Poll: Painting Brake Calipers

racerblade · 07-26-2011, 04:14 PM

Hey Guys,

Like a lot of people on here my hubs are rusting, and it's time to fix that. While everything is apart, it seemed like a good time to paint the calipers too. My ride is an '08 335i, Montego Blue. The pic isn't great, but it'll do for the poll. So, the big question is what color to paint the calipers. The hubs are going to be silver. Thanks.

P.S. Any recommendations on what brand of paint to use?

tpipta · 07-26-2011, 04:29 PM

Black.

Tee212 · 07-26-2011, 04:34 PM

Painting oem caliper looks cheesy imo, if you must go silver paint lol.

CJ421 · 07-26-2011, 04:52 PM

A dark gray would make them blend in better.

Check out the DIY section for guides, there are at least two I know of ... both recommend a different type of paint.

Bimmer100_ · 07-26-2011, 05:15 PM

Black or Silver on oem calipers...

gaza01 · 07-26-2011, 05:38 PM

its got to be silver for me!

JunkStory · 07-26-2011, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tee212

Painting oem caliper looks cheesy imo, if you must go silver paint lol.

+1
messes with heat dissipation too

bmw325i · 07-26-2011, 06:22 PM

I would try to match the body color or close to it anyways.

racerblade · 07-27-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JunkStory

+1
messes with heat dissipation too

So, how do companies like Brembo manage heat since they paint their calipers?

imperial sloth · 07-27-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racerblade

So, how do companies like Brembo manage heat since they paint their calipers?

I am not sure on the heat dissipation issues, I dont know either way, but the lower end / oem brembo calipers are painted with hi-temp resistant paint which I heard has the ability to fade (porsche red calipers). The high end ones are an aluminum alloy thats annodized a particular color (Nissan GTR orange calipers).

racerblade · 07-27-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imperial sloth

I am not sure on the heat dissipation issues, I dont know either way, but the lower end / oem brembo calipers are painted with hi-temp resistant paint which I heard has the ability to fade (porsche red calipers). The high end ones are an aluminum alloy thats annodized a particular color (Nissan GTR orange calipers).

Ah - that makes sense. Thanks!

MyF15+F85 · 07-28-2011, 07:51 AM

Black or silver here.
I painted mine silver, since I just hate rust, I have done it to pretty much every car that I have own ( besides my EVO X which has brembos )
For me the heat dissipation is not an issue since I'm using the car as a DD,
but even if I would used it at the track.... this is a high temp paint,in the worst case it will discolor a bit ( darker grey ) so it would look just like original stock brakes. When it comes to heat at the brake system level, the vast majority of the heat goes to the rotor, then the pads, next in line is the piston in the caliper, then fluid. That is why when it ( fluid ) is being changed mechanics know what sort of a driver " takes care of the car " The more heat the more black overheated fluid, time will do its thing too.... but it is a separate issue altogether .
So yeah ! silver for me please !

JunkStory · 07-28-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racerblade

So, how do companies like Brembo manage heat since they paint their calipers?

imperial_sloth is 100% correct. The high end Brembo calipers have an anodized surface that is dyed, and doesn't affect heat conduction.

Low end Brembo calipers for upgraded purposes are painted, but even so, because of the sheer size of the calipers compared to stock, the heat capacity is multitudes larger, and there's more surface area... you will still see a huge gain. When you paint your OEM stock calipers, you will only see a loss.

racerblade · 07-29-2011, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JunkStory

imperial_sloth is 100% correct. The high end Brembo calipers have an anodized surface that is dyed, and doesn't affect heat conduction.

Low end Brembo calipers for upgraded purposes are painted, but even so, because of the sheer size of the calipers compared to stock, the heat capacity is multitudes larger, and there's more surface area... you will still see a huge gain. When you paint your OEM stock calipers, you will only see a loss.

I may track the car after the M3 suspension upgrade is done, so I'll probably just paint the hubs to avoid any potential issues.

If I do paint them, it looks like the winner is Black.

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

Brey335i · 07-29-2011, 12:43 PM

I painted mine black and love the look. No more brown dirty looking calipers for me

edirtaynine · 07-29-2011, 09:32 PM

besides black/silver (or any other shades of gray inbetween), painting STOCK calipers is fail.

Flyer · 07-29-2011, 10:11 PM

Agree!!! I saw a picture of a set powder coated black/silver that looked great...

Quote:

Originally Posted by edirtaynine

besides black/silver (or any other shades of gray inbetween), painting STOCK calipers is fail.

shockin330i · 07-29-2011, 10:13 PM

You should go with yellow!

