BMW X5 and X6 Forum 2014-Current
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-19-2018, 12:21 AM   #1
DuSh
Colonel
DuSh's Avatar
2113
Rep
2,388
Posts

Drives: F15 X5 50i
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Honest opinion about painted calipers?

Yesterday I saw a 50i on a gas station, black M Sport with black 22 inch AC Schnitzer rims - it had red painted calipers and they looked so good

I need to say before this eye opening event I had a strong opinion that painted calipers are rice. Now I'm not so sure anymore

Some manufacturers have a factory red painted calipers - like VW GTI for example. When done properly - without painting clips and pads and with good prep work - it looks very good.
I do understand that they are still stock calipers, but it's not an attempt to make them look like BBK. It's just they really do look good in red with blacked out rims on x5.
I am on a fence, I don't want to look rice, but on the other hand - not many cars out there have 365mm rotors like 50i has and imho BMW stock brakes for 50i are very good - probably best on market among stock calipers, second only to Porsche. I'm sure they provide more braking power and performance than some aftermarket 1-piece calipers that come in bright colors by default - so in that regard it's not trying to make them seem something they are not, they already are excellent brakes to begin with. So why not improve appearance and make it easier to keep cleaner calipers simultaneously? If I had a Kia with tiny brakes I wouldn't do it, but in this case I feel like I have enough performance to back it up their improved appearance, no?

Also, wanted to mention that you guys know me, I'm all for performance, I sacrifice comfort for dynamics, I try to improve real power hp/tq my car has, I reduced unsprung mass, did weight reduction of the car, I'm at 500+ hp currently proven by dyno, my 0-60 is 3.8sec (basically at x5m level), I have planned to weigh my car and run 1/4 mile, BUT I still hesitate to do something like painting calipers red because of stigma associated

So rice or not rice in this case if done properly? I want to paint dark red (not bright red) and I'm not going to put any stickers on it, no M logos or anything, just really want them to tie the look of the wheel setup (blacked out rims, with red calipers) on Alpine White x5

Hard to find good photos, but for example take this M3 on the photo below - it has stock calipers painted red, just like I want with black rims and drilled rotors. This is the look I'm hoping to go for. What do you guys think?
Attached Images
 

Last edited by DuSh; 01-19-2018 at 12:34 AM..
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 01:20 AM   #2
Doanster
Major
Doanster's Avatar
627
Rep
1,181
Posts

Drives: 2014 F15 Carbon Black M-Sport
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Oregon

iTrader: (0)

You worry way the hell too much about what others may think. Painting them will look good/at home.
No need to justify aesthetic upgrades with comparable power upgrades.
Your car and mod plans work nicely overall, even if I may not agree with the tuner lug/stud conversion.
__________________
A little mod here, a little mod there...
Appreciate 4
DuSh2112.50
Kzang3222.00
ALJ216.50
      01-19-2018, 01:40 AM   #3
CeeTeeX5
Major
936
Rep
1,180
Posts

Drives: 2018 X5 xDrive35i M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Issaquah, WA

iTrader: (0)

I say go for it if you like the look. I’m all for doing what makes you happy. And I din’t think it’s rice.
Appreciate 1
DuSh2112.50
      01-19-2018, 01:48 AM   #4
DuSh
Colonel
DuSh's Avatar
2113
Rep
2,388
Posts

Drives: F15 X5 50i
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Thanks guys! I really needed reassurance
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 03:47 AM   #5
turboawd
Banned
1635
Rep
2,995
Posts

Drives: 2015 X5 35i
Join Date: May 2015
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

it'll look good when clean. but look like poo when dirty or the paint starts peeling.
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 07:12 AM   #6
Florida-X3
Lieutenant
259
Rep
467
Posts

Drives: '23 X3 x30i / '12 Infiniti M37
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Depends on the vehicle, color etc. What's definitely rice are the cheap covers.
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 08:25 AM   #7
yewlock
Major
yewlock's Avatar
United_States
698
Rep
1,092
Posts

Drives: X5
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Bay Area, CA

iTrader: (1)

Go go it. Red caliber look good.
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 08:39 AM   #8
Chigger
Second Lieutenant
88
Rep
227
Posts

Drives: 2015 X5
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: New England

iTrader: (0)

Mine are all rusted. I am going to clean them (calipers) up and give a fresh coat of high-temp silver.
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 08:44 AM   #9
redline9001
Captain
redline9001's Avatar
223
Rep
979
Posts

Drives: E92 M3, F15 X5, G14 F150
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Calgary, Canada

iTrader: (0)

It is highly ghey.... and very rice... if you want the look buy a bbk.

