328 Brakes sportline

RPM90 · 03-04-2012, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Else Retrofit M Sport Brakes

I sure hope that customers don't have to buy a brake kit to get better braking feel.
Stock BMW brakes have always had a nice feel and performance.

My E46 325i brakes had great feel, with short pedal travel until initial bite and modulation was great for a non sports car.
My 135i brakes feel just as good.
I hope the F30 brakes are very BMW like.

Michael Schott · 03-04-2012, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPM90

I sure hope that customers don't have to buy a brake kit to get better braking feel.
Stock BMW brakes have always had a nice feel and performance.

My E46 325i brakes had great feel, with short pedal travel until initial bite and modulation was great for a non sports car.
My 135i brakes feel just as good.
I hope the F30 brakes are very BMW like.

The Car and Driver 335i review has very positive comments about the brakes. The vehicle I test drove felt similar to my e90 in this regard.

Vector Pilot · 03-04-2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinnum1

So my car is about 3 weeks old now and i am convinced there is something wrong with my brakes. They fucking suck.

I have to press the pedal way to far in for them to really grab, and even then it just feels like mush. Perfect example is i am driving somewhat aggressivley, and i need to stop at a red light, i hit the brake pedal and it just doesnt stop like one would expect it to, i am having to roll into intersections almost.

Even my 3 other e90 328s have much better braking that the F30.

Is anyone else experiencing this issue? How do you F30 brakes compare to your E90(specifically the 328).

I will be taking it in this week and have a talk with the shop forman, i will request new brakes on all wheels, new rotors, new pads, everything, I have owned 10+ bmws and the brakes were never this bad. The braking feels like a frickin corolla brakes.

For what it's worth, drove 328i Luxury and Sport Lines and did not notice neither having spongy brakes. I'm sure your service guy will resolve the problem.

pokerface · 03-04-2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinnum1

And does anyone have any info on the regenerative braking?

BMW's definition of regenerative braking is not what most people would think. In the case of Toyota's system where under braking the electric motor charges the battery + creates a drag to slow down the car, in the BMW model (at least for the nonhybrid vehicles anyway) seems to just to reconnect the alternator and charge the battery the conventional way. I'd call it more "smart power management" than "kinetic energy recovery"

justinnum1 · 03-04-2012, 10:56 PM

yea, from everything i gather, it just sounds like there is something fishy with my brakes, maybe air in the lines, maybe something else. I will drive another 328 just to make sure there is a difference. Thanks guys for all your input. Will update as things go along. will talk to shop forman in the morning

MurrietaF30 · 03-07-2012, 07:08 AM

I picked up my car yesterday and I felt the same thing....slow to stop. My dealer said to drive a few hundred miles and they will inspect for me. It's not terrible but it's a little sketchy slowing down

PrinceBarin · 03-07-2012, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinnum1

yea, from everything i gather, it just sounds like there is something fishy with my brakes, maybe air in the lines, maybe something else. I will drive another 328 just to make sure there is a difference. Thanks guys for all your input. Will update as things go along. will talk to shop forman in the morning

How is it looking, any luck with your dealer? As you say, gotta hope this is a fixable problem rather then the 'new normal' for brakes on the F30. Fingers crossed.

justinnum1 · 03-07-2012, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrinceBarin

How is it looking, any luck with your dealer? As you say, gotta hope this is a fixable problem rather then the 'new normal' for brakes on the F30. Fingers crossed.

The shop forman said he needs more seat time in the 328, so he is going to drive a few this week and im going to bring my car in tomorrow or friday so we an both drive some cars and compare. I will say the brakes felt better the last 2 days, but i think there can be some improvement on them.

Will update after i go.

Red Bread · 03-07-2012, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinnum1

The shop forman said he needs more seat time in the 328, so he is going to drive a few this week and im going to bring my car in tomorrow or friday so we an both drive some cars and compare. I will say the brakes felt better the last 2 days, but i think there can be some improvement on them.

Will update after i go.

It sure sounds like you just have brakes that weren't fully bedded in. If you got a little aggressive with them before they'd been fully heat cycled, it can leave uneven pad deposits that will make them feel softer than a properly bedded set will. Try a few 50-0 stops using ABS (probably not on the freeway) and see if that improves feel, then work on a few higher speed stops.

Make sure not to put your foot on the pedal after doing those stops and getting good heat into the rotors, or you'll run the risk of putting new pad deposits down. Since I think I recall you have an automatic, just drive slowly between stops, or put it in N and leave your foot off the pedal. Also, don't do it when it's raining or misting (if you have the auto wipers on) or the pad clearing function can cycle the brakes and keep the pads too close.

I find that most of the low mileage service loaners have terrible brake feel from being driven like a DTM car right off the sales floor.

BMWinGE · 03-07-2012, 12:50 PM

after monitoring mine for the last few days, i do notice that it takes a little more pedal to stop. its not alarming, but compared to the e90 which was almost immediate, it does seem to require more travel.

