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      01-05-2019, 01:34 PM   #1
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Having M Performance Brakes installed

Got a 15% off "vehicle accessories" coupon in the mail in December. I assumed for BMW branded jackets, mugs, etc. However my dealership is giving me 15% off parts and service for the M Perf upgrade, so I couldn't resist.

Talked to a senior service tech to ensure correct parts and everything are ordered; the tech seemed to know about some of the bleeding issues and coding that are involved, so I'm hopeful to avoid any post-install issues.

For reference, my car is a '17 340i xDrive Sport Line (not M Sport) with MPPSK, Eibach lowering springs. Standard suspension otherwise. Brakes are standard 4-pot "gray" fronts with floating 1-piston rears. 19" after-market wheels and go-flats.

I will track the car a handful of times a year, but honestly I'm way beyond trying to justify anything car-related at this point. So that puts me in good company on this board

Will post before & after pics and thoughts next week.
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      01-05-2019, 10:29 PM   #2
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M Performance brakes are an excellent upgrade choice. As the pads travel across drilled / slotted rotors, barely noticeable noise may be observed at low speeds. Not a problem however. There are many threads which discuss the noise issue.
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      01-06-2019, 08:39 AM   #3
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I thought about picking up some stainless steel brake lines - would the dealership install these I wonder? or would they be "only BMW parts sir"? would be a pain to take the car to another shop just to change the brake lines to SS.
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      01-08-2019, 07:36 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cfm56d7b View Post
M Performance brakes are an excellent upgrade choice. As the pads travel across drilled / slotted rotors, barely noticeable noise may be observed at low speeds. Not a problem however. There are many threads which discuss the noise issue.
I have a red set of m performance brakes on my car. Squeeling will happen quite often in stop and go traffic after the rotors have warmed up or when backing out of the driveway.

Re. Your note about noise - this is 100% correct and its often only heard when driving against barricades on the highway or your close to a wall.

All that being said the brakes looks fantastic.
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      01-16-2019, 08:46 AM   #5
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Had the M Performance Brake package installed yesterday at my local dealership. They honored a 15% off coupon from the holidays and gave me 15% off parts + labor.

Before & after photos attached.

I also supplied StopTech Stainless Steel brake lines. I figured why not. The dealer was happy to install them (for a charge of course).

The dealer said they didn't do a lot of the M Perf brake upgrades, but the senior tech seemed to know all details about it. They did a good job too - my only gripe is when they did the coding, they basically reset everything, so today I have to go in with the Bimmercode app and re-apply all my own codings.

I drove about 20 city miles in stop and go traffic before I could "bed" in the brakes. And the brakes definitely improved a lot in just 5 miles. By the time I had driven about 60 miles out of the city to a country road, I'm not sure the brakes really needed bedding in. Regardless, I had some fun increasing the speed and stopping moderate to hard, and working up to 65 mph full brake slams. The limiting factor was the traction - 30*F temps with freezing drizzle, so half the time the ABS kicked in. But when the ABS was not active, the brakes were amazing, and I couldn't tell any fade (but with 30*F temps and speeds of only 65 mph...).

There's a thread that goes back to 2014 about how the M Performance pads are awful and even the Turner motorsport page talks about how most think the pads suck. I think maybe in the last 5 years BMW must have changed the pads, because I think the M Performance pads are awesome. I have no idea why anyone would complain about these pads.

Compared to the stock 340i pads, the very initial bite is different. I think the stock brakes take less pedal travel for the initial bite - sort of like when you set your computer mouse to super sensitive so that the mouse cursor moves with crazy speed. The M Performance brakes do take slightly more pedal travel for the initial bite, but the advantage is that you have more feel and control and it is easier to modulate - so you're not unexpectedly jerking your passengers around with every stop. As you press further into the pedal, you continue to have more control - very slight adjustments of the foot will change the brake pressure slightly - the stock brakes were not so precise. My overall impression of the M Performance brakes is that are they like Brakes HD. Very smooth, very precise, very controlled.

Brake dust... Two days after a car wash my wheels are dusty anyway, because the world is a terribly dusty place. With the winter grime on my wheels, I can't discern any more brake dust with these pads than previously, but I'll keep a lookout. Though honestly I really don't care.

Looks wise, the new brakes really pop. The red calipers stand out against the black & white of my car. The bigger rotors make a difference too esp. the rear rotor.

