I like Big Brakes (and I cannot lie)- Total BBK pron

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

So true.

Seeing BCRedliners inteior "worship" at Cars & Coffee Dallas (Classic BMW, Plano), showed me the "error of my ways" on interior detailing religion. I spent around 6 hrs last week waxing glass, polishing wood/ cleaning, vacuuming (even the headliner!), rubber/plastc/leather conditioning, even long wood handle cotton swab cleaned/conditioned the vents/nooks/crannies. Got the interior looking new.

I would love to see yours and Bryan's cars if I ever come down to TX, my regimen is good but you guys take to another level. I found using those thick foam sponge brushes (about 1" diameter) work good when doused with window cleaner to get the "crack" at the top of the window, you know the place where your really clean window closes and its all dirty up there? haha.

Vaccuuming headliner is so not fun but worth it as well. Sorry Prop I don't want to take thread off topic!

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

......and probably Hawk HPS or perhaps the Stoptech Performance pads, whatever Dave @ Zeckhausen recommends.
BMW X5 Products - StopTech big brake kits, pads, tires

Get his input on the Cool Carbon hollow ceramic carbon pads.

German designed/developed/tested/manufactured. Cool Carbon focuses ALL effort on BMW/Porsche/StopTech EXCLUSIVELY!!!

I installed them 4 months ago (with slotted/drilled rotors), and find them to excell in every aspect of brake performance, inital cold & hot bite/modulation hot & cold/fade resistance/wet rotor performance.

Ultra-light weight (remember, pads are unsprung), not a single pad rattle/squeak yet too.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

Get his input on the Cool Carbon hollow ceramic carbon pads.

German designed/developed/tested/manufactured. Cool Carbon focuses ALL effort on BMW/Porsche/StopTech EXCLUSIVELY!!!

I installed them 4 months ago (with slotted/drilled rotors), and find them to excell in every aspect of brake performance, inital cold & hot bite/modulation hot & cold/fade resistance/wet rotor performance.

Ultra-light weight (remember, pads are unsprung), not a single pad rattle/squeak yet too.

I'll definitely ask, worst comes to worst if he can't source the Cool Carbon pads I'll get the rotors and lines from him and the Cool Carbons elsewhere. Really liked your impressions of them, and esp with your slotted/drilled rotors that they are quiet, you sold me on them!

[TiAgX5]

Let up know if you are out this way, I'm 10 mins from D/FW airport.

If you're out on the first Sat of any month we can hit Cars & Coffee, huge turnout. Even McClaren MP4 12Cs, Ultima SSRs, Kongsiggs, F40s, 50s & 60 FXX. Only a matter of time before a Pagani shows up there.

[J.Belknap]

Nice upgrade!

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

Some of you might have followed that I am a total slut for big brakes. I just like 'em. I can't explain it- Well, I *can*. But it's easy enough to say I like them. How much do I like 'em?

Well, the 1975 2002 has a rear disc conversion from a 320is and ginormous brakes from a Volvo 240D on the front. It'll pull fillings out of your head on stops.

My 2000 540 has had StopTechs at all four corners for 10 years now. I love what the reduction in unsprung weight did to this car. It 'feels' so much more nimble on the uneven corners. It even rides better on bumpy roads as the KW coil overs absorb and extend with less weight to worry about. Really transformed the car.

And that brings us to the E53. I was never going to change the brakes in my 3.0. In fact, I bought that thing in 2004 pledging it as my 'beater' that I would never mod. That lasted for most of the 7 years I drove it until I got a good deal on some headrest monitors and a DVD player. Still- no perf upgrades.

But my dream X5 arrived. I spent the first year on functional cosmetics: Running boards, under ride protection, trailer hitch. I did buy an AFE intake on super duper clearance and install it. I never would have without finding it over 1/2 off. The 4.8is was starting to look sharp. I started getting used to the very loud LeMans Blue as compared to my subtle Oxford Green 3.0. I started thinking that the rotor hats were looking rusty. And that the calipers had a little film of rust, too. It just didn't look good.

