Worrying Brakes!

MB London · 05-15-2009, 07:48 AM

I don’t know if it is my imagination or whether it is something I should be concerned about. But before I make a total dick of myself at a BM garage, I thought I would put out there to the people who know (you)

I have been driving my 335i (e90) for about 2 months now and I do not a great deal of confidence in the brakes! On the odd occasion when I am giving it plenty of right foot and need to stop quickly, I find I have to almost stand on the brakes, to the point where I can feel the ABS start to bite.

My car before this was 325i (e92) and I am sure that the brakes were much more responsive than these ones.

Anyone else find this happening with their brakes? I may just take it to the Garage to have them looked at, better safe than sorry I guess

NFS · 05-15-2009, 07:49 AM

Get it checked out. The brakes on my car are VERY sharp.

Especially with the 'brake priming' DSC+ provides when you quickly lift of the gas.

mistry · 05-15-2009, 10:12 AM

I also have an Astra, and the brakes on that are a lot sharper then the BMW. That said the BMW stops quickly enough, but it just needs a little more right foot. I've always put it down to the extra weight.

I'd get yours checked if you think they are that bad.

Serjames · 05-15-2009, 11:05 AM

glazed pads ?

Heavily uneven or scored discs ?

SJ

SixDegrees · 05-15-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB London

I don’t know if it is my imagination or whether it is something I should be concerned about. But before I make a total dick of myself at a BM garage, I thought I would put out there to the people who know (you)

I have been driving my 335i (e90) for about 2 months now and I do not a great deal of confidence in the brakes! On the odd occasion when I am giving it plenty of right foot and need to stop quickly, I find I have to almost stand on the brakes, to the point where I can feel the ABS start to bite.

My car before this was 325i (e92) and I am sure that the brakes were much more responsive than these ones.

Anyone else find this happening with their brakes? I may just take it to the Garage to have them looked at, better safe than sorry I guess

Big brakes need warming up. Even if you've been driving about for an hour or more if you haven't used the barkes much or with some vigour then they may very well feel a bit lacklustre.

Def get them checked out but I would recommend some brake testing. Just find a good empty stretch of road and progressively warm them up by braking on them from 30mph, 40mph, 50mph, etc pushing harder each time. Give it a 30 secs - 1 min between applications. If they still don't bite or get worse then get them checked.

I've had a couple of cars with bigger than average brakes (std on car) and while they haulled you to a stop when warm (after being worked) I found they were cack if you wanted to stop quickly when cold.

Plus, have a drive of a MK5 Golf GT TDi and then you'll know what cack brakes are like - worst brakes in 19 years of driving and 30 + cars !!

beemerbird · 05-15-2009, 03:58 PM

If you do alot of short runs and sitting in traffic then I'd go with glazed pads. It can take a few repeated hard braking sessions to remove the glaze and clean the discs as well.

If not the above and you're not experiencing brake judder under heavyish braking which would indicate knackered discs then I'd be down to the dealers.

Not due for a brake fluid change or low on fluid is it? Are the brakes spongy or pump up if you brake then brake again indicating air in the system?

nmack8 · 05-15-2009, 04:06 PM

I to have just swapped a year old 325i M-Sport for a new 335i. A month and 1100 miles into ownership and I can relate exactly to what you're saying.....

When I tried to come to terms with this I took into account that I've driving like Miss Daisy while running her in and braking very gently, this combined with the much larger Brakes on the 335i means they are probably border line glazed and as SixDegrees has pointed out a few heat cycles pretty much did the trick.

To put my mind fully at rest I drove the same piece of road that I know well and approach the same series of corners at approx the same speed! It was only after paying a bit more attention to the Speedo that I realised that I was probably going 25mph faster into the same corner than I was with my 325i.....

That's what an extra 88bhp does.....

05-15-2009, 07:48 AM	#1
MB London Come as you are 138 Rep 1,404 Posts Drives: M4 SSll Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Worrying Brakes! I don’t know if it is my imagination or whether it is something I should be concerned about. But before I make a total dick of myself at a BM garage, I thought I would put out there to the people who know (you) I have been driving my 335i (e90) for about 2 months now and I do not a great deal of confidence in the brakes! On the odd occasion when I am giving it plenty of right foot and need to stop quickly, I find I have to almost stand on the brakes, to the point where I can feel the ABS start to bite. My car before this was 325i (e92) and I am sure that the brakes were much more responsive than these ones. Anyone else find this happening with their brakes? I may just take it to the Garage to have them looked at, better safe than sorry I guess
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05-15-2009, 07:49 AM	#2
NFS Major General 292 Rep 9,218 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Get it checked out. The brakes on my car are VERY sharp. Especially with the 'brake priming' DSC+ provides when you quickly lift of the gas.
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05-15-2009, 10:12 AM	#3
mistry Captain 49 Rep 827 Posts Drives: F11 530D Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South West iTrader: (1)	I also have an Astra, and the brakes on that are a lot sharper then the BMW. That said the BMW stops quickly enough, but it just needs a little more right foot. I've always put it down to the extra weight. I'd get yours checked if you think they are that bad.
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05-15-2009, 11:05 AM	#4
Serjames Colonel 131 Rep 2,426 Posts Drives: E93 335i M-sport Join Date: May 2007 Location: Surrey - UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E93 335i M Spo ... [0.00] 2003 Nissan Primera S [0.00]	glazed pads ? Heavily uneven or scored discs ? SJ __________________
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05-15-2009, 03:58 PM	#6
beemerbird Major General 178 Rep 7,953 Posts Drives: Merc diesel Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Yorkshire iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 TTRS [9.00] 2007 Audi S5 [0.00] May 2007 Porsche 99 ... [0.00] March 2007 Porsche ... [0.00] Sep. 2007 E92 335d SE [0.00] July 2006 E90 330i ... [0.00]	If you do alot of short runs and sitting in traffic then I'd go with glazed pads. It can take a few repeated hard braking sessions to remove the glaze and clean the discs as well. If not the above and you're not experiencing brake judder under heavyish braking which would indicate knackered discs then I'd be down to the dealers. Not due for a brake fluid change or low on fluid is it? Are the brakes spongy or pump up if you brake then brake again indicating air in the system?
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05-15-2009, 04:06 PM	#7
nmack8 Private First Class 19 Rep 150 Posts Drives: 4 Wheels & 4 Doors Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Livingston - Scotland iTrader: (9)	I to have just swapped a year old 325i M-Sport for a new 335i. A month and 1100 miles into ownership and I can relate exactly to what you're saying..... When I tried to come to terms with this I took into account that I've driving like Miss Daisy while running her in and braking very gently, this combined with the much larger Brakes on the 335i means they are probably border line glazed and as SixDegrees has pointed out a few heat cycles pretty much did the trick. To put my mind fully at rest I drove the same piece of road that I know well and approach the same series of corners at approx the same speed! It was only after paying a bit more attention to the Speedo that I realised that I was probably going 25mph faster into the same corner than I was with my 325i..... That's what an extra 88bhp does.....
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