each caliper is cast on the back. Essentially, one has two choices: 348 mm x 36 mm or 374 mm x 36 mm. The former fits stock 18" wheels with room to spare and the latter also fits an 18" wheel, but I cannot confirm this.

The larger and/or thicker rotors can be found anywhere assuming one pretends they are purchasing rotors for a G11 (vice G30). Pads are available from numerous manufacturers and cost about the same as those for the G30.

Installation is also easy. Just remove the OE G30 caliper, install new caliper and connect it using existing brake line, bolts and pad sensor.

In all fairness, I must credit another person on this forum, Hoa, who offers these used calipers at a very reasonable price. Since these are all BMW parts there is no downside to this conversion - something that often occurrs with many after-market "upgrades".

Finally, replacing pads with the Brembo calipers is much easier - remove two pins, slide out old pads, slip in new pads and replace pins. No removing bolts connecting caliper to steering knuckle.

Thank you this is awesome to know!

[TEF]

BTW, the G30 rear calipers and rotors can also be upgraded to larger ones (without changes to anything) with G11 740i brake parts. Used rear calipers cost about $100 each. While I like FCP, I went with Pagid (Hella) coated rotors front and rear from Rockauto. They ran under $100 each.

FYI - Pagid brake pads are popular within the Porsche community and Hella, also a German company, dates back to the VW bug days (they provided lights to VW).