So I'm running out of upgrades. My lowered 340i has the MPPSK and now the MPBBK. "Both pedals are upgraded." What's left?? Cold air intake? I guess I could go with full coilovers at some point. I suppose my next upgrade will be the M3 in about 100,000 miles.
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      01-17-2019, 11:29 AM   #6
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The red calipers look great! Very nice post installation review.
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      01-20-2019, 11:15 PM   #7
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Looks great. Solid upgrade.
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      01-21-2019, 03:52 PM   #8
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Quote:
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Looks great. Solid upgrade.
So how much the entire job cost with/without labor? Thx!
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      01-21-2019, 06:08 PM   #9
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$2600 parts + tax, $1200 labor
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      02-02-2019, 07:30 AM   #10
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$2600 parts + tax, $1200 labor
Do you get any squeal sounds?
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      02-02-2019, 07:47 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by harperium View Post
Talked to a senior service tech to ensure correct parts and everything are ordered; the tech seemed to know about some of the bleeding issues and coding that are involved, so I'm hopeful to avoid any post-install issues.
I am also thinking of installing M Performance Brake kit and was thinking of using a specialty shop that service BMW's as well, but now that you mentioned some potential post install issues and coding that is involved I am rethinking about going to a dealer instead.
Would you be able to elaborate on what potential post install issues could be and why coding is required for M Performance brakes? Thanks.
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      02-02-2019, 11:08 AM   #12
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Welcome to the club

Looks great! My brakes kept getting better and better until they really settled in around 1000 miles. I used Redstuff ceramic brake pads though, no noise and no dust. I also had ECS SS lines installed. It's been my favorite upgrade, gives you great looks and great braking performance.

I would delete your orange reflectors and tint your windows next myself.

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      02-02-2019, 11:12 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aleki75 View Post
I am also thinking of installing M Performance Brake kit and was thinking of using a specialty shop that service BMW's as well, but now that you mentioned some potential post install issues and coding that is involved I am rethinking about going to a dealer instead.
Would you be able to elaborate on what potential post install issues could be and why coding is required for M Performance brakes? Thanks.
There have been a lot of reports of squishy brakes after install. Usually caused by air in the lines but some say it's because they didn't code to the M-sport brakes. If the shop knows what they are doing it should be fine. I went to an indy shop that I trust and they were great, they only charged me $425 for the install including the SS brake lines and coding. The brakes felt great right away and continued to improve for quite awhile. There are also a lot of complaints about the stock pads squeaking and shedding a lot of dust so I went with ceramic pads.
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      02-03-2019, 05:50 PM   #14
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OP here... I continue to LOVE the M Perf brakes. Love the way they feel. No squishiness, just firmess. The dealer did a good job.

Sometimes cold, they won’t squeal per se but I do hear them. Goes away after a few stops.

Brake just - with the snow and grime, it’s impossible to tell.
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      02-03-2019, 05:52 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry77 View Post
I would delete your orange reflectors and tint your windows next myself.
Didnt know you could delete the orange reflector!? What replaces it?

I am looking into tinting before summer. What do I need to know?
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      02-04-2019, 12:42 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by harperium View Post
Didnt know you could delete the orange reflector!? What replaces it?

I am looking into tinting before summer. What do I need to know?
there are a few sources online for either smoked out or paint matched reflectors on eBay. I went with the smoked out versions but maybe with white it might be better to be paint color matched...

Last edited by Larry77; 02-10-2019 at 12:56 PM..
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      02-04-2019, 11:52 AM   #17
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Can someone school me on what types of brakes we have on our cars? Mine are grey and they don't have any letters on them while the rears are open brakes (unlike the front)!
I don't mean to hijack the post. Sorry

Last edited by msk340i; 02-04-2019 at 12:39 PM..
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      02-04-2019, 12:59 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by msk340i View Post
Can someone school me on what types of brakes we have on our cars? Mine are grey and they don't have any letters on them while the rears are open brakes (unlike the front)!
I don't mean to hijack the post. Sorry
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=689045

this seems to be the most comprehensive thread going back to 2012

this has a lot of info:
https://www.turnermotorsport.com/t-b...ke-differences
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      02-04-2019, 06:47 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by harperium View Post
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=689045

this seems to be the most comprehensive thread going back to 2012

this has a lot of info:
https://www.turnermotorsport.com/t-b...ke-differences
Thanks a lot
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      02-04-2019, 11:01 PM   #20
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Great write up on your install, was planning to do my install while car is in the garage for winter but headed to bali until April now. Will get right at it when get home and hopefully spring is in the air and can put the 20's back on.
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      02-05-2019, 10:04 AM   #21
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I actually have never had any squealing or squeaking with my M Perf brakes, not even when they're new. And living in SF, stop and go traffic is a part of my life. Maybe I got lucky?


Oh but I love the M perf brakes. Since I don't track or anything, there is no real performance benefit per se, but love the looks.
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      02-05-2019, 12:09 PM   #22
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Squealing isn't a problem with high performance brakes. My 911 squealed like a mother!!!! And almost all Porsches do.
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