Brakes for my 530DAT 2004 E39

530D

Hi,
i've got a 530DAT 2004 E39 and have to do a lot during summer before registering the car to the goverment ( and pay a LOT of taxes)....

First i'll have to change brakes and i'm considering upgraded brakes, but i'm so confused after reading that people have issues with drilled rotors etc.
Also that drilled rotors have less metal surface to dissipate heat ....

Is it better to go for dimpled and grooved rotors for this heavy car (1840kg)?
Or should i go for plain Brembo rotors?
Pads gonna be Ferodo FDB997 & FDB1075


I was thinking about these rotors: http://tinyurl.com/yag5kn4
But i'm concerned about who manufactured these & about the quality since i've read that aftermarket poor drilled rotors can give issues.....
Don't have money to waste either

Thanks you all in advance!!!

cyborg

I wouldn't bother with drilled or grooved discs, too noisy for a start and I would be worried about the quality of cheap 1's, a set of regular brembo discs and OEM pads should be more than adequate.

Mr.David

Don't do it - its the automotive equivalent of a push up bra, sure it looks great but thats where it ends.

Get yourself new high quality brake fluid (this will make a big difference), uprated pads (depending on the driving duty cycle) and some plain discs.

Consider opposed piston callipers - they are much better than sliding, but are expensive.

530D

Thanks for your replies!!!

Ok, i've got my suspicions confirmed by you

Another question: since my car has 324x30mm and 298x22 rotors, i can't find Brembo Max for the front axel

I'm thinking of having OEM rotors in front and Brembo Max in rear...
Is it dangerous to have different brake rotors on front/rear axel?

Read something about biasing...

Mr.David

No, I'm sure it would be grand. By the way, Brembo dont actually make discs - they only do callipers. The discs may be branded as Brembos, but they will have been sub contracted out to a disc manufacturer. The only reason I tell you is that you could consider looking at other disc manufacturers?

The main thing for the discs (once you have picked a set size and style) is tolerancing as they will all be similar in terms of material. The tolerancing will influence whether or not you have judder.

530D

"No, I'm sure it would be grand." means i can use different brakes on front and rear axel?


I've two choices since i'm gonna buy from Germany, as the prices are to got damn high here in Norway.
Zimmermann or Brembo, both OEM plain rotors.

Ok. What do you think about this?

http://tinyurl.com/y3qq2qr

bmw535d

how do you have a 2004 e39?

530D

I know that many aren't aware of it, but BMW 5 series Tourings were made until 05.2004

The sedan versions stopped in 2003..



Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_5_Series_%28E39%29

"The E39 wagon (touring / estate) was continued into 2004 until the touring version of the new E60 5 Series was released."

bmw535d wrote: »

how do you have a 2004 e39?

bmw535d

nice didnt know that atall.i knew the e60 began production in 2003, bmw typically overlap production models but i wasnt aware of the e39/e60 overlap:D

that means you would have one of the end of the line models with every bell and wistle on it to get rid of some parts:D

rabbitinlights

One of the best thing about the E39s are the brakes, I would not mess too much with the OEM set up as it's very good. The only thing I would do would be the brake fluid.

I'm getting my front pads replaced tomorrow and went OEM after loads of research....

S.

530D

Ok, i see. Is this OEM brakes:
http://tinyurl.com/y5lh9yp

BTW, i was planning to have Fedorodo pads with Meyle rotors, what do you think?

rabbitinlights wrote: »

One of the best thing about the E39s are the brakes, I would not mess too much with the OEM set up as it's very good. The only thing I would do would be the brake fluid.

I'm getting my front pads replaced tomorrow and went OEM after loads of research....

S.

