Caliper covers? Yay or nay

UGA99 · 07-25-2020, 10:12 PM

I love the look of the blue m calipers but sadly my car doesn't have them. Is it too tacky to paint/ get covers for them?

obert · 07-25-2020, 10:15 PM

Mmmmmmm no

Makes the car look cheap. Save your monies to buy something nice.

Gen13 F36 · 07-26-2020, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UGA99

I love the look of the blue m calipers but sadly my car doesn't have them. Is it too tacky to paint/ get covers for them?

I don't really care if you paint your brake calipers... but fuxk no on those mopar covers.

ReeseGia · 07-26-2020, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UGA99

I love the look of the blue m calipers but sadly my car doesn't have them. Is it too tacky to paint/ get covers for them?

Power coat them 100%.

Might be more money but it will be worth it especially for a bmw. Caliper covers can look cheap

BBri89 · 07-26-2020, 01:37 AM

Caliper covers are tacky and cheap imo.

If you don't want to upgrade to the M Sport/Performance Brembo kits, then you've got 2 options.

Powder coat (although the calipers will need rebuilding as well with new seals, and probably end up costing quite a bit, maybe not as much as used Brembo calipers)

Painting them. On my old cars I always used to paint the calipers with Hammerite (other direct-onto-rust straight-to-metal paints are available, as are brake caliper paints which are probably the same).
Some colours look better painted than others, and depending on the wheels they can be quite exposed or quite hidden, so bear that in mind.
That is the cheapest option though and only requires you to take the wheel off... if you're careful you can paint whilst the brakes are all on the car. Maybe undo the caliper bolts to remove it off the brake disc at least.

Onizukachan · 07-26-2020, 03:01 AM

No on covers, yes on paint, but only if you don’t have single piston brakes...
and if you do, I would recommend to go only black or silver paint.

Gen13 F36 · 07-26-2020, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onizukachan

No on covers, yes on paint, but only if you don’t have single piston brakes...
and if you do, I would recommend to go only black or silver paint.

What's the hate on painted single piston sliding caliper. I seen them painted from the factory on German brand car from, Audi, Mercedes and BMW. The new G20/22 track package got a sliding caliper painted blue on the rear.

Let him paint the brakes. It's better than those plastic mopar cover. The OP just have to paint them right...paint the caliper... not then clips that has bmw engraved (keep those unpainted)

Logicoeur · 07-26-2020, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gen13 F36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onizukachan

No on covers, yes on paint, but only if you don't have single piston brakes...
and if you do, I would recommend to go only black or silver paint.

What's the hate on painted single piston sliding caliper. I seen them painted from the factory on German brand car from, Audi, Mercedes and BMW. The new G20/22 track package got a sliding caliper painted blue on the rear.

Let him paint the brakes. It's better than those plastic mopar cover. The OP just have to paint them right...paint the caliper... not then clips that has bmw engraved (keep those unpainted)

Yes paint them no matter the type. Just don't put on caliper covers.

g30 for eg
https://www.ebay.com/itm/303605729836

cfm56d7b · 07-26-2020, 02:53 PM

It's your car after all and your decision is the only one that matters.

With that mind, caliper covers do not even approach to serve the intended purpose of suggesting the presence of large calipers. So easy to tell otherwise.

I suggest to get M Performance brake kit.

fazi13 · 07-31-2020, 02:10 AM

Don’t get caliper covers, there’s videos on YouTube of them CATCHING ON FIRE. Very dangerous.
If you do paint your calipers i suggest the G2 ceramic paint kit from Amazon. It’s a brush on not rattle can; and its some sort of ceramic paint. I put on 4 layers and holy shit it’s a thick paint. I think its honestly equivalent to powder coating. It’s self leveling so it came out super slick and the paint is thick. I changed my brake pads recently and had to take out the spring clip and used a metal screwdriver. Didn’t scratch thru the paint. Just a slight scratch which could be seen as wear n tear.
Also highly recommend taking the calipers off. I hung them off the springs at first but it was too difficult to get on my back and paint all around. Take them off and get a brake bleed stopper kit on amazon so you don’t drip fluid. Then clean the shit out of them. I used 1 can of brakekleen per caliper and a steel brush. Mask off the rubber boots and bleeder valve. Also the paint brush in the g2 kit is kinda garbage the brush flakes off luckily i had a nice set from my wife that i could use. Do light coats of course so it doesn’t pool up.

Onizukachan · 07-31-2020, 07:52 AM

VHT High heat caliper Paint covers very well and very quickly, looks nice but stockish. Used it as a base color on mine last night.

