530e - brake upgrade

[NSS89]

Since remapping my 530e I’m thinking of upgrading the brakes as they don’t seem to be able to keep up. Not sure if I only need to upgrade the pads or the discs as well?

Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[E-bmw]

My first port of call would be to check what you have is working perfectly as I doubt a remap alone has made your brakes under-perform.

[d_a_n1979]

NSS89 said:

Since remapping my 530e I’m thinking of upgrading the brakes as they don’t seem to be able to keep up. Not sure if I only need to upgrade the pads or the discs as well?

Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

As above

Your brakes should be absolutely fine unless you're absolutely ragging it and making them fade!

If you do want to upgrade; stick with that bit more aggressive discs & pads to begin with and maybe look to fit braided lines such as those from HEL and do a full fluid flush & refill

[NSS89]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Apparently the remap took the car from around 250bhp to not far under 400bhp. I haven’t put it on a dyno to confirm but others report similar gains and driving it alongside other cars with that amount of power I don’t think it’s far off. So that was the main reason for me thinking brakes might need an upgrade. Current setup is totally stock. I’d like more initial bite and at the moment once driven hard (not for long) they start to struggle and feel quite soft.

Yeah as first port of call I’ll do the brake fluid as it’s due in November anyway and I’ll double check the pads. It was in with BMW about a month ago and as part of their “health check” they reported 6-7mm for both front and rear. However just this morning it’s popped up saying the rear pads will need changing in 2500 miles.

Any recommendations for brake fluid and pads? I’ve done a quick Google and Motul RBF 600 seemed popular and in regards to pads EBC yellow/blue but I’m open to anything.

Just to add the kerb weight of the car is around 1850kg.

Edited by NSS89 on Monday 24th April 11:31

Edited by NSS89 on Monday 24th April 11:53

[d_a_n1979]

NSS89 said:

Thanks for the replies guys.

Apparently the remap took the car from around 250bhp to not far under 400bhp. I haven’t put it on a dyno to confirm but others report similar gains and driving it alongside other cars with that amount of power I don’t think it’s far off. So that was the main reason for me thinking brakes might need an upgrade. Current setup is totally stock. I’d like more initial bite and at the moment once driven hard (not for long) they start to struggle and feel quite soft.

Yeah as first port of call I’ll do the brake fluid as it’s due in November anyway and I’ll double check the pads. It was in with BMW about a month ago and as part of their “health check” they reported 6-7mm for both front and rear. However just this morning it’s popped up saying the rear pads will need changing in 2500 miles.

Any recommendations for brake fluid and pads? I’ve done a quick Google and Motul RBF 600 seemed popular and in regards to pads EBC yellow/blue but I’m open to anything.

Just to add the kerb weight of the car is around 1850kg.

Edited by NSS89 on Monday 24th April 11:31

Edited by NSS89 on Monday 24th April 11:53

I'd stay away from EBC pads/discs etc

I'd stick with OEM discs and look for the likes of Ferodo DS2500s, the more aggressive Pagid or Brembo pads and re fluid, just use normal DOT4 or DOT5.1; you don't need anything fancy unless you're going to take the car to track days etc

Have you got the part numbers for your brake discs & pads via RealOEM and then seen what's out there?

[drdino]

Which brakes do you have now?

[E-bmw]

As above, EBC are sh!t, I would rather use bread dough.

What are currently fitted?

I would be tempted to get the fluid changed, fit better hoses & good quality pads/discs & I would doubt there will be another issue.

[Mirinjawbro]

NSS89 said:

Thanks for the replies guys.

Apparently the remap took the car from around 250bhp to not far under 400bhp. I haven’t put it on a dyno to confirm but others report similar gains and driving it alongside other cars with that amount of power I don’t think it’s far off. So that was the main reason for me thinking brakes might need an upgrade. Current setup is totally stock. I’d like more initial bite and at the moment once driven hard (not for long) they start to struggle and feel quite soft.

Yeah as first port of call I’ll do the brake fluid as it’s due in November anyway and I’ll double check the pads. It was in with BMW about a month ago and as part of their “health check” they reported 6-7mm for both front and rear. However just this morning it’s popped up saying the rear pads will need changing in 2500 miles.

Any recommendations for brake fluid and pads? I’ve done a quick Google and Motul RBF 600 seemed popular and in regards to pads EBC yellow/blue but I’m open to anything.

Just to add the kerb weight of the car is around 1850kg.

Edited by NSS89 on Monday 24th April 11:31

Edited by NSS89 on Monday 24th April 11:53

thats a big difference for a remap? 150hp?

[Sim89]

If they were 6-7mm a month ago, I'd would check the wear sensor at the rear hasnt snapped. This has happened to me a few times and it just defaults the CBS calculation to 2500.

[bigdom]

Mirinjawbro said:

thats a big difference for a remap? 150hp?

Seems quite generous for a standard 2L engine, with no other mods. I thought they tended to end up around 330bhp?

I believe standard fitment is Brembo, but given the car/brake set-up not being sports orientated, options are likely to be limited.

[Chlorothalonil]

My company car is a 530e with the supposed M Sport brakes. Underbraked as standard so not surprised you want to upgrade.

[d_a_n1979]

Chlorothalonil said:

My company car is a 530e with the supposed M Sport brakes. Underbraked as standard so not surprised you want to upgrade.

Underbraked how?

What's lacking in them that you feel they need to be upgraded?

Not digging; serious question as I know they're not light cars

But SiL had a 530e and I thought the M Sort brakes on hers were superb; excellent bite from cold and great if you needed to really use them

[NSS89]

Thanks for all the replies. I’ll definitely steer clear of EBC brakes then! I’m running stock right now. I can’t confirm if they are OEM or not though as not long bought it so the garage might have thrown some cheap pads onto it.

I’ll definitely get brake fluid changed and make sure it’s Dot 4 minimum. There’s no preferred brake fluid people would recommend?

I think the weight of the car doesn’t help either, as it’s the 530e you’re lugging around those batteries which you can definitely feel. As mentioned before after a bit of “hard” braking they just feel really spongey. I had the car standard for about a week before getting it remapped and wasn’t a fan of the brakes even then. To be honest I thought they were on their way out and that’s why they were performing the way they were so was quite surprised when I was sent the health check video and the technician said 6-7mm.

In regards to the remap adding so much power it’s because the electric motor alone adds around 90bhp so yeah quite amazing results to be honest considering it’s only a 2 litre engine (B48) but makes sense when you factor that in. I believe it’s 184 standard plus the electric motor so BMW say 252 but I think in classic BMW fashion that’s slightly reserved and it’s closer to 280 stock (from what I’ve seen posted). However as the 530 also uses the same engine (B48) but is 252 standard am I right in think the 520 is just detuned? Just to clarify the remap does nothing to the electric motor. DMS claim 400bhp on the same car with just a remap but then there’s the whole dyno debate. Either way it feels closer to 400 than 300 in my opinion.

I do need to dyno it to be honest (I was thinking RRS in the Midlands is a good shout) and that’s on my list but I’m quite tempted to get a downpipe and possibly an after market induction kit fitted first.

[d_a_n1979]

NSS89 said:

Thanks for all the replies. I’ll definitely steer clear of EBC brakes then! I’m running stock right now. I can’t confirm if they are OEM or not though as not long bought it so the garage might have thrown some cheap pads onto it.

I’ll definitely get brake fluid changed and make sure it’s Dot 4 minimum. There’s no preferred brake fluid people would recommend?

I think the weight of the car doesn’t help either, as it’s the 530e you’re lugging around those batteries which you can definitely feel. As mentioned before after a bit of “hard” braking they just feel really spongey. I had the car standard for about a week before getting it remapped and wasn’t a fan of the brakes even then. To be honest I thought they were on their way out and that’s why they were performing the way they were so was quite surprised when I was sent the health check video and the technician said 6-7mm.