530D

I did not understand "that means you would have one of the end of the line models with every bell and wistle on it to get rid of some parts" ?

bmw535d wrote: »

nice didnt know that atall.i knew the e60 began production in 2003, bmw typically overlap production models but i wasnt aware of the e39/e60 overlap:D

that means you would have one of the end of the line models with every bell and wistle on it to get rid of some parts:D

bmw535d

530D wrote: »

I did not understand "that means you would have one of the end of the line models with every bell and wistle on it to get rid of some parts" ?

what i ment was your car would have almost all the extras you could have on an e39 because it was made so near the end of the production date of the e39.therefor car manufactures usually make the last couple of thousand cars very high spec:D

daveharnett

bmw535d wrote: »

what i ment was your car would have almost all the extras you could have on an e39 because it was made so near the end of the production date of the e39.therefor car manufactures usually make the last couple of thousand cars very high spec:D

I'd suspect it has more to do with keeping the imminent new model from trashing the value of the outgoing one. Possibly not a big problem with e39 vs e60 mind

OP, i'd be wary of altering the brake balance without serious testing. Have you tested the stock brakes properly? The brakes on the saloon are strong enough to lock up/activate abs on a dry road with decent road tyres. Don't see the point of adding extra brake force that the car will never be able to put down.

530D

Ah, yeah, you are kind of right.
This is a Edition Exclusive with lot of options, but except the heat on the driving wheel

bmw535d wrote: »

what i ment was your car would have almost all the extras you could have on an e39 because it was made so near the end of the production date of the e39.therefor car manufactures usually make the last couple of thousand cars very high spec:D

530D

The problem is that the whole car vibrates like hell when braking.
I've got advice to check the bushings from other BMW forums.
I'll check the brakes closer.
I drove the car from Germany to Norway, but it was so slippery on the roads in february so ABS/DSC was activated several times.
I'll have to test it on a dry road i guess?

So if the ABS is not being activated while braking hard on a dry road, then brakes are weak?

daveharnett wrote: »

I'd suspect it has more to do with keeping the imminent new model from trashing the value of the outgoing one. Possibly not a big problem with e39 vs e60 mind

OP, i'd be wary of altering the brake balance without serious testing. Have you tested the stock brakes properly? The brakes on the saloon are strong enough to lock up/activate abs on a dry road with decent road tyres. Don't see the point of adding extra brake force that the car will never be able to put down.

ShiresV2

530D wrote: »

The problem is that the whole car vibrates like hell when braking.
I've got advice to check the bushings from other BMW forums.

The whole car shakes badly or just the steering wheel? Steering wheel shake will be the lower control arm and tension strut bushings. They're usually toast at 60k ish and worse on the passenger side due to potholes etc. It can cause the ABS to activate when braking over uneven surfaces, even at low speeds, as the front wheels get very out of line due to the weak bushings.

If the whole car is shaking, to me it would suggest that something is wrong with the rear suspension, not front. There again I'm just a nerd on an internet forum and not a mechanic.

530D wrote: »

So if the ABS is not being activated while braking hard on a dry road, then brakes are weak?

My E39 has fat, grippy summer tyres and factory brakes in good nick. On some road surfaces in the dry, hard braking won't activate the ABS but I can still get the "brain exiting skull" sensation. :pac: On others it does go off.

the merchant

An E39 shuddering violently under braking is VERY probably as simple as low tyre pressure in the front.

Bet you a tenner that if you put 36psi in the front the problem will disappear :-)

530D

But can anyone tell me which OEM rotors to go for?
Now i'm confused about the OEM stuff.
Are Brembo, ATE and Zimmermann rotors considered OEM for my 530DAT?

I wanna go for original/OEM, but wanna buy from Germany/Ebay.de.
But dpn't know which brand name to look for?

Fingers Mcginty

I have a similar problem on my E39...Steering wheel shakes whilst braking at high speed but I don't get any shakiung in the brake pedal. Any ideas? PS Mechanic told me my discs are OK

the merchant

Fingers Mcginty wrote: »

I have a similar problem on my E39...Steering wheel shakes whilst braking at high speed but I don't get any shakiung in the brake pedal. Any ideas? PS Mechanic told me my discs are OK

Look up a couple of posts... Happened me and was delighted with the free fix.

Fingers Mcginty

Had a feelin pumping the front tyres to 35 psi wouldn't eliminate my prob. Did it on the way home from work tonight and still the same. Gonna drop the car in and get him to check the front thrust arms. Seems to be the culprit in a lot of these cases. Will let yiz know