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
      01-20-2018, 07:28 AM   #45
ijaz429
ijaz429
United_States
12
Rep
26
Posts

Drives: bmw x5 xdrive 50i
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: philadelphia

iTrader: (0)

Do it. I struggled with the same decision 2 months ago when I got my x5 and wanted fly yellow calipers behind black wheels. I realized that the only people that would even know it wasn't stock are nerds (like me) that read these forums. 98% of the people just think it was way the car came and looks good. Every time I look at the car I'm glad I did it.


I had mine professionally done and they are virtually indistinguishable from the blue stock m brakes.
Don't cheap out if you decide to go this route.

It's like plastic surgery. Very few people can tell anything was done and even less actually care. At the end of the day, you have improved your appearance and feel better about yourself (or your car!).
Appreciate 2
DuSh2112.50
rhite9553.50
      01-20-2018, 07:48 AM   #46
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)

Quote:
Originally Posted by d_v_o_1 View Post
If you take the time to prep and paint properly there is no reason it can not come out better looking then those red caliper below the Porsche ones.
That is the .00000000001 that goes a good job of it
__________________
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
      01-21-2018, 12:09 AM   #47
fosterelli
Second Lieutenant
237
Rep
211
Posts

Drives: 2014 X5 xDrive35i M-Sport
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Cypress, Texas

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by redline9001 View Post
That is the .00000000001 that goes a good job of it
That's very dependent upon the capabilities of the person doing the job, their experience, and the quality of their chosen materials.

If you know what you're doing and have the proper equipment, you can do a BETTER job than you can pay for at a shop.

If you don't know what you're doing, definitely pay someone, or you're going to jack it up and look worse than before you started.
__________________
2014 X5 x35 F15
Appreciate 1
DuSh2112.50
      01-21-2018, 12:28 AM   #48
yewlock
Major
yewlock's Avatar
United_States
698
Rep
1,092
Posts

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

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by fosterelli View Post
That's very dependent upon the capabilities of the person doing the job, their experience, and the quality of their chosen materials.

If you know what you're doing and have the proper equipment, you can do a BETTER job than you can pay for at a shop.

If you don't know what you're doing, definitely pay someone, or you're going to jack it up and look worse than before you started.
I am totally agreed with this
Appreciate 0
      01-21-2018, 12:50 AM   #49
DuSh
Colonel
DuSh's Avatar
2113
Rep
2,388
Posts

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

iTrader: (0)

Stumbled upon one guy who polished his cast calipers on his Pontiac 2002. They came out very smooth. All he used was a electric drill with wire brush and buffing wheel with polish compound. All that casting flash was gone, he removed all texture - I didn't know cast calipers can be made as smooth

I guess this is the condition when they can be painted and final finish will look as good and smooth as factory Brembo calipers. Or they can be even left polished probably
Attached Images
  
Appreciate 0
      01-21-2018, 01:08 AM   #50
DuSh
Colonel
DuSh's Avatar
2113
Rep
2,388
Posts

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

iTrader: (0)

Here's another good job done on Honda cast calipers. This one is painted silver. I guess prep is the key. If caliper can be made silky smooth - then paint will look factory like
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 0
      01-21-2018, 01:10 AM   #51
DuSh
Colonel
DuSh's Avatar
2113
Rep
2,388
Posts

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

iTrader: (0)

This one on Volvo. I don't like bright silver they painted, but finish is smooth - nothing like those ugly just painted over texture with no prep examples
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 0
      01-21-2018, 10:34 AM   #52
fosterelli
Second Lieutenant
237
Rep
211
Posts

Drives: 2014 X5 xDrive35i M-Sport
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Cypress, Texas

iTrader: (0)

Exactly, like I said earlier, grab a Dremel and get it done! You can do all of the prep if you like, and leave the paint/finish to the pros if you're uncomfortable.

