[workshybum]

Sorry if this has come up before, I remember reading about it somewhere, but I now can't find it in search.

Has anyone had any issues/concerns with the brakes on the 335d or indeed any of the upgraded +pack brakes?

On a few occasions I've been coming off the motorway, slowing downhill to the roundabout at the bottom of the slip road and the brakes have felt very weak. There was virtually no bite in them this morning and I was a little concerned I wasn't going to stop. I did manage it with room to spare, but they just felt a bit wrong.

I've read some other threads that say it's normal and is down to the braking assistance but I expected them to feel sharper. 90% of the time they feel fine, but the odd time here and there, they feel almost like they're suffering from brake fade. I know this isn't the case as I hadn't used them much, being on the motorway for 30 miles.

The only thing I can think of is that it was fairly wet here this morning and maybe the little use hadn't been enough to keep them dry. Never had this with any of my previous cars though.

Any thoughts?

[teaston]

I guess you have the blue brake calipers, not the silver 335d ones?

[xenon]

Perhaps the M-Sport brakes don't have the brake drying function.

[workshybum]

Originally Posted by teaston

I guess you have the blue brake calipers, not the silver 335d ones?

Yeah, the blue ones

[teaston]

Originally Posted by workshybum

Yeah, the blue ones

That does sound strange, mine have always been great, no matter under any conditions!

[workshybum]

Originally Posted by xenon

Perhaps the M-Sport brakes don't have the brake drying function.

I didn't know about this function, but a quick google search throws up this:

'During the run through of the car at the Welt, Alexander told me a technician from BMW was in recently and told them the brake drying feature does not work when you have the rain sensor active, it only works when the wipers are on high speed, two clicks up. So if it is raining really hard, manually turn them on for shortest stopping distances.'

Could be a possible factor as I tend to use rain sensor almost exclusively.

[xenon]

That might be an old post - I'm pretty sure mine works with the rain sensor.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by workshybum

I didn't know about this function, but a quick google search throws up this:

'During the run through of the car at the Welt, Alexander told me a technician from BMW was in recently and told them the brake drying feature does not work when you have the rain sensor active, it only works when the wipers are on high speed, two clicks up. So if it is raining really hard, manually turn them on for shortest stopping distances.'

Could be a possible factor as I tend to use rain sensor almost exclusively.

I didn't know this!

Pretty ridiculous if the rain sensor doesn't trigger the drying function!

[Tengocity]

The issue with the 335d brakes seems to me to be one of them needing a little bit of heat in them.

Go for a spirited drive and they work a treat, but a gentle press of the pedal when they're cold and they don't have much bite.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

The issue with the 335d brakes seems to me to be one of them needing a little bit of heat in them.

Go for a spirited drive and they work a treat, but a gentle press of the pedal when they're cold and they don't have much bite.

But they're the same as the 330d brakes!

[simon.]

Mine have been fine, no issues at all & that was the same with my M135i, nothing to report.

[Tengocity]

There does seem to be a consistent pattern of the 335d brakes being a bit softer at the top than the bakes on other models. Maybe something to do with the calibration for xdrive?

My brakes are being changed as we speak, though doubt they will feel much different to before. I found them weird before as the Z4 brakes were much sharper at the initial press, but now it's the only car I drive I've got used to it, and I know that when pressing on they've been fabulous.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

There does seem to be a consistent pattern of the 335d brakes being a bit softer at the top than the bakes on other models. Maybe something to do with the calibration for xdrive?

My brakes are being changed as we speak, though doubt they will feel much different to before. I found them weird before as the Z4 brakes were much sharper at the initial press, but now it's the only car I drive I've got used to it, and I know that when pressing on they've been fabulous.

So you decided to fit the standard pads?

[SkyJawa]

I've never been massively impressed with the stopping power considering what they are. They are ok, but IMHO I'd be happier with a bit more stopping power, they do seem to struggle a little with 1.75 tonnes of F31. Also find the pedal spongy and needing a lot of pressing to get the maximum brake force, it acts much better when the ACC has primed them in advance. Maybe I just prefer a much firmer pedal.

That said I've mainly noticed the problem hammering off a dual carriageway and stamping the anchors on at the end of the slip road, and I guess in this situation they would be cold. Maybe I have to trail brake for 1/2 mile before pulling off (or not hoon it down the slip road - but it is much fun!)

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by teaston

So you decided to fit the standard pads?

Yeah, decided to just fit these, knowing exactly what the part numbers were and then see how they are. I've asked them to keep the old ones so I can measure them and check the part number.

[workshybum]

Originally Posted by SkyJawa

I've never been massively impressed with the stopping power considering what they are. They are ok, but IMHO I'd be happier with a bit more stopping power, they do seem to struggle a little with 1.75 tonnes of F31. Also find the pedal spongy and needing a lot of pressing to get the maximum brake force, it acts much better when the ACC has primed them in advance. Maybe I just prefer a much firmer pedal.

That said I've mainly noticed the problem hammering off a dual carriageway and stamping the anchors on at the end of the slip road, and I guess in this situation they would be cold. Maybe I have to trail brake for 1/2 mile before pulling off (or not hoon it down the slip road - but it is much fun!)

That's pretty much the same situation I've noticed it in, whenever it has happened. At first I thought it was because the brakes were new and needed bedding in and I thought I'd got past it until it happened again today. Spirited driving or anything with regular braking, there never seems to be an issue.

Thanks for your input guys, I guess I'll just monitor it and see how they go. I did check that a good stamp on the pedal would still kick in the ABS, so at least I know they do actually work!

[Steven1077]

The brakes used to worry me a lot on the 335d, many times when approaching a busy roundabout I didn’t think I was going to stop, it did but it needed a lot more force than expected, when I first got the car I thought the brakes were fantastic but when I got it back after 6 weeks at the dealers they felt worse, it was only there for a heater part to be fitted so I have no idea why this would be, I never really had much confidence in them after that

[Beancounter_74]

It's because they'd disconnected the odometer and ragged the tits off it

[mcdokika]

M Perform. brakes (Brembo) might be sharper after heavy use as they have crevices and holes. (half holes) But they should help. Diameter is the same otherwise.

I will go for this, red calipers will order it from Germany this week.

[mcdokika]

They need much more pressure like you would think , suprising sometimes.
(nomal 340 mm 335d brakes)

[snipnoob86]

you know whats its funny you say this as i test drove a 330d tourer with msport brakes and i gave it a good hammering on test drive and during the whole drive the car just did not want to stop. i asked the salesman why they felt so weak and he did not have an answer other than he thought they were fine. really had to pound the peddal to get it to stop.

then when i test drove my 335d which is subsiquently bought, the msport brakes were spot on very reactive, very powerful, and certainly very capable of stopping on a 50p. since i made my mind up that the 330's brakes must have had some kind of issue with them as they were exactly the same brakes as on the 335.

id have them checked

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by mcdokika

M Perform. brakes (Brembo) might be sharper after heavy use as they have crevices and wholes. (half wholes) But they should help. Diameter is the same otherwise.

I will go for this, red calipers will order it from Germany this week.

Please clarify, you have the Blue M Sport brakes, but are going to change them for Red M Performance brakes?