But is your car and life. It really doesn’t hurt anyone and who cares what others think
__________________
2011 E92 M3 | JEREZ BLACK | EXTENDED BAMBOO NOVILLO | EXECUTIVE PKG | M-DRIVE | EDC | M-DCT
MODS | KW S/O | HRE P40SC | Akra Evo |ESS Akra Tune | ESS DCT tune | BMC drop in | StopTech Trophies | TMS Pulley | LUX V3 | BE Bearings and BE ARP rod bolts
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 08:54 AM   #10
CeeTeeX5
Major
936
Rep
1,180
Posts

Drives: 2018 X5 xDrive35i M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Issaquah, WA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by redline9001 View Post
It is highly ghey.... and very rice... if you want the look buy a bbk.

But is your car and life. It really doesn’t hurt anyone and who cares what others think
Why is it “ghey”? And why should colored calipers be restricted to BBK?
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 08:57 AM   #11
Florida-X3
Lieutenant
259
Rep
467
Posts

Drives: '23 X3 x30i / '12 Infiniti M37
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by redline9001 View Post
It is highly ghey.... and very rice... if you want the look buy a bbk.

But is your car and life. It really doesn’t hurt anyone and who cares what others think
I though the OP was talking about the BBK .... yeah, painting regular calipers is a little ..... well, trying too hard IMHO.
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 10:20 AM   #12
nyalpine90
Lieutenant General
nyalpine90's Avatar
7385
Rep
11,829
Posts

Drives: MY24 G01 AW Msport
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: L.I. NY

iTrader: (4)

Garage List
2016 BMW X4  [9.33]
I been itching to do the same but I want to stay away from normal colors..
i was thinking of the baby blue thats on the M logo

white
silver/grey
gloss black

Last edited by nyalpine90; 01-19-2018 at 10:29 AM..
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 11:24 AM   #13
Wavy
Captain
Wavy's Avatar
1140
Rep
834
Posts

Drives: B8
Join Date: May 2015
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

I don't see anything wrong with painting your calipers. Mine are painted and it looks great. No different than painting your trim, tail pipes, wheel color, etc.

My previous car with OEM red calipers. Really pops on a car with black wheels.

__________________

'23 B8, '84 Monte Carlo SS, '23 Escalade, '21 S 580, '20 AMG GT 53 , '18 LS 500, '18 X6, '16 Corvette, '12 750Li, '14 GS 350, '13 ES 350, '10 Maxima, '09 Challenger
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 11:28 AM   #14
Wavy
Captain
Wavy's Avatar
1140
Rep
834
Posts

Drives: B8
Join Date: May 2015
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Can't see them that much on my current car
__________________

'23 B8, '84 Monte Carlo SS, '23 Escalade, '21 S 580, '20 AMG GT 53 , '18 LS 500, '18 X6, '16 Corvette, '12 750Li, '14 GS 350, '13 ES 350, '10 Maxima, '09 Challenger
Appreciate 2
DuSh2112.50
      01-19-2018, 11:53 AM   #15
DuSh
Colonel
DuSh's Avatar
2113
Rep
2,388
Posts

Drives: F15 X5 50i
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wavy View Post
Can't see them that much on my current car
Those 24 inch rims are gorgeous
Appreciate 1
Wavy1139.50
      01-19-2018, 11:56 AM   #16
Wavy
Captain
Wavy's Avatar
1140
Rep
834
Posts

Drives: B8
Join Date: May 2015
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DuSh View Post
Those 24 inch rims are gorgeous
Thank you
__________________

'23 B8, '84 Monte Carlo SS, '23 Escalade, '21 S 580, '20 AMG GT 53 , '18 LS 500, '18 X6, '16 Corvette, '12 750Li, '14 GS 350, '13 ES 350, '10 Maxima, '09 Challenger
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 12:07 PM   #17
DuSh
Colonel
DuSh's Avatar
2113
Rep
2,388
Posts

Drives: F15 X5 50i
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Wasn't it Porsche who introduced painted calipers first to begin with? They paint their stock calipers: for example base Cayenne gets black paint, S gets silver, Turbo gets Red and Turbo S gets Gold (if I'm not mistaken). I mean is Porsche ghey too?

