F11 - Reinforced Brakes?

[AlexGSi2000]

Morning,

I have recently acquired a lovely 2015 530d touring - whilst giving the car its first wash under my ownership, its apparent I'm going to need front brake pads very soon.

I've popped in the registration to the usual car parts websites, its giving me the option for pads with or without reinforced brakes, Ive not the slightest idea which ones I have.

Usually for previous cars, its been fairly obvious by the pad shape, or if the cars had the likes of Brembo brakes or not, I could usually go by the width of the disc.etc but this ones being a little bit trickier.

Without taking out the pads and measuring the size.etc I was wondering if someone knew an easier way of finding out?

Many thanks!

[danb79]

AlexGSi2000 said:

Morning,

I have recently acquired a lovely 2015 530d touring - whilst giving the car its first wash under my ownership, its apparent I'm going to need front brake pads very soon.

I've popped in the registration to the usual car parts websites, its giving me the option for pads with or without reinforced brakes, Ive not the slightest idea which ones I have.

Usually for previous cars, its been fairly obvious by the pad shape, or if the cars had the likes of Brembo brakes or not, I could usually go by the width of the disc.etc but this ones being a little bit trickier.

Without taking out the pads and measuring the size.etc I was wondering if someone knew an easier way of finding out?

Many thanks!

Looking on RealOEM - reinforced brakes and non-reinforced brakes have the same brake pad part number:

Non-reinforced: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=5K12...
Reinforced: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=5K12...

PN.11 on both

Genuine BMW pads via Douglas Park: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254987144763?fits=Car+M...

So just go with that part number

Same brakes as I ran on my 730D - I ran Textar pads as they're who make them for BMW (and Jurid); wouldn't run Brembo pads personally, always found them to be not very good. soft pedal feel etc

[E-bmw]

danb79 said:

Looking on RealOEM - reinforced brakes and non-reinforced brakes have the same brake pad part number:

Non-reinforced: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=5K12...
Reinforced: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=5K12...

And yet on the OP's pic they have different dimensions?

[drmotorsport]

Could the Reinforced brakes be for armoured/police editions maybe?

[AlexGSi2000]

Thanks Dan,

I didn't even think about RealOEM.

I've just taken a look myself and there are three brake packages;

Reinforced (option S102A) 34116851269
High Speed (option S5AEA) 34116851269
M Performance Power Kit 34116851269

All with the same number!

I've been on the VIN decoder and neither option codes above show for my car.

I think I'll play it safe, order both and see which ones fit, or if they are indeed the same.

It gets worse when it comes to brake disc selection though - there are about 8 different options on RealOEM.

[danb79]

AlexGSi2000 said:

Thanks Dan,

I didn't even think about RealOEM.

I've just taken a look myself and there are three brake packages;

Reinforced (option S102A) 34116851269
High Speed (option S5AEA) 34116851269
M Performance Power Kit 34116851269

All with the same number!

I've been on the VIN decoder and neither option codes above show for my car.

I think I'll play it safe, order both and see which ones fit, or if they are indeed the same.

It gets worse when it comes to brake disc selection though - there are about 8 different options on RealOEM.

8? Hell; I only saw one haha... https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partgrp?id=5K12-E...

I take it this changes when you pop your VIN into RealOEM?

The front discs again all seem to be the same, there are 2 different sizes for the rears

I think time to measure the discs so you know what's what and I'd say you've got normal discs & pads

Can't see why they'd be reinforced unless, as stated above, its an ex forces car - then again this is BMW!

Edited by danb79 on Tuesday 22 October 13:52

[Bertrum]

I just went through the same thing this weekend.

My 530d touring had the reinforced brakes, it’s not ex police or anything and real OEM was no help.

The easiest way to tell is looking at the rear pads, the part of the pad closest to the centre of the hub has a sticking out flat part, standard pads are just flat at the bottom, have a look at the rear pad pictures online it’s quite obvious difference to the bottom of the pad.

Don’t forget to order a new wear sensor

[rottenegg]

E-bmw said:

danb79 said:

Looking on RealOEM - reinforced brakes and non-reinforced brakes have the same brake pad part number:

Non-reinforced: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=5K12...
Reinforced: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=5K12...

And yet on the OP's pic they have different dimensions?

I would trust RealOEM over Euro Car Parts. How can the same caliper have 2 different shapes of pads?

[E-bmw]

rottenegg said:

E-bmw said:

danb79 said:

Looking on RealOEM - reinforced brakes and non-reinforced brakes have the same brake pad part number:

Non-reinforced: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=5K12...
Reinforced: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=5K12...

And yet on the OP's pic they have different dimensions?

I would trust RealOEM over Euro Car Parts. How can the same caliper have 2 different shapes of pads?

I won't argue with you, I was just pointing out the differences & that it would be easy to check which are correct.

[Rowe]

drmotorsport said:

Could the Reinforced brakes be for armoured/police editions maybe?

Yep!

[paddy1970]

There is a sticker located either under the bonnet, inside the door frame, or in the owner's manual that lists specific option codes for the car. If you see a code like "S2NHA" or "S2NAA," these can indicate standard or upgraded brake options.

[AlexGSi2000]

Thanks for all the replies.

Turns out my vehicle has the reinforced brakes.

Was able to view the images in more detail, the reinforced pad had more of a curve on each end, where as the non-reinforced are straight.
The ends of the pads were just about visible through the wheel.