View Poll Results: What color should I paint the brake calipers?
Black	24	47.06%
Blue	9	17.65%
Red	10	19.61%
Yellow	8	15.69%
Voters: 51. You may not vote on this poll

07-26-2011, 04:14 PM	#1
racerblade Costco Member 45 Rep 75 Posts Drives: 2015 M4 Sakhir Orange Join Date: May 2011 Location: King of Prussia iTrader: (2)	Poll: Painting Brake Calipers Hey Guys, Like a lot of people on here my hubs are rusting, and it's time to fix that. While everything is apart, it seemed like a good time to paint the calipers too. My ride is an '08 335i, Montego Blue. The pic isn't great, but it'll do for the poll. So, the big question is what color to paint the calipers. The hubs are going to be silver. Thanks. P.S. Any recommendations on what brand of paint to use?
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07-26-2011, 04:29 PM	#2
tpipta First Lieutenant 25 Rep 318 Posts Drives: F15 X5 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Annapolis, MD iTrader: (0)	Black. __________________ 2008 AW 335i (Lemon), 2009 AW 335i (Round 2 w/ Basic Mods), 2011 BSM 335i LCI MSport (Sucked), 2010 PW MINI Cooper S Hatchback, 2014 AW M235i, 2017 X5
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07-26-2011, 04:34 PM	#3
Tee212 Banned 81 Rep 4,541 Posts Drives: yes Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Riverside iTrader: (9) Garage List 2010 335 [8.00]	Painting oem caliper looks cheesy imo, if you must go silver paint lol. Last edited by Tee212; 07-26-2011 at 05:26 PM..
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07-26-2011, 04:52 PM	#4
CJ421 Brigadier General 1895 Rep 4,199 Posts Drives: BMW G80 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: PA, USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M3 Sedan [9.67]	A dark gray would make them blend in better. Check out the DIY section for guides, there are at least two I know of ... both recommend a different type of paint. __________________ 2024 BMW M3 Sedan Frozen Pure Grey II/Fjord Blue, 6MT Past: 2021 Z4 M40i Frozen Grey II/Black Alcantara \| 2017 F30 340i Mineral Gray/Coral Red, 6MT \| 2011 E92 335i Le Mans Blue/Black, 6MT
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07-26-2011, 05:15 PM	#5
Bimmer100_ Captain 410 Rep 841 Posts Drives: 23 G80 M3 6SPD Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Island iTrader: (12) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe 6MT [8.34] 2002 IBP IS300 5MT LSD [10.00]	Black or Silver on oem calipers... __________________ Acura RSX-S K24a2 JRSC Swap - SOLD CPO BMW 335i 6MT - SOLD
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07-26-2011, 05:38 PM	#6
gaza01 Colonel 105 Rep 2,692 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: London iTrader: (3)	its got to be silver for me!
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07-26-2011, 06:22 PM	#8
bmw325i Major General 237 Rep 5,118 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United States iTrader: (8)	I would try to match the body color or close to it anyways.
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07-28-2011, 07:51 AM	#12
MyF15+F85 First Lieutenant 50 Rep 388 Posts Drives: 2015 F85 and 2015 F15 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Hamilton ON iTrader: (0)	calipers Black or silver here. I painted mine silver, since I just hate rust, I have done it to pretty much every car that I have own ( besides my EVO X which has brembos ) For me the heat dissipation is not an issue since I'm using the car as a DD, but even if I would used it at the track.... this is a high temp paint,in the worst case it will discolor a bit ( darker grey ) so it would look just like original stock brakes. When it comes to heat at the brake system level, the vast majority of the heat goes to the rotor, then the pads, next in line is the piston in the caliper, then fluid. That is why when it ( fluid ) is being changed mechanics know what sort of a driver " takes care of the car " The more heat the more black overheated fluid, time will do its thing too.... but it is a separate issue altogether . So yeah ! silver for me please !
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07-29-2011, 12:43 PM	#15
Brey335i Banned 118 Rep 4,771 Posts Drives: e46 ///M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (11)	I painted mine black and love the look. No more brown dirty looking calipers for me
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07-29-2011, 09:32 PM	#16
edirtaynine Major General 84 Rep 6,088 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	besides black/silver (or any other shades of gray inbetween), painting STOCK calipers is fail.
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07-29-2011, 10:13 PM	#18
shockin330i Brigadier General 807 Rep 4,784 Posts Drives: 2016 ZCP M3 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: f y'all, I'm from Texas (RGV) iTrader: (1)	You should go with yellow! __________________ ERnie 2016 BSM/f80/ZCP
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