It's really interesting where people draw a line of what is ghey/rice and what is not? We have many threads about blacking out rims or wrapping trim or painting exterior body elements starting from reflectors and ending with roof, people even paint seats or change trim color, black out tailpipes etc

As I said in my first post stock 50i calipers may outperform some BBKs and yet we don't call BBKs ghey/rice when they are Red. Interesting, but we have such strong stereotypes and prejudice about certain things. At least you guys are honest! I appreciate that! I'm still thinking whether to do it or not lol

Last edited by DuSh; 01-19-2018 at 12:28 PM..
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 02:22 PM   #18
Florida-X3
Lieutenant
259
Rep
467
Posts

Drives: '23 X3 x30i / '12 Infiniti M37
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DuSh View Post
Wasn't it Porsche who introduced painted calipers first to begin with? They paint their stock calipers: for example base Cayenne gets black paint, S gets silver, Turbo gets Red and Turbo S gets Gold (if I'm not mistaken). I mean is Porsche ghey too?

It's really interesting where people draw a line of what is ghey/rice and what is not? We have many threads about blacking out rims or wrapping trim or painting exterior body elements starting from reflectors and ending with roof, people even paint seats or change trim color, black out tailpipes etc

As I said in my first post stock 50i calipers may outperform some BBKs and yet we don't call BBKs ghey/rice when they are Red. Interesting, but we have such strong stereotypes and prejudice about certain things. At least you guys are honest! I appreciate that! I'm still thinking whether to do it or not lol
There is a BIG difference between painting this type of caliper


And this type of caliper, IMHO ...... (I think gold on Porsche means ceramic, according to my neighbor who has a turbo 911 and turbo Cayenne)
Appreciate 1
1230vani637.00
      01-19-2018, 02:35 PM   #19
CeeTeeX5
Major
936
Rep
1,180
Posts

Drives: 2018 X5 xDrive35i M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Issaquah, WA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Florida-X5 View Post
There is a BIG difference between painting this type of caliper


And this type of caliper, IMHO ...... (I think gold on Porsche means ceramic, according to my neighbor who has a turbo 911 and turbo Cayenne)
What's the difference between painting one over the other?
Appreciate 1
Kzang3222.00
      01-19-2018, 02:49 PM   #20
Florida-X3
Lieutenant
259
Rep
467
Posts

Drives: '23 X3 x30i / '12 Infiniti M37
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by CeeTeeX5 View Post
What's the difference between painting one over the other?
One is attractive and one isn't .... why draw attention to the ugly?

You gotta love forums, people ask opinions and then when one is given (that doesn't agree with theirs) they get all butt hurt. Listen, it boils down to it being your car and what you want to do with it. If that's the case then why even ask for opinions?

I look at mods this way, I like some cosmetic mods as long as you are not trying to make your vehicle look like something it isn't. To paint (again just my opinion) non-BBK brakes is nothing more than trying to make them look like BBK .... something they are not.

When we had our Infiniti G37, every now and then someone on the forum would want to de-badge the Infiniti stuff and put Nissan Skyline badges on it. It's their right to do it but again, trying to make it look like something it isn't.

OP .... seems like you already had your mind made up before you posted so it's your car man, do what you like.
Appreciate 1
Kzang3222.00
      01-19-2018, 02:57 PM   #21
Kzang
Major General
Kzang's Avatar
3222
Rep
5,058
Posts

Drives: 2015 X5 35i Msport SG
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: East Coast

iTrader: (0)

Agreed with Florida, the DIY painted caliper looks ghetto... the one from Porsche is professionally done. If you can get your stock calipers to look like that Porsche caliper minus the "PORSCHE" then it might be alright. Imo the rotors being plain and non slotted or drilled also makes a difference. If I was OP I'd bite the bullet and get the M Performance /brembos / bbk sets and call it a day.
__________________
2015 F15 X5 35i Msport Space Grey M Performance parts MPPK, MPE
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2018, 03:54 PM   #22
CeeTeeX5
Major
936
Rep
1,180
Posts

Drives: 2018 X5 xDrive35i M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Issaquah, WA

iTrader: (0)

Is black ok? less ghey? Just curious where that falls on level of gheyness lol.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:07 AM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST