AP Racing front brake kit - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

gmajor · 22nd November 2001, 08:04

AP Racing in England now have a kit for the e39 M5's front brakes, retaining the standard wheels. It was not advertised on their web site when I checked just now.

You get 6 pot calipers, DOT5.1 fluid, braided lines to the calipers, pads, and 343mm x 32mm radially grooved, vented discs. These discs have the same diameter as the standard floaters, as the BMW wheels do not have much space on the inside: get roomier wheels and you could go to 362mm I think. The calipers are big, allowing the pads to be usefully bigger than standard.

The splash plate needs a bit of cutting on its trailing edge to allow the caliper bracket to fit, and I've bent the leading edge inwards to funnel more air from the venturi under the bumper in to the disc centre. Opening the proper cooling ducts will be a good idea too.

I've got Ferodo's new fast road pad (cannot remember number), which does work from cold, and there are other pads available. When I can test again, I'll report on the fade characterstic.

geoffrey

Black B10V8 · 22nd November 2001, 10:59

Interesting. A few questions:

Do the calipers clear the stock rims (what rims do you use?) or do you need to fit a spacer? If so, how wide?

Price?

gmajor · 22nd November 2001, 11:25

There's no spacer and it fits the standard rims. If you had rims with more space inside the spokes you could get a bigger disc in.

I think the retail price is something like GBP1,500 + VAT.

Rallistas · 22nd November 2001, 12:50

I e-mail them and they told and is what they told me.

The Bmw E39 M5 front brake upgrade will be availbable late December. It will consist of a 6-piston calipers and mounting breackets coupled to a 343x32mm 48vane disc bolted to an alloy bell, Braided hoses and bast road/track pads. The standard Msport 18 alloy can be retained. This set up will restrict the size of the disc used due to the STD wheel radius and spoke offset. Therefore with the disc at a similar size to STD, piston area s;ifhtly increased in the 6-pot calipers and an increse in a pad area it is felt the the BMW brake will be sufficient to work with this front upgrade. Retail Approx. 1600 + vat.

CP555 is the caliper type to look at our own web site.
The next development will be a bigger disc of 355x36 version requiring and AFtermarket 19" rim with adequate spoke depth. We will then look at producing a small bore 4-pot caliper to mount over the standard disc/ drum installation. Available possibly late February. Front Apprx 1600 rear 750, it will include fittings, hoses and pads with the calipers.

2000 Lemans Blue

Kelleners Exhaust, Ecu Tuning, Sport Cats, Sport Suspension & Pedals, Custom done CAI, Brake Ducts, Dinan Front & Rear Stress Bars

bobafett · 22nd November 2001, 13:06

Our very own Basil has had the AP racing kit for almost two years now if I'm not mistaken.

--Dan