In regards to the remap adding so much power it’s because the electric motor alone adds around 90bhp so yeah quite amazing results to be honest considering it’s only a 2 litre engine (B48) but makes sense when you factor that in. I believe it’s 184 standard plus the electric motor so BMW say 252 but I think in classic BMW fashion that’s slightly reserved and it’s closer to 280 stock (from what I’ve seen posted). However as the 530 also uses the same engine (B48) but is 252 standard am I right in think the 520 is just detuned? Just to clarify the remap does nothing to the electric motor. DMS claim 400bhp on the same car with just a remap but then there’s the whole dyno debate. Either way it feels closer to 400 than 300 in my opinion.

I do need to dyno it to be honest (I was thinking RRS in the Midlands is a good shout) and that’s on my list but I’m quite tempted to get a downpipe and possibly an after market induction kit fitted first.

I'd personally stick with OEM brakes for now and see how you get on

I've stuck with OEM BMW pads (the correct ones for dimpled/grooved discs) and Brembo discs up front (because they were at a price I couldn't say no too and 2 piece, as they should be) and OEM BMW discs for the rear, which I sourced via Douglas Park BMW on eBay (discs, pads, wear sensor for £400 delivered), nearly £100 cheaper than Autodoc!

I've been VERY impressed with my brakes so far (blue M Sport calipers, 370mm/345mm discs front/rear) and a BMW brake fluid change recently (went for that as I've got extended warranty on my BMW so keeping it as OEM as possible as to not threaten to void the warranty) - worth bearing in mind if yours is still in warranty, although it may not be with you getting it remapped

[NSS89]

Yeah I’m thinking the pads on it currently aren’t OEM but won’t know for sure till I get them checked out which to be fair I can as my mates uncle is a mechanic and I would use him to do the work anyways. So I’ll get the brake fluid, get him to check the pads and then grab some while he’s doing that. Warranty has run out as it’s a December 2018 car and just about to hit 100k. The disks on it currently aren’t grooved or dimpled - just smooth. Not sure if they were changed at some point or not. It’s got the blue M Sport calipers.

I’d definitely grab a set of OEM disks and pads for £400 if I could find some :-)

What’s making me think they aren’t OEM is your comment and the comment a few posts before saying they felt good. As I said mine have felt crap since I got them!

[d_a_n1979]

NSS89 said:

Yeah I’m thinking the pads on it currently aren’t OEM but won’t know for sure till I get them checked out which to be fair I can as my mates uncle is a mechanic and I would use him to do the work anyways. So I’ll get the brake fluid, get him to check the pads and then grab some while he’s doing that. Warranty has run out as it’s a December 2018 car and just about to hit 100k. The disks on it currently aren’t grooved or dimpled - just smooth. Not sure if they were changed at some point or not. It’s got the blue M Sport calipers.

I’d definitely grab a set of OEM disks and pads for £400 if I could find some :-)

What’s making me think they aren’t OEM is your comment and the comment a few posts before saying they felt good. As I said mine have felt crap since I got them!

Yup; the brakes weren't OEM on my F31 when I bought it; those and the wheels / tyres were the first things I changed!

I've not fitted the new rear brakes yet; the discs are BMW but the pads are Pagid and crap TBH; very dusty, so probably budget end of Pagid as they do make some superb pads the further up the price list you go etc

These are the front brake discs I've fitted: https://www.bremboparts.com/europe/en/catalogue/di...

With the correct OEM BMW pads for the grooved/dimpled discs



And these are the rears; to be fitted sometime later next week



OEM BMW discs and pads

[Chlorothalonil]

d_a_n1979 said:

Chlorothalonil said:

My company car is a 530e with the supposed M Sport brakes. Underbraked as standard so not surprised you want to upgrade.

Underbraked how?

What's lacking in them that you feel they need to be upgraded?

Not digging; serious question as I know they're not light cars

But SiL had a 530e and I thought the M Sort brakes on hers were superb; excellent bite from cold and great if you needed to really use them

On fast country lanes I just found that they didn’t cope with scrubbing off speed quickly enough, mainly because of the weight of the car. Piling on the anchors never had quite the amount of bite that I would like to see, which has been quite unnerving at times. Not sure it was brake fade but it certainly starts to feel that way.