Billfitz · 07-31-2020, 10:28 AM

I paint mine in the original silver color with PlastiKote caliper paint. It's easy, you don't even need to pull them off the car, and it's easy to redo them when they start to look ratty again. I do the same with the hubs. https://billfitzmaurice.info/images/BMW/Rear Wheel.jpg

07-25-2020, 10:12 PM	#1
UGA99 Enlisted Member 5 Rep 40 Posts Drives: '14 335i xdrive 6MT Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Caliper covers? Yay or nay I love the look of the blue m calipers but sadly my car doesn't have them. Is it too tacky to paint/ get covers for them?
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07-25-2020, 10:15 PM	#2
obert Brigadier General 1781 Rep 4,456 Posts Drives: 2013 328i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Seattle Wa iTrader: (49)	Mmmmmmm no Makes the car look cheap. Save your monies to buy something nice.
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07-26-2020, 01:37 AM	#5
BBri89 Captain 513 Rep 749 Posts Drives: F31 320d xDrive M Sport Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: West Sussex, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW 320d xDriv ... [0.00]	Caliper covers are tacky and cheap imo. If you don't want to upgrade to the M Sport/Performance Brembo kits, then you've got 2 options. Powder coat (although the calipers will need rebuilding as well with new seals, and probably end up costing quite a bit, maybe not as much as used Brembo calipers) Painting them. On my old cars I always used to paint the calipers with Hammerite (other direct-onto-rust straight-to-metal paints are available, as are brake caliper paints which are probably the same). Some colours look better painted than others, and depending on the wheels they can be quite exposed or quite hidden, so bear that in mind. That is the cheapest option though and only requires you to take the wheel off... if you're careful you can paint whilst the brakes are all on the car. Maybe undo the caliper bolts to remove it off the brake disc at least. __________________ 2015 F31 320d xDrive M Sport (Plus pack) *My progress thread*
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07-26-2020, 03:01 AM	#6
Onizukachan Great Teacher 1082 Rep 1,304 Posts Drives: 06 e91 325ix Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: El Paso iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E91 325ix [10.00] 2006 Mini r53 JCW [0.00] 2005 Mini r53 [0.00]	No on covers, yes on paint, but only if you don’t have single piston brakes... and if you do, I would recommend to go only black or silver paint. __________________ ‘06 e91 manual 325ix BarriqueRot over Terra (one of 1), Nav, Sport, L7 A few OEM+ mods: MTech front bumper, MSport wheel & handbrake, 4AD trim, full rear shades, more to come…
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07-26-2020, 02:53 PM	#9
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5878 Rep 10,253 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	It's your car after all and your decision is the only one that matters. With that mind, caliper covers do not even approach to serve the intended purpose of suggesting the presence of large calipers. So easy to tell otherwise. I suggest to get M Performance brake kit.
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07-31-2020, 02:10 AM	#10
fazi13 Private First Class 28 Rep 161 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Manual Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [0.00]	Don’t get caliper covers, there’s videos on YouTube of them CATCHING ON FIRE. Very dangerous. If you do paint your calipers i suggest the G2 ceramic paint kit from Amazon. It’s a brush on not rattle can; and its some sort of ceramic paint. I put on 4 layers and holy shit it’s a thick paint. I think its honestly equivalent to powder coating. It’s self leveling so it came out super slick and the paint is thick. I changed my brake pads recently and had to take out the spring clip and used a metal screwdriver. Didn’t scratch thru the paint. Just a slight scratch which could be seen as wear n tear. Also highly recommend taking the calipers off. I hung them off the springs at first but it was too difficult to get on my back and paint all around. Take them off and get a brake bleed stopper kit on amazon so you don’t drip fluid. Then clean the shit out of them. I used 1 can of brakekleen per caliper and a steel brush. Mask off the rubber boots and bleeder valve. Also the paint brush in the g2 kit is kinda garbage the brush flakes off luckily i had a nice set from my wife that i could use. Do light coats of course so it doesn’t pool up.
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07-31-2020, 07:52 AM	#11
Onizukachan Great Teacher 1082 Rep 1,304 Posts Drives: 06 e91 325ix Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: El Paso iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E91 325ix [10.00] 2006 Mini r53 JCW [0.00] 2005 Mini r53 [0.00]	VHT High heat caliper Paint covers very well and very quickly, looks nice but stockish. Used it as a base color on mine last night. __________________ ‘06 e91 manual 325ix BarriqueRot over Terra (one of 1), Nav, Sport, L7 A few OEM+ mods: MTech front bumper, MSport wheel & handbrake, 4AD trim, full rear shades, more to come…
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07-31-2020, 10:28 AM	#12
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8225 Rep 16,061 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	I paint mine in the original silver color with PlastiKote caliper paint. It's easy, you don't even need to pull them off the car, and it's easy to redo them when they start to look ratty again. I do the same with the hubs. https://billfitzmaurice.info/images/BMW/Rear Wheel.jpg
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