Mrcarcrazy · 03-07-2012, 01:57 PM

I worked over the F30's brakes I test drove, they felt identical to the E90's I drove directly before it. wonderful brakes. something is up w/ yours I'd say. (unless there is a difference in 335i to 328i, both cars I drove were 335's)

Red Bread · 03-07-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrcarcrazy

I worked over the F30's brakes I test drove, they felt identical to the E90's I drove directly before it. wonderful brakes. something is up w/ yours I'd say. (unless there is a difference in 335i to 328i, both cars I drove were 335's)

There is a huge difference. The F30 335i has 4 piston front calipers, and larger and thicker rotors all around. The US F30 328i has smaller rotors than the ROW cars and similar single piston, sliding calipers to what all E90's had. In theory, the F30 335i should have better brake feel than any E90, but BMW has done well for years with single piston calipers.

stampchez · 03-07-2012, 02:25 PM

I don't like my 335 brake feel as much as my 135 but that had six piston Brembos.

Mrcarcrazy · 03-07-2012, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

There is a huge difference. The F30 335i has 4 piston front calipers, and larger and thicker rotors all around. The US F30 328i has smaller rotors than the ROW cars and similar single piston, sliding calipers to what all E90's had. In theory, the F30 335i should have better brake feel than any E90, but BMW has done well for years with single piston calipers.

That's what I was afraid of, since I'm not looking at the 328, I know nothing about it, except it's a 328.

However, having a few years experience w/ brakes, number of pistons has little to do w/ the pedal feel...fwiw. Fluid, air, and pads are much more important.

Red Bread · 03-07-2012, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrcarcrazy

That's what I was afraid of, since I'm not looking at the 328, I know nothing about it, except it's a 328.

However, having a few years experience w/ brakes, number of pistons has little to do w/ the pedal feel...fwiw. Fluid, air, and pads are much more important.

Oh, I agree, my Z3 M Coupe had much better pedal feel with single piston sliding calipers than my wife's 135i with the six piston fronts and two piston rears. Stopped faster too.

Mrcarcrazy · 03-07-2012, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Oh, I agree, my Z3 M Coupe had much better pedal feel with single piston sliding calipers than my wife's 135i with the six piston fronts and two piston rears. Stopped faster too.

Whew, I was afraid a pissing match was to ensue...as you can tell...I'm more of a lurker than a poster. (until I found something interesting enough to comment on).

I'm curious to hear what the OP finds w/ his car. (best of luck to you OP)

Red Bread · 03-07-2012, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrcarcrazy

Whew, I was afraid a pissing match was to ensue...as you can tell...I'm more of a lurker than a poster. (until I found something interesting enough to comment on).

I'm curious to hear what the OP finds w/ his car. (best of luck to you OP)

Wildly off topic, but you have an Elise in Odessa? That must stand out!

Mrcarcrazy · 03-07-2012, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Wildly off topic, but you have an Elise in Odessa? That must stand out!

Yes, and yes it does hahaha.

stampchez · 03-07-2012, 06:45 PM

I think I'm finally getting in touch with these brakes. The pedal is much firmer than the pedal in my 135. The stopping power is absolutely there. It just takes a lot more effort to get to it. My braking is getting smoother while downshifting each day.

justinnum1 · 03-07-2012, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampchez

I think I'm finally getting in touch with these brakes. The pedal is much firmer than the pedal in my 135. The stopping power is absolutely there. It just takes a lot more effort to get to it. My braking is getting smoother while downshifting each day.

yea, but this is about 328 brakes, totally different than 335

stampchez · 03-07-2012, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinnum1

yea, but this is about 328 brakes, totally different than 335

yeah but there was some confidence missing at first. I think they did something weird.

BMWinGE · 03-08-2012, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampchez

The stopping power is absolutely there. It just takes a lot more effort to get to it.

That's my experience as well. Its there, just takes a little more pedal travel to get it.

03-04-2012, 10:56 PM	#27
justinnum1 Major General 651 Rep 5,803 Posts Drives: 2018 330i Msport 6mt Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	yea, from everything i gather, it just sounds like there is something fishy with my brakes, maybe air in the lines, maybe something else. I will drive another 328 just to make sure there is a difference. Thanks guys for all your input. Will update as things go along. will talk to shop forman in the morning __________________ F30 330i Alpine white/Coral red Msport 6MT
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03-07-2012, 07:08 AM	#28
MurrietaF30 New Member 3 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 328i Mineral Grey, Sport Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Murrieta iTrader: (0)	I picked up my car yesterday and I felt the same thing....slow to stop. My dealer said to drive a few hundred miles and they will inspect for me. It's not terrible but it's a little sketchy slowing down
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03-07-2012, 12:50 PM	#32
BMWinGE Captain 32 Rep 662 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	after monitoring mine for the last few days, i do notice that it takes a little more pedal to stop. its not alarming, but compared to the e90 which was almost immediate, it does seem to require more travel.
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03-07-2012, 01:57 PM	#33
Mrcarcrazy Sarcasm free with all posts. 7 Rep 441 Posts Drives: 05 Elise REV310 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Odessa, TX iTrader: (0)	I worked over the F30's brakes I test drove, they felt identical to the E90's I drove directly before it. wonderful brakes. something is up w/ yours I'd say. (unless there is a difference in 335i to 328i, both cars I drove were 335's)
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03-07-2012, 02:25 PM	#35
stampchez Captain 125 Rep 646 Posts Drives: 2013 135is Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	I don't like my 335 brake feel as much as my 135 but that had six piston Brembos.
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03-07-2012, 06:45 PM	#41
stampchez Captain 125 Rep 646 Posts Drives: 2013 135is Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	I think I'm finally getting in touch with these brakes. The pedal is much firmer than the pedal in my 135. The stopping power is absolutely there. It just takes a lot more effort to get to it. My braking is getting smoother while downshifting each day.
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