How good is the standard E60 M5 brakes

EMVY · 5th November 2007, 17:29

I think the most exciting upgrade for my M5 would be:

1.) Magwheels
2.) Exhaust system

But I am also curious about the M5 brake system. Are they really that good (stock)? Are they worth changing to bigger sizes and/or other brands?

Are they good enough to handle an M5 with Vmax removed? Or since Vmax is removed better get those high performance brakes just in case you need to stop suddenly at those speeds.

Brembo is so famous. But what about other brands such as STOPTECH, ROTORA, etc.?

4, 6, 8, 12 piston, what's all this mumbo jumbo jargon?

///MURDOCK · 5th November 2007, 17:33

just bring the car up to 190 and lock them up..

the car tracks pefectly straight and brings u down to the speedlimit in pretty good time.

unless ur tracking it, which i dont see why u would, the standard brakes r plenty suffiicient

EMVY · 5th November 2007, 17:57

That's good to hear

So, the M5 brakes were designed to handle the top speed delimeted.

Yes, I won't be doing any track racing. That means I'm gonna be saving some dough!

Thanks!

But anyway, in case I want to upgrade my brakes a little bit. Which one to choose? Those brakes systems costing $2,000 any better than my stock? Or they should cost $3,000 or more in order to be better than the stock M5

Black M5 · 5th November 2007, 18:00

+1

Unless you track your car then you should worry about brake fading. Eventhough bigger brakes might give you that extra braking with shorter distance stopping, it also lighter than stock.

So to answer your question, the stock brakes are brilliant and unless you are looking to make your M5 lighter or plan to track it, you are fine for now

///MURDOCK · 5th November 2007, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMVY

That's good to hear

So, the M5 brakes were designed to handle the top speed delimeted.

Yes, I won't be doing any track racing. That means I'm gonna be saving some dough!

Thanks!

But anyway, in case I want to upgrade my brakes a little bit. Which one to choose? Those brakes systems costing $2,000 any better than my stock? Or they should cost $3,000 or more in order to be better than the stock M5

The difference you would feel is not worth the cost IMO, although they do look awesome.

The performance difference is a matter of feet that hypothetically COULD save ur life if u happen to brake 5-10ft short of a cliff where as stock you would fall off by 1 foot.

(these numbers are not actual data) but the point is the same.

NosonyxM5 · 5th November 2007, 19:15

IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT NONE OF YOU GUYS HAVE DONE YOUR "FREE" BMW EXPIERENCE....

IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT THESE CARS CAN REALLY DO!!!

BRAKE FADE IS ALMOST ZERO. I JUST CAME BACK FROM THE BMW M SCHOOL AS WELL. 2 DAYS OF DRIVING M5'S, M6'S AND M COUPE'S. ON DAY 2 WE TRACKED THE M5 AND M6 FOR ALMOST 40 MINUTES AT A TIME ON A 2 MILE COURSE. THESE CARS ARE MEANT TO BE DRIVEN...

EMVY · 5th November 2007, 19:21

Hoping to take the car to track soon. Just to experience it.

Guys, can I just change the caliper then to Brembo?

What's the Brembo caliper model that will fit our stock?

I just find it cool to have those BREMBO initialled on the caliper. It looks so plain right now.

dkstone · 5th November 2007, 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by NosonyxM5

IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT NONE OF YOU GUYS HAVE DONE YOUR "FREE" BMW EXPIERENCE....

IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT THESE CARS CAN REALLY DO!!!

BRAKE FADE IS ALMOST ZERO. I JUST CAME BACK FROM THE BMW M SCHOOL AS WELL. 2 DAYS OF DRIVING M5'S, M6'S AND M COUPE'S. ON DAY 2 WE TRACKED THE M5 AND M6 FOR ALMOST 40 MINUTES AT A TIME ON A 2 MILE COURSE. THESE CARS ARE MEANT TO BE DRIVEN...

I would disagree that brake fade is almost zero, from personal experience after 5 laps at Summit point brake fade is real at turn 1, the stock pads just do not hold up to constant braking from 150 MPH plus, after about 5 laps or so. If you are going to track the car on a regular basis upgrade the brake pads and the brake fluid.

Michael_s · 5th November 2007, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkstone

I would disagree that brake fade is almost zero, from personal experience after 5 laps at Summit point brake fade is real at turn 1, the stock pads just do not hold up to constant braking from 150 MPH plus, after about 5 laps or so. If you are going to track the car on a regular basis upgrade the brake pads and the brake fluid.

I agree with this statement. Stock brake fluid will boil and then you will have fading. Also, the street pads will overheat and lose grip. If you track you should 100% replace the stock fluid to high temp. as well as put on a more aggressive brake pad..... the stock calipers and rotors are fine....

thebishman · 5th November 2007, 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by NosonyxM5

IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT NONE OF YOU GUYS HAVE DONE YOUR "FREE" BMW EXPIERENCE....

IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT THESE CARS CAN REALLY DO!!!

BRAKE FADE IS ALMOST ZERO. I JUST CAME BACK FROM THE BMW M SCHOOL AS WELL. 2 DAYS OF DRIVING M5'S, M6'S AND M COUPE'S. ON DAY 2 WE TRACKED THE M5 AND M6 FOR ALMOST 40 MINUTES AT A TIME ON A 2 MILE COURSE. THESE CARS ARE MEANT TO BE DRIVEN...

I'll bet you that those M5s and M6s are running track pads AND have higher temp brake fluid installed.

Every review of the M5 on track using stock brakes states that after a few 'hot' laps the brakes will fade.

Bish