Brake Calipers - Overhaulin' - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

M5Express · 24th September 2009, 17:02

After some very weak feedback on whether I should or shouldn't paint my brake calipers, I decided to do it. What the hell, it's a small investment and they can always be repainted black.

Here's what I set out to do: I didn't want the color to be flashy since BMW originally made them black and sort of stealth. But I did want a contrast, so I setteld on Blue from G2. IMO, calipers should not be red or gold unless they say "Brembo" and Silver would be tough to keep looking clean, so I was attracted to blue because it would have a nice contrast and go with the badges and roundels. I bought the G2 paint kit (which I had used before) and it was a breeze. I have a 30 gallon compressor at home and impact wrench and went to work. I put the front end on stands, removed the wheels, cleaned the calipers, taped, painted the calipers and let them dry for 24 hours.

Then last night I washed the beast and applied ///M badges from the side gills of an ///M Roadster. I bought them from Tischer (getbmwparts.com) for $27 each. I was going to have decals made, but that would have cost almost as much with the ///M colors etc. The badges look awsome, they are very flat and small, so they have the look that the calipers are cast with these. Anyways, I spent about $80 and 2 hours and I think they look great. Not for everyone, but they look good to me. I did not do the rears, they are too small to warrant the time to paint. If anyone wants the p.n. for the roadster badges let me know.

So far so good with the adhesion of the badges. I've driven about 100 miles and warmed up the brakes pretty good. I felt the badges after heating up the brakes and they were on solid, no wiggle. I'll probably order a new set if I track the car again, since that kind of environment might melt them

bighead · 24th September 2009, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5Express

contrast, IMO, calipers should not be red or gold unless they say "Brembo"

I beg to differ !!!!
AP racing on Red calipers look better than Brembos

but back to topic......gr8 job (not sure on the colour though )

dvdoughboy · 24th September 2009, 17:28

Question

Wouldn't the heat cause those badges to either fall off or fade?

M5Express · 24th September 2009, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by bighead

I beg to differ !!!!
AP racing on Red calipers look better than Brembos

True. What I should have said is "premium multi-piston aftermarket calipers" Brembo just happens to be the most popular.

M5Express · 24th September 2009, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvdoughboy

Question

Wouldn't the heat cause those badges to either fall off or fade?

I was concerned about that. But I've had some spirited drives and they are on there for good. The part of the caliper that they are on is actually hollow on the back (it's kind of a cover), so they don't get as hot as the the actual caliper. Truth is, time will tell. I'll do a 3 month report!

Jaff · 24th September 2009, 18:54

Nice work!! How can i get me one of those bagdes??

M5Express · 24th September 2009, 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaff

Nice work!! How can i get me one of those bagdes??

Easy. Go to getbmwparts.com and order p.n. 51142492942 $27.82 each They're about 2" in length, so perfect for the calipers.

They special ordered them and it took about 1 week to show up at my door.

G ///McGregor K · 24th September 2009, 19:23

Very nice! Looks really cool!

M V10 · 24th September 2009, 19:27

Looks great, perfect!

nlpamg · 24th September 2009, 22:05

looks great! looks like it was done by pros!

the badge looks very cool, keep us informed as to how they hold up!