Do it right and it'll look like a high end caliper and last as long as you own the vehicle.
__________________
2014 X5 x35 F15
Appreciate 1
DuSh2112.50
      01-22-2018, 02:06 PM   #53
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)

If you really must paint it and it was between silver and black. I am going to assume your wheels are mostly silver/chrome so I'd do it black for contrasting look. Silver on Silver looks weird to me.
__________________
2015 F15 X5 35i Msport Space Grey M Performance parts MPPK, MPE
Appreciate 1
DuSh2112.50
      01-22-2018, 02:47 PM   #54
fosterelli
Second Lieutenant
237
Rep
211
Posts

Drives: 2014 X5 xDrive35i M-Sport
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Cypress, Texas

iTrader: (0)

Agree with Kzang on at least a decent contrast, if not very contrasting.
__________________
2014 X5 x35 F15
Appreciate 1
DuSh2112.50
      02-01-2018, 03:20 AM   #55
DuSh
Colonel
DuSh's Avatar
2113
Rep
2,388
Posts

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

iTrader: (0)

I abandoned idea to paint them, because I may go for MPBK (in far future due to limited funds for now lol). However, I read about BMW M3 Frozen Edition (limited production of 25 cars) and guess what BMW did with their oem CAST calipers

Yep, this pretty much sums this thread up: painting calipers red is NOT rice and if anyone thinks so - you guys are living in the past - when Fast'n'Furious 1 just came out and Honda Civic was considered tits

Of course quality of paint job has to be good with good sanding prep etc
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 1
      02-01-2018, 09:07 AM   #56
iconoclast
Self-Deprecating Narcissist
iconoclast's Avatar
No_Country
7258
Rep
6,561
Posts

Drives: Audi BMW Ferrari LR MB
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: In, Out & Around...

iTrader: (1)

Audi and VW have been painting the small OEM calipers for decades. They were doing them in Red and Blue. On the Brembo brakes they were Black, Red or Grey depending on the vehicle or option. Doesn't mean it looks good just because the factory did it... If that were the case there wouldn't be that many people on here changing items on their vehicles that came from the factory.

The caliper below definitely looks better than a rusty one but a black or silver would look that much better and would not look like it's trying too hard.
Appreciate 3
Kzang3222.00
DuSh2112.50
Chadmatic660.50
      02-01-2018, 11:06 PM   #57
pits200
Colonel
United_States
546
Rep
2,590
Posts

Drives: 09 335i X-Drive Black Sapphire
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Pittsburgh

iTrader: (1)

Prep yourself at home and take them somewhere that handles powder coating, that will get you the quality close to a BBK.

Just like with any cosmetic mod that draws attention, if you're not going to do it 100% right, it's better to just not do it and draw attention to that part. I've seen too many bad brake caliper paint jobs.
Appreciate 1
DuSh2112.50
      02-02-2018, 01:34 AM   #58
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 pits200 View Post
Prep yourself at home and take them somewhere that handles powder coating, that will get you the quality close to a BBK.

Just like with any cosmetic mod that draws attention, if you're not going to do it 100% right, it's better to just not do it and draw attention to that part. I've seen too many bad brake caliper paint jobs.
Thanks! I decided to wait, save money instead, and buy M Performance front calipers - it turns out E70 X5M stock brakes are same thing as MPBK for F15 (basically manufactured by Brembo). They are 4 pot, but it's still better than stock cast calipers. Straight bolt-on, 395mm front rotors, no modifications needed, except coding. So, I'll post pics when I upgrade

The only thing is I will get rotors from F85 since they look better (drilled). This is the setup I found that somebody did - E70 X5M front calipers with F85 395mm drilled rotors:
Attached Images
 

Last edited by DuSh; 02-02-2018 at 01:40 AM..
Appreciate 0
      02-05-2020, 09:34 AM   #59
Captain Crunch
Registered
0
Rep
1
Posts

Drives: BMW X5 M 50
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: CT

iTrader: (0)

Painted Calipers

Hi, I'm new and very late to the thread. I was just wondering if you painted your calipers and if so the materials and process you employed. I have a 2016 X5 M 50 and would like to do the same. I woud welcome any advice and direction you could share.

Thanks
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 07:05 PM.




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