Confused about Calipers

[COEHSP85]

Ok this has been bugging for the longest time i can remember. But maybe someone here can answer my question. BMW always lacked on building nice factory calipers. Each model i have seen including the M models, the brake calipers look like ass. I know they are doing what they are supposed to be, but seriously they could have designed a better looking factory caliper, at least for the M models. I know the 135i is not a M model, but it does come equipped with nice set of Brembo Calipers. Why did BMW do it this way? someone please explain this concept to me, since i was never able to figure it out. Even the lower class Porsche has nice calipers, that come in different colors and slotted rotors. Why BMW doesn't come with this option?

[BMWbab1]

The six piston calipers that look like a big brake kit are horribly made. They can't stand up for much abuse and are failing miserably on the track. I have a 135 and wish soooooo badly that they would have come with the single piston brakes found on most BMW's. My pistons are already crumbling after only four DE events. Stick with the single piston or buy a true BBK.

[GaryS]

Here is a post about cosmetic stuff for the brakes.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=644776

[COEHSP85]

LOL you guys didn't understand my point. I like my stock Brembos, they are perfect for daily driver use and look great. I wanna know why BMW only threw on the 6 piston brembos on the 135i only and everyother BMW has standard looking breaks.

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by COEHSP85

LOL you guys didn't understand my point. I like my stock Brembos, they are perfect for daily driver use and look great. I wanna know why BMW only threw on the 6 piston brembos on the 135i only and everyother BMW has standard looking breaks.

Probably the same reason they plastered M badges all over it. It was intended for a younger market than previous BMWs.

[BMWbab1]

because they are garbage and they need to get rid of what they have left in stock so they are leaving them on the 135 till they use up there stock. I highly doubt the next generation of 135's will have this same caliper.

[invntx]

Originally Posted by BMWbab1

The six piston calipers that look like a big brake kit are horribly made. They can't stand up for much abuse and are failing miserably on the track. I have a 135 and wish soooooo badly that they would have come with the single piston brakes found on most BMW's. My pistons are already crumbling after only four DE events. Stick with the single piston or buy a true BBK.

Wow, I wonder why Brembo would make such a crappy brake with their name on it? No problems in my experience.
I took my 135 to the track 6 days last year and did not have any problems with the calipers/pistons using Hawk HP+ pads and slotted rotors. Worked great, no fading or piston boot or anything else breaking down.

[Adam135]

Originally Posted by BMWbab1

because they are garbage

What are you basing this on?

[BiscottiGelato]

Originally Posted by invntx

Wow, I wonder why Brembo would make such a crappy brake with their name on it? No problems in my experience.
I took my 135 to the track 6 days last year and did not have any problems with the calipers/pistons using Hawk HP+ pads and slotted rotors. Worked great, no fading or piston boot or anything else breaking down.

Do you mind to share you brake setup? Ti shims? Upgraded lines/fluids? Which slotted rotors are you talking about? Thanks!

[BMWbab1]

They are garbage because they were engineered incorrectly or they just used the wrong materials. A brake piston should NEVER fall apart or shatter regardless of what temperatures or conditions its faces. They should have built the pistons out of metal as almost all high performance cars have (yes I know there are a few that come with ceramic, Porsche, etc but they have much better cooling) Speaking of cooling, if they would have designed the car to get more cooling to the brakes it might have helped mitigate the problem with the pistons. They look great but function horribly.

[cdde323]

Originally Posted by BMWbab1

They are garbage because they were engineered incorrectly or they just used the wrong materials. A brake piston should NEVER fall apart or shatter regardless of what temperatures or conditions its faces. They should have built the pistons out of metal as almost all high performance cars have (yes I know there are a few that come with ceramic, Porsche, etc but they have much better cooling) Speaking of cooling, if they would have designed the car to get more cooling to the brakes it might have helped mitigate the problem with the pistons. They look great but function horribly.

I drive the car pretty fuckin hard up in the mountains, 'touge' if you will... brakes are plenty good. Most/if not all cases of people reporting problems are under race/track conditions, apparently the brakes have some downsides in extreme circumstances. To say they are garbage is... stupid.

To your original question, I would bet GaryS is on point... They are selling these cars to the Evo/STi (300HP and fancy brakes) crowd, it's a selling point for a car that shouldn't be as expensive as it is.

[Everfly]

Originally Posted by BMWbab1

because they are garbage and they need to get rid of what they have left in stock so they are leaving them on the 135 till they use up there stock. I highly doubt the next generation of 135's will have this same caliper.

[BMWbab1]

Brakes are the most important thing on a car and the calipers should be the last thing to fall apart. For driving on the street they are fine regardless of how hard you push them (so no worries for those that don't track the car) but on the track as you get better you will ruin them quickly. That is all I was saying.

[BrokenVert]

Fun fact.

The 135 was originally intended to be the M model for the 1 series. But BMW corporate shelved the idea close to the cars launch.

That should answer a few questions.

[COEHSP85]

No one still answered my question LOL...Why do the rest of the model BMW especially the M models have ugly looking calipers and not high tech looking ones, such as Porsche or GTR....