[BeEmVee]

Anyone know why the red brakes have a dark center piece and smooth circle enclosure vs the gray color of the blue rotors with a cog style center piece? They look like completely different brake rotors, and I believe technically just the caliper color should be the only difference. Is it just the rendering on the website? Real-world photos would be helpful!

[FastMarkA]

Hmm, as a marketer, I would never take anything I see in promotional materials as mechanically accurate.

I think the only way to answer this is by looking at actual pics of red and blue calipers that have been installed.

But your attention to detail is quite remarkable!

[TurtleBoy]

There is no difference between the two other than the color of the calipers.

[Photographer918]

As a former photographer, they weren’t lit the same when they were shot, nor were they color corrected to the same numbers….

[Francolargo]

Originally Posted by Photographer918

As a former photographer, they weren’t lit the same when they were shot, nor were they color corrected to the same numbers….

True, but the two hubs are not alike, nor the two disc castings. As I compared the two I realized the blue disc has a smaller active contact area compared to the red. Also, the lug holes should be the same diameter but the red look smaller, indicating a larger disc. Different models altogether?

I previously noticed while messing with the online X5 build configurator, when you select the 50e it *appears* that the brake rotors get larger. So I've been hoping that in fact they are a little beefier than those on the 40i. I was told that the rotor size does not increase if you choose the M-Sport brakes, but we shall see...

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by Francolargo

True, but the two hubs are not alike, nor the two disc castings. As I compared the two I realized the blue disc has a smaller active contact area compared to the red. Also, the lug holes should be the same diameter but the red look smaller, indicating a larger disc. Different models altogether?

I previously noticed while messing with the online X5 build configurator, when you select the 50e it *appears* that the brake rotors get larger. So I've been hoping that in fact they are a little beefier than those on the 40i. I was told that the rotor size does not increase if you choose the M-Sport brakes, but we shall see...

The 50e weighs much more than the 40i and would likely benefit from more muscular brakes.

[Francolargo]

Originally Posted by cobramite

The 50e weighs much more than the 40i and would likely benefit from more muscular brakes.

Right - that's why I went with M-Sport calipers as well. But I've never had a 'brake-by-wire' system so this will be an all new experience with the 50e brain modulating between HV battery regeneration vs. mechanical friction.

[gadgetfreak2024]

Originally Posted by cobramite

The 50e weighs much more than the 40i and would likely benefit from more muscular brakes.

My personal 50e experience — with the M Sport Pro package — the car feels very heavy under braking and would have done better with further brake performance upgrades.

My 2011 X5 50i subjectively feels more responsive under any reasonable braking. I imagine it is a fair bit lighter.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2024

My personal 50e experience — with the M Sport Pro package — the car feels very heavy under braking and would have done better with further brake performance upgrades.

My 2011 X5 50i subjectively feels more responsive under any reasonable braking. I imagine it is a fair bit lighter.

Doubt any brake upgrade would help, my guess is the limitation is on wheel/tires.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2024

My personal 50e experience — with the M Sport Pro package — the car feels very heavy under braking and would have done better with further brake performance upgrades.

My 2011 X5 50i subjectively feels more responsive under any reasonable braking. I imagine it is a fair bit lighter.

standard brakes on the 50e are already upgraded from the standard brakes on the 40i (without a tow hitch). brakes are upgraded when optioned with a tow hitch. M Sport is an additional upgrade over both of these

[gadgetfreak2024]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

standard brakes on the 50e are already upgraded from the standard brakes on the 40i (without a tow hitch). brakes are upgraded when optioned with a tow hitch. M Sport is an additional upgrade over both of these

I also have a factory tow hitch, which I forgot to mention. So I guess I have the best brake package available from the factory.

[gadgetfreak2024]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

Doubt any brake upgrade would help, my guess is the limitation is on wheel/tires.

That certainly could be. I'm on the standard 20"-ers with all-season rubber. Where I live, summer/performance wasn't a practical option.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2024

I also have a factory tow hitch, which I forgot to mention. So I guess I have the best brake package available from the factory.

from the factory, yes, but back in April (then updated in August), someone installed a big brake kit on their M Sport 45e.
https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...=big+brake+kit

maybe could do the same on your M Sport 50e?

[eelnoraa]

On the first panic brake, the limit is tires, not brake or wheel. If you haven’t activated ABS, you didn’t press the brake hard enough. BBK only help on repeat panic level braking. The feel of heavy is is not related to brake. It is because it is really much heavier, and the rather soft suspension setup. What you feel is the car dive due to weight transfer. Getting bigger brake is not going to improve that.

[Francolargo]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2024

That certainly could be. I'm on the standard 20"-ers with all-season rubber. Where I live, summer/performance wasn't a practical option.

I'm in the same situation weather-wise. Even in my lighter and possibly more-nimble X3, which is decent on dry roads, slippery braking is typically less safe than more aggressive powered evasive moves. When traction is poor and there's mayhem in front, xDrive's torque vectoring and creative steering are better than trying to stop!

I also wonder, and am a couple weeks from being able to test, how the 'brake by wire' system performs and feels at the pedal. I'm hoping that the system is very conservative to put kinetic energy back into the battery. I gather the external front sensors modulate the coasting behavior, and the brakes start by increasing the strength of regeneration before actual friction is generated. Interesting! We'll see what happens on the white stuff.