128i performance brakes + painted rear calipers to match

[Alow]

Another 1addict member asked me for some pictures and I thought why not put them up for anyone else that is interested. So here you go! This is my 128i with the performance brakes and the rear calipers painted to match courtesy of g2usa.com.

The material of the caliper is different, so it looks a little darker, but the difference is very subtle and not easy to see unless you are told its there.

Overall I think its a nice touch and I am happy with it.

[Yvette]

where did you get the color from????
that is very close matching color

[Thaddy]

I hope BMW designed those especially for the 128i rear brakes, otherwise you can kiss your stock brake bias goodbye.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Alow,

So I guess the 128i Performance brake kit only includes rotors, calipers, and perhaps steel brake lines for the front brakes? Nothing for the rears? Thanks.

[Alow]

Originally Posted by e90sexion

where did you get the color from????
that is very close matching color

I bought it from g2usa.com. They can color match to the color of your car, so I told them I had a 2001 Phoenix Yellow M3

I hope BMW designed those especially for the 128i rear brakes, otherwise you can kiss your stock brake bias goodbye.

Yes, BMW designed these. These are the rear calipers of the performance brakes kit. They don't come painted yello.. bare metal like the stock caliper.. so I painted them.

Alow,

So I guess the 128i Performance brake kit only includes rotors, calipers, and perhaps steel brake lines for the front brakes? Nothing for the rears? Thanks.

Wrong. front and rear. The kit I bought from Dan for the 128i came with:
- Front calipers & pads
- Front rotors
- Front dust shields (bigger to match bigger rotor)
- Brake pad wear sensors (front and rear)
- Rear calipers & pads - looked the same as stock, but had different part number so I put them on
- Rear rotors

I think that's it. no SS brake lines.

[Greenkirby21]

that looks sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! great mod

[Yvette]

I am really interested in this setup as well, but dont want to change the rotors/pads yet.
Do you think I can use the performance calipers on the front 128 stock rotors and pads?

[Alow]

Originally Posted by e90sexion

I am really interested in this setup as well, but dont want to change the rotors/pads yet.
Do you think I can use the performance calipers on the front 128 stock rotors and pads?

I am going to say no, since the perf. rotors are bigger, and the pads are completely different shape.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Okay, so rear rotors, although not cross-drilled or slotted, are in fact larger in diameter?

And rear calipers and pads are replaced with units that look more or less identical but carry a different part number? Interesting - I wonder why the change with these?

I'm cosidering this kit in the future, just trying to justify the cost (although it looks like the price has come way down, so I may not need much of a nudge after all).

[S54dan]

Looks awesome

[Alow]

I think rear rotors are exactly the same as stock. But don't quote me on that.

And yes, calipers and pads have different part numbers but look the same.

Ya the price has come down a lot! If you install it yourself, it's not bad at all.

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Okay, so rear rotors, although not cross-drilled or slotted, are in fact larger in diameter?

And rear calipers and pads are replaced with units that look more or less identical but carry a different part number? Interesting - I wonder why the change with these?

I'm cosidering this kit in the future, just trying to justify the cost (although it looks like the price has come way down, so I may not need much of a nudge after all).

[Bimmer-Bob]

Cool - thanks for the info.

I just can't figure out why the rears are being replaced with this kit if there's no change...maybe Dan or another vendor can chime in?

[CoralRed]

how in the world did BMW decide on that color???

[Thaddy]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Cool - thanks for the info.

I just can't figure out why the rears are being replaced with this kit if there's no change...maybe Dan or another vendor can chime in?

Read my post. They should be replaced. Any time you add larger calipers or better performing brakes to the front of your car, you're completely throwing off the stock brake bias. A full brake kit should include both front and rear calipers/rotors that were designed to work together.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by Thaddy

Read my post. They should be replaced. Any time you add larger calipers or better performing brakes to the front of your car, you're completely throwing off the stock brake bias. A full brake kit should include both front and rear calipers/rotors that were designed to work together.

I agree that they should be - but so far I haven't heard any indiction that the "performance" rear rotors, calipers, and pads are any different than the stock units.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Bump.

No one knows what the difference is (if any) between the stock rears and the Performance rears?

[zamboni]

Bob,

According to Dan the performace rear is pretty close to the 128i spec, basicly you only benefit from the front there is not much difference on rear.

[AW128i]

According to BMW's website, the 128i Performance Brake Kit only includes front brake hardware. This leads me to believe that the kit is designed to work with the OE rear brakes.

[DriveHard]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Bump.

No one knows what the difference is (if any) between the stock rears and the Performance rears?

I installed these last week before i went to a time trial at Summit Point..

The answer to the question is the following:

The rear rotors and pads that come with the perf. kit are exactly the same part number as stock rear pads and rotors that come oem

the rear caliper is of the same design as the rears, ie cast iron, and exactly the same mounting points and fitting location. The difference is the diameter of the piston. we measured the outside of the piston housing and compared it to the one we took off. its about a 1/16th of an inch wider in diameter, hence the piston in its self must be larger. The brake sensor is also different.

I suspect this is how they addressed the brake bias between the new front 6 piston brembos to the rear.

The instructions say also that the car needs to be "retrofitted" using the BMW programming station. we assume this tells the abs /dsc /dtc etc that Hello..we have better brakes and adjust accordingly while using those functions.

On the track they were fade free...did an amazing job slowing me down on the front straight, ( top speed of 122 ) for the harpin, and did not get spongy, smokey, long, or overheated after 40+ laps... i drove home 3 1/2 hours directly after that event with no issues... street braking after that was much better as they were well broken in by then.

i ran 2 events prior with the stock brakes, and they were way more spongy towards the end of the day.

I used stock fluid all three times and inspected the pads and rotors when i took them off to put the new ones on. they were not glazed nor were the edges of the pads fried or bubbled. Also rotors were not warpped, but i suspect they woudnt of lasted 6 events a year.

over all for the price i think they were well worth it.

As far as the fronts go, the calipers are of similar design to the 135 brembos, the rotors look great,stayed cool, stayed quiet, and seemed to be better than the stock 135 rotors...i say this because my friend that came with me ( with his 135), warpped his rotors. the brake pads are not the same number as stock 135 pads, so there must be some difference there also.

he was reaching 135ish on the front straight, and maybe was going too hot into the hair pin, none the less he beat my best time by 4+ seconds.....

man he really could accelerate coming out of a corner... i was chasing tail lights the whole time...lol

[DriveHard]

Originally Posted by AW128i

According to BMW's website, the 128i Performance Brake Kit only includes front brake hardware. This leads me to believe that the kit is designed to work with the OE rear brakes.

This is not true..

the 128 kit p/n ending in 722 includes everything front and rear as said before. look here .. http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...80&hg=34&fg=95