[Kiemyster]

Originally Posted by hardparker

Thanks for taking an interest. I have all the parts but haven't had the time to install them. I've done measurements and parts lookups to determine that the 345x24 rear rotors will work with F10 rear calipers. But which? There are 345/24 rear rotor fitments for both the SUVs and the cars. Each has a different offset. From the measurements I've done, I went with the sedan rear rotors because it seems closest to the X3's offset.

I'm not sure when I'll get around to swapping them on. I just pad swapped the rear a few months ago, so there's no immediacy to it for me. If you want to stop by and help me turn wrenches some weekend, let me know. ;-)

Here's a copy of my notes:

2009-2016 550i rear calipers
EBC YellowStuff DP42089R pads
Bendix PRT6318 rear rotors
X3 rotor height = 2.799", center offset = 2.40
X5 rotor height = 3.09", center offset = 2.618 (.218" or 5.54mm inboard)
550i rotor height = 2.72" center offset = 2.248 (.152" or 3.86mm outboard) (This is what I went with.)

550i GT height = 2.72" (this is the 370mm rotor, caliper different, or bracket needed)

Thanks for the fast response! And damn bro, if you weren't so far I would be there this weekend to bang this thing out with you lol. Thanks for sharing your notes for the rear with me, much appreciated. I am going to try and get some stoptech drilled rotors for a dramatic look, still deciding between EBC and hawk pads.

I made a reference chart to point out the differences between the F25 and F10 rear brake EMF parts to show what parts they share, attached below.

I guess I will start getting parts for the front brakes first. Expecting to finish that by November, and then I will begin getting parts for the rear setup to finish that by Feb/March, and new V710's in time for spring. the question is to run 20" or 21". I saw a pic of 22" V710s on an X3 and it looked awful with the massive gap between the rotors and wheel. Very excited for this! Thanks for taking the time to be so helpful my man!

[x3sm]

FYI - here is a detailed DIY on retrofitting 550i/750i/530D front rotors and calipers, has p/n all that is needed including bolt length and strength and washer thickness. Hope this helps someone. The guide is in Russian, but you can translate it easily.

https://www.drive2.ru/l/498060351636504659

[hardparker]

Originally Posted by x3sm

FYI - here is a detailed DIY on retrofitting 550i/750i/530D front rotors and calipers, has p/n all that is needed including bolt length and strength and washer thickness. Hope this helps someone. The guide is in Russian, but you can translate it easily.

https://www.drive2.ru/l/498060351636504659

If you like that thread and you're interested in a 5-series brake upgrade, this thread is a wealth of information on relevant upgrades: Brake upgrades from other BMW models on F10. The 374x36 option seems nice.

[bubbleboy]

Finally got all the parts and a free weekend to put it together. Works much better, now I can do hard pulls and feel like I can stop with confidence.

I had to get the calipers from different places bc no one seemed to have both. ??
(rockauto wouldn't sell to me bc they didn't want to collect my local city tax. hmm)
got a subtle dark blue paint. a little sporty but not splashy.

bought the rotors from Max brakes on ebay. they were very cheap and seemed to have a decent rating. Figured that at that price I could switch them out soon without too much stress. Not happy with the pads that came with, will likely switch out those soon.
Yes, I know, I didn't need drilled and/or slotted, but it came with so..wth.

Anyone want a slightly used set of Brembo rotors and pads for standard calipers? in the CO front range.

[mjosco]

I may be interested in your stock front brakes.

[hardparker]

Sneak peek of 550i rear brakes on X3.

[rcsup1]

Nice, do share the details!

[hardparker]

I'm using F10 550i rear calipers, rotors and pads. Stock X3 brake line and pad sensor works fine.

The parking brake actuator and hose bracket transfer over to the 550i calipers easily. There are spacers for lateral offset correction. One edge of the heat shield needs to be snipped or bent back.

I just ordered a small batch of spacers. Enough for 10 sets. I'll post up when they're delivered and available.

[rcsup1]

Awesome!

[doodlebro]

My kit is being installed right now, excited to feel how much better the braking power is!

Also doing rears and copying OP on the ECS stainless lines. Might as well!

[Rube]

Originally Posted by hardparker

I'm using F10 550i rear calipers, rotors and pads. Stock X3 brake line and pad sensor works fine.

The parking brake actuator and hose bracket transfer over to the 550i calipers easily. There are spacers for lateral offset correction. One edge of the heat shield needs to be snipped or bent back.

I just ordered a small batch of spacers. Enough for 10 sets. I'll post up when they're delivered and available.

Excellent work! interested to see pics. If I looked it up correctly, it is now a 345mm rotor out back. Is the caliper piston same size as the stock x3? how does the brake pedal feel?
Also, I wonder if upgrading the brakes throws anything off like stability control or braking force?

[hardparker]

Originally Posted by Rube

Excellent work! interested to see pics. If I looked it up correctly, it is now a 345mm rotor out back. Is the caliper piston same size as the stock x3? how does the brake pedal feel?
Also, I wonder if upgrading the brakes throws anything off like stability control or braking force?

It feels slightly more rear biased than before, but I suspect that's placebo effect. The pedal feel is a minor improvement, if any. Modulation seems a little better, though.

Stock F25 rear is 330 x 20 mm with 42mm piston. The 550i setup is 345 x 24mm, with 44mm piston. So, more thermal mass in the rotors and 10% more braking force just from the increase in piston size. There's a small increase in brake torque from the slightly larger diameter rotor. The pads are larger, which should help longevity. I was replacing rear pads every 20,000 miles.

