Xoutpost.com - new rotors turning blue/yellow/purple

Xoutpost.com (https://xoutpost.com/forums.php)

- X5 (E53) Forum (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/)

- - new rotors turning blue/yellow/purple (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/98546-new-rotors-turning-blue-yellow-purple.html)

I think it would just be much easier to send the pics to Dave Zeckhausen and get his opinion.

I'm sure he's seen thousands of rotors in his life and could tell you the cause very quickly.

JCL, well said....

To to the OP, I hope you can sort this out with the manufacturer (to replace the defective part if applicable) and the indy shop (if they can warrant the labor for re-doing the work as a good faith to keep you as a long term customer).

I was about to pull the trigger ordering StopTech Sport slotted front rotor 332x30mm and StopTech Sport slotted rear rotor 324x12mm. But I will hold off until you sort the things up with the manufacturer.

GL!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL (Post 1012636)

Rotors aren't just rotors IMO, the differences will be in the material, and in the cooling fins. I don't think of rotors as commodities. In those pictures, it looks like they got hotter at the inner circumference, not the outer. That would cause me to check the cooling fin design.

I didn't know what pads and rotors you were using, but I would go back to the supplier and ask if they have seen anything similar.

I would check the brakes to make sure they were assembled properly.

I would check the rotors to make sure there was no preservative/residue left on them during assembly.

I would not claim that they were improperly assembled unless I had something to base that on. That may include overly aggressive bedding in.

And I would be reluctant to pay $1500 for aftermarket parts installed by an independent shop not liable for parts supply, if that is what happened.

Last time I checked my dealer, brakes for my 3.0 X5 were around $900, both axles, all OEM parts including rotors, new sensors, with a loaner vehicle. That is called a value service package, applicable to vehicles of a certain age (the E53 qualifies) I would expect the 4.8 to be slightly more. YMMV.

Good luck.

The indy shop has no reason to warrant the work. They did not supply the part.

It's 2 fold as I look at it. I can get parts at a certain pricepoint.
If I have the Indy supply it, I know it will be more. Just depends on how much ~more~.
The difference is that because the Indy supplied it, the labor and parts are generally covered under most Indys for at least 1 year, or 10K miles *whatever comes 1st*. That is how most Indys operate from a warranty standpoint

There are "some" Indy shops who are willing to help the customers in all sorts of forms/scenarios. They know if they went an extra mile, it will benefit them in the long run, satisfied customers word of mouth ( spreading the good service or good faith). There is nothing wrong asking the Indy shop to provide a good faith. There are always an exception to the rule, it's a matter of good relationship between you and the Indy shop

But if the Indy shop are money making machines like a dealer then I will agree with your statement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsoto (Post 1012663)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lhordmclain (Post 1012668)

They know if they went an extra mile, it will benefit them in the long run, satisfied customers word of mouth ( spreading the good service or good faith). There is nothing wrong asking the Indy shop to provide a good faith. .

I've had bushings, hoses, etc - all replaced under warranty from my Indy, sometimes even after 1 year, just because...

But that's as far as I will go. I would never ask him to do free labor X2 on a part I supplied. It cost money for them to rent space, pay for tools, etc. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.

I'd get it checked out - the fact the metal has turned blue means the composition will have been altered by heat, which can lead to cracks and brittleness.

If it were on only one rotor, and on the outer section - it would suggest a dragging brake caliper.

Because the heat marks are towards the hub in an area that the pads don't contact - and it's on all fours (predominantly the front) - is it possible that you just pounded these brakes to hard too soon, and the severe heat that 24 repeated high-speed stops would generate has caused the discolouration?

Obviously because the rotors are clean raw steel and with no road grime, you can see the heat marks a lot more easily.....

Ok , the mechanic looked at it, nothing seems outta place.
Talked to Dave Z. as well... he said there is nothing to worry about ...give it a few more days and it should go away...
I feel kinda bad now for accusing the shop manager for improper install..he spent a few hrs to take each wheel off, check each caliper, piston, bolt etc...will have to see if the color improves in the next few days...
Maybe after all it's my fault for being so hard on them with the bed in process...it sure was fun.;)

Did you remove the protective coating that the manufacturer normally place on the rotors so that they don't rust on the shelf?

Quote:

Originally Posted by upallnight (Post 1012682)

Did you remove the protective coating that the manufacturer normally place on the rotors so that they don't rust on the shelf?

Dave said brake cleaner or soapy water...there's some other coatings that require a little driving to wear off before bedding them in but it's not the case with these stoptechs ..

Usually when you get new rotors they have some light oil on them, to me there perhaps is a possibilty maybe its what were seeing with the rainbow color, agreed that its also a sign of overheating but maybe leftover.. Perhaps spray some degreaser like purple power on them, wash off, and drive it, see how they look.

Two they could have been bedded in too aggressively as well

And the "rotors is rotors", yes but if you ever look at specs there are options and also a different grade metal can be used.