But what to choose? StopTech is the incumbent. Light, pretty- Available in silver calipers. And let's be honest, less than 1/2 the cost of the ginormous Brembo 8 pistons fronts and 4 piston rears. That's a fine kit, but it's heavier than the StopTech. Reduced unsprung weight was a major goal for me after my experience in the E39. Besides, if you're in a 4.6 or 4.8, even the stock rotors are probably never going to fade on the street. They're huge- Actually a little larger than (+.1") than the Stop Techs. But, the Stop Techs are designed to dissipate heat more readily than stock, so in this case, size really doesn't matter.

After my trusted indy told me that my rears were probably done later this Spring and I found what seemed like an unlikely deal, I pulled the trigger. It took better than a month for them to ship:

But 6 weeks after I ordered them, they were here!


Then we took a family trip and I had to wait some more. See if you can guess where!

But then it was time! Picked up the 330 after new tires and dropped off the X5 for some good ole binder diddlin'! And so, without further adieu


Yes, they cleaned the inside of my wheels bc they know I love that stuff for pics! Rears:


Driving impressions after initial bed in to follow. I will be heading out soon to do a second bed in. Hope you enjoyed the story!

Hey propeller head last year you installed a set of beautiful stoptech bbk on your BMW X5 e53. I noticed your X5 is a 4.8is and converting your braking system to the stoptech decreased rotor thickness by 4mm. Essentially going from 36mm thickness to a 32mm thickness. Now that you have had the set with some miles can you provide some feedback on the kit. Any adverse outcomes crossing over to the BBK? How many miles on the set and has there been any warping? I have the 4.6is and I love big brake kits also so I am considering this modification. Appreciate any insight you can lend on the matter.

Thanks

Jay

[jsoto]

Hi Jay -

I've got Brembos in all 4 corners.
The only insight I can share is be aware of what the costs would be on pads or discs when it comes down to replacements. Got shell shocked the 1st time around. 2nd time, I was prepared for how much things would cost....

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by jsoto

Hi Jay -

I've got Brembos in all 4 corners.
The only insight I can share is be aware of what the costs would be on pads or discs when it comes down to replacements. Got shell shocked the 1st time around. 2nd time, I was prepared for how much things would cost....

Jsoto are you running the brembo 380mm rotors up front with the 8 piston setup? Yeah this has to be the king of king setups with the high cost due to the size of the equipment.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Hey propeller head last year you installed a set of beautiful stoptech bbk on your BMW X5 e53. I noticed your X5 is a 4.8is and converting your braking system to the stoptech decreased rotor thickness by 4mm. Essentially going from 36mm thickness to a 32mm thickness. Now that you have had the set with some miles can you provide some feedback on the kit. Any adverse outcomes crossing over to the BBK? How many miles on the set and has there been any warping? I have the 4.6is and I love big brake kits also so I am considering this modification. Appreciate any insight you can lend on the matter.

Thanks

Jay

I am still very much enamored with the StopTech BBK. It has performed extremely well for the last 18 months. No new brakes yet.

I would say the adversity comes when it's time to replace parts. I have enjoyed these since the day I got them installed. They work great, the unsprung weight benefit is something I notice every day.

No warping on any rotors. I read somewhere that the 4.4i brakes were plenty to stop either the 4.4 or the is models. BMW needed to make some sort of 'upgrade' in brake specs to go along with the is models. Indeed, even at a decreased front diameter on the 4.8 kit, and with less thickness all around, they've done great.

Since I installed them in early 2014, I've been busy in the X5! Three family road trips make up just under 1/2 the 30k miles I have put on these StopTechs. Most of the rest are road trips for work, as recently as today adding another 600 or so miles. I work from a home office, so while I do shuttle from soccer games to pizza place, I find myself filling up about once a month.

And the type of work I asked them to do was as varied as Pikes Peak and 38 degrees all the way down to The Sonoran Desert at 108. We've run through at least 6 National Parks, countless gorges and passes, and even our fair share of dirt 'maintained' roads. Even with the girls' luggage outweighing both their body and the ability to actually wear everything that they packed, I never worried about fade. Application is flat and taught.

I am hoping to welcome some new wheels this month. If I do, I will likely take the time to clean, polish, and seal the silver calipers. All those miles have them looking less than 'new.'

[blackbeast]

Gorgeous. Very jealous