I feel these are a good match to the X5 50i brakes. Hell, it's essentially functionally and technically identical to the 345mm rear setup on an X5 50i, just from the sedan so that we can use the electronic parking brake and have a rotor offset that will work.

[Rube]

Originally Posted by hardparker

It feels slightly more rear biased than before, but I suspect that's placebo effect. The pedal feel is a minor improvement, if any. Modulation seems a little better, though.

Stock F25 rear is 330 x 20 mm with 42mm piston. The 550i setup is 345 x 24mm, with 44mm piston. So, more thermal mass in the rotors and 10% more braking force just from the increase in piston size. There's a small increase in brake torque from the slightly larger diameter rotor. The pads are larger, which should help longevity. I was replacing rear pads every 20,000 miles.

I feel these are a good match to the X5 50i brakes. Hell, it's essentially functionally and technically identical to the 345mm rear setup on an X5 50i, just from the sedan so that we can use the electronic parking brake and have a rotor offset that will work.

Thanks for the info! Was there a lot of effort to swap over the electronic parking brake? I don't have much experience with them.

[hardparker]

Originally Posted by Rube

Thanks for the info! Was there a lot of effort to swap over the electronic parking brake? I don't have much experience with them.

Nah, simple. Two bolts.

[hardparker]

One other important thing to add regarding the rear 550i upgrade: The calipers on the 550i are trailing mount, behind the axle, rather than the X3's leading mount. The difference? The calipers mount on the opposite side when fitted to the X3. So, right on left side and vice versa for the entire caliper and bracket assemblies.

Rear spacers should arrive and be available by the middle of January.

[doodlebro]

Needed an extra flush to get pedal feel back to normal, but otherwise am very pleased with the kit. Took me almost a year to get the damn things installed.

Curious if anyone else has noticed increased brake pedal noise? Mine squeaks a bit, especially when it is cold. Don't remember these noises beforehand but maybe they were always there.

Hardparker, where are you taking this thing that you need new brakes every 20K?? I just did my first set and I'm almost at 60K, guess I'm easy on my brakes lol. Would you say the 550i rears are a necessary pairing with the X5 fronts? I can't find a good reason to justify the time and cost.

[hardparker]

Glad you like the fronts. I usually cap the brake lines as I'm changing calipers so that they don't lose excess fluid and gulp air. That usually prevents having to perform an additional bleed. A pressure bleeder with ISTA is best overall, though, but wastes a lot of fluid.

I really like the 550i brakes in the rear. The biggest benefit seems to come in terms of handling. The braking balance is restored back to factory. Not that I even noticed an issue with it before. The car seems to suffer less from brake dive. Overall braking force seems increased. Definitely a lighter pedal input for the same braking effort. Turn in while trail braking is way better. That part alone makes me very happy that I did the rears. If they last longer, all the better.

The rear production spacers came in if anyone's interested. I'll try to get a post and an ebay link up for those soon.

[doodlebro]

Originally Posted by hardparker

Glad you like the fronts. I usually cap the brake lines as I'm changing calipers so that they don't lose excess fluid and gulp air. That usually prevents having to perform an additional bleed. A pressure bleeder with ISTA is best overall, though, but wastes a lot of fluid.

I really like the 550i brakes in the rear. The biggest benefit seems to come in terms of handling. The braking balance is restored back to factory. Not that I even noticed an issue with it before. The car seems to suffer less from brake dive. Overall braking force seems increased. Definitely a lighter pedal input for the same braking effort. Turn in while trail braking is way better. That part alone makes me very happy that I did the rears. If they last longer, all the better.

The rear production spacers came in if anyone's interested. I'll try to get a post and an ebay link up for those soon.

Interesting, I don't feel much more brake dive than I remember, but I'm also on OE pads which are probably less aggressive than the yellowstuff you have. I also figure KW's will combat dive.

I think these (front) brakes are a better match for this chassis in general. I noticed an easier time on my usual backroads, especially in switchbacks where I could feel the lightness of the steering going back and forth before upgrading. It feels much more planted now with that little bit of extra weight on the axles. Makes me wonder if BMW planned on these brakes fitting the X3, but dialed them down after realizing mostly moms would be driving them

Would be cool if you got some hard data on braking distances from those of us who are running different setups, that would convince me to spring for the rears too.

[JayNicholson]

It's already been said, but this is great content! Big thanks for putting this together.

I think I have the front part list squared away. Can someone please provide a complete part list for the rear upgrade? I want to get this done in one shot.

[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by hardparker

Sneak peek of 550i rear brakes on X3.

Parker,

I was about to order rear rotors when I compared your pic above to the ones I found. Why don't yours look like this:

Beck Arnley 083-3686



Zimmermann 34206894381


Genuine BMW




Notice how the hats are rounded as opposed to how yours is square? I just want to make sure. Thanks.

[hardparker]

Originally Posted by ThomasR

Parker,

I was about to order rear rotors when I compared your pic above to the ones I found. Why don't yours look like this:

Beck Arnley 083-3686



Zimmermann 34206894381


Genuine BMW




Notice how the hats are rounded as opposed to how yours is square? I just want to make sure. Thanks.

Mine are inexpensive Centric rotors. The hats are just cast differently is all. Any F10 550i 345 x 24 mm rear rotors will work.

[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by hardparker

Mine are inexpensive Centric rotors. The hats are just cast differently is all. Any F10 550i 345 x 24 mm rear rotors will work.

Yeah I figured. Before you answered back I had already pulled the trigger on Brembo rotors on all 4 corners.

It *looks* like it has an aluminum riveted hat like stock.