Brakes, springs...What to do?

[NapaBavarian]

I like my brakes, and live up 8 miles of twisty road that climbs 1000ft from the valley floor, so I like my suspension and brakes, I've found a good thread on suspension, and built a very nice '88 325is a few years ago with stockish brakes, ATE sloted front rotors, and PBR pads, urethane everything, and aftermarket antiroll bars, racing dynamics I believe. I'd like to build something similar when I find a wagon.

I see that the 540i uses bigger brakes than the 525i, but I see mixed reviews on the worthiness of this upgrade, I want low dust so I'll likley spend the extra money on Cool Carbon pads, but I wouldn't mind going up a size in rotor diameter if it isn't too costly. I like to have a sure footed daily driver that isn't too harsh or too low as to be impractical.

[uscharalph]

I think the 525 brakes work great. I use the Brembo rotors and Akebono pads for virtually no dust.

[Sam Son]

stock 525 rotor size here ..but TMS cross drilled rotors at that and Hawk HP+ pads very very little dust but man does the car stop..

[SpeedsterBek]

Good pads and rotors with 525i brakes should be adequate for spirited driving. If you get a good deal on 540i calipers + carriers, then go for it. Stock 540i rotors 8mm thicker up front and 10mm thicker in the rear, plus rear rotors are ventilated. So in hard driving it would help to dissipate more heat.
Another great upgrade is E31 front brakes+540i rears, but then you have to run 17 inch wheels to clear the front calipers.
It all depends on your budget...

[moroza]

Mixed reviews on 540i rears? Do tell.

I'm having my own brake issues - running OEM rotors and Akebonos, but the car doesn't stop that well. Mine might be glazed, though. My eventual plans are 540i rears and 4-pot E31 fronts with Hawk HP+ or HPS.

As for suspension, depends on the condition of the road. Stock is best for rough stuff.

[sfgearhead]

I"ve never had trouble with our touring brakes, but then I don't drive it that hard or down mountains with a trailer.

How about just using the two hook covers to create a custom cooling duct for the stock brakes? Get good pads, flush the fluid and replace with something a bit better, and keep em cool with some ducting. Call me cheap but unless you're going to a track I don't see the need to spend a bunch of time or money on what I think are great brakes stock.

Ian

[NapaBavarian]

Mixed reviews on 540i rears? Do tell.

I'm having my own brake issues - running OEM rotors and Akebonos, but the car doesn't stop that well. Mine might be glazed, though. My eventual plans are 540i rears and 4-pot E31 fronts with Hawk HP+ or HPS.

As for suspension, depends on the condition of the road. Stock is best for rough stuff.


Some treads indicated that 540i brakes were not a significant enough improvement to justify the price of the upgrade.

[4500 RPM]

540 brakes are still 302mm, just have a thicker rotor. I'm not sure if there is more surface (read: longer life) or if there is more ventilation.

With that said, I've never felt much need to upgrade the brakes. E34s have solid brakes.

If you have the mod bug there is a solution using Corvette brakes...don't know much about it though.