Carbon Ceramic Brakes - Leaning to yes, your opinion?

[JTmarlin]

New to this board, but have always been a car enthusiast and raised around BMW. Father had an E39 M5, and my brother had the E60 and now rides an F10 Competition package M5.

I'll be picking up an M4 (Mineral on SO) but am trying to decide if i want the CBB. Since i'll be purchasing the car, i'm leaning to CBB. I live/work downtown and wont drive the car but on weekends spirited, so even more reason i assume to go with CBB, but wanted those opinions that now have it and love it, or vice versa. thanks,

[AM4ZING]

Originally Posted by JTmarlin

New to this board, but have always been a car enthusiast and raised around BMW. Father had an E39 M5, and my brother had the E60 and now rides an F10 Competition package M5.

I'll be picking up an M4 (Mineral on SO) but am trying to decide if i want the CBB. Since i'll be purchasing the car, i'm leaning to CBB. I live/work downtown and wont drive the car but on weekends spirited, so even more reason i assume to go with CBB, but wanted those opinions that now have it and love it, or vice versa. thanks,

I own a Mineral White M4 with SO interior AND CCB's... I could not imagine my car without the brakes...

Not only do they look amazing, they perform with all expectations met, and then some.

[Matt_B]

It's $8k for appearance and bragging rights unless you track your car. They won't stop any better than steel brakes on the road.

[DaBean]

And even on the track, a simple pad swap is enough. Haven't yet tracked my F82 but did this all the time on my E46. Plus, pad swaps are easier on the F82 than they were on the E46.

I've heard mixed reviews with regards to the longevity of the brakes, so keep that in mind as well. New pads/rotors for the CCBs are very pricy.

But if money's not a concern, then get them - agreed that they do look amazing, and probably work a bit better than the steels (which work amazingly well to begin with)

[AM4ZING]

Originally Posted by Matt_B

It's $8k for appearance and bragging rights unless you track your car. They won't stop any better than steel brakes on the road.

They stop way better on the street once they warm up (which happens in no time) ... How would you know if you do not own CCB's lol

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Really on YES if you plan on tracking the car a lot. The Ceramic brakes on a street car in traffic are not what they were designed for.

From a magazine article I came across..

Price isn’t the only drawback of these high-performance brakes. A common complaint is that there’s less braking feel during the first part of pedal travel – especially when cold. One reason for this is that the optimal operating temperature of the carbon materials is much higher than those found in normal brakes. Once the brakes heat up, under serious track use, then they feel more “normal.”

Weighing the benefits and drawbacks of carbon ceramic brakes, it’s clear that they are ideal only for those who really need them – or for those who like spending money to make a fashion statement.

Mike

[04RC51]

Love mine! Most of the negative feedback are from people who complain about price and/or have never driven an F8X with them. If you are going to pinch pennies and worry about your bottom line, don't get them. They aren't for everyone's budget. They will be stock on the GTS and no prospective buyer has complained. :

[Matt_B]

Originally Posted by AM4ZING

They stop way better on the street once they warm up (which happens in no time) ... How would you know if you do not own CCB's lol

Tires are the limit of stopping power until you've cooked your brakes. That shouldn't happen on the street unless you're riding your brakes down a mountain, or driving way too fast for the street, or decided your M car would great for towing.

[AM4ZING]

Originally Posted by Matt_B

Tires are the limit of stopping power until you've cooked your brakes. That shouldn't happen on the street unless you're riding your brakes down a mountain, or driving way too fast for the street, or decided your M car would great for towing.

Consider people like me who go to the canyons... CCB's are much more superior than the standard brakes

[chris s]

Originally Posted by AM4ZING

They stop way better on the street once they warm up (which happens in no time) ... How would you know if you do not own CCB's lol

How do you like them in the rain?

[AM4ZING]

Originally Posted by chris s

How do you like them in the rain?

It doesnt rain in Los Angeles

Plus i bought a track car and not a toyota camry so i dont care about rain... i care about racing... hence i bought a race car

[cyber4n6]

I didn't opt for them since I don't need 8k in brakes, but I heard that they squeak until they really heat up. Is that true?

[RocketBoots]

Originally Posted by Matt_B

It's $8k for appearance and bragging rights unless you track your car. They won't stop any better than steel brakes on the road.

You're paying $8k for looks, bragging rights, AND a lifetime of NO brake dust on the wheels

[JTmarlin]

Thanks "Am4zing" & "04RC51"

I was looking for someone to say they got them and had issues on the street etc. Everyone always brings up the price, and while it may be relevant, your pinching pennies over a luxury car I tend think.

Ideally the car will be seeing lots of canyon weekend driving (malibu, Julian, Ortega)

[JTmarlin]

Good point? Anyone have issues with squeak when cold?

Originally Posted by cyber4n6

I didn't opt for them since I don't need 8k in brakes, but I heard that they squeak until they really heat up. Is that true?

[AM4ZING]

Originally Posted by JTmarlin

Thanks "Am4zing" & "04RC51"

I was looking for someone to say they got them and had issues on the street etc. Everyone always brings up the price, and while it may be relevant, your pinching pennies over a luxury car I tend think.

Ideally the car will be seeing lots of canyon weekend driving (malibu, Julian, Ortega)

I've gone to the canyons and angeles crest on several occasions and i have to say, the CCB's are flawless. They stop the car on a dime. Squeaky when cold, yes. Because racecar though.


People who cant afford them/ have not driven them are going to complain and say they aren't worth it. DO NOT listen to them.
Your car- your money- YOUR CHOICE (you will not regret getting CCB's but many forum members regret NOT getting them and they eventually order the retrofit it)

[nicknaz]

OP if you track, check on replacement cost of the rotors and whether or not they are covered by bmw maintenance. My understanding is the replacement is several thousand and it is not part of free maintenance.

[cyber4n6]

Originally Posted by AM4ZING

I've gone to the canyons and angeles crest on several occasions and i have to say, the CCB's are flawless. They stop the car on a dime. Squeaky when cold, yes. Because racecar though.


People who cant afford them/ have not driven them are going to complain and say they aren't worth it. DO NOT listen to them.
Your car- your money- YOUR CHOICE (you will not regret getting CCB's but many forum members regret NOT getting them and they eventually order the retrofit it)

I have the money, haven't driven with them, but don't regret not getting them. My car stops just fine. (I'm just messing with you)

If I bought this car specifically to track it, then it would be worth it IMO. For everyday driving and the occasional spirited driving through the canyons, my non-$8k brakes work fine.

[gblansten]

CCBs also have no brake dust. But $8K to eliminate brake dust is messed up.

[absoluteis350]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

OP if you track, check on replacement cost of the rotors and whether or not they are covered by bmw maintenance. My understanding is the replacement is several thousand and it is not part of free maintenance.

And then check if you can find ANYONE that has EVER needed to replace CCB rotors, whether it be from tracking or damage. Check out the M5/6 forums where they have had similar CCBs longer.

It's like the same ghost story over and over. The rotor cost. Even tho no one ever has had it happen to them.

By the way, the rotors are supposed to last the life of the car, under normal use. So you would just change the pads, which also last longer (but yes, cost more).

And yes, according to the all knowing forums, BMW engineers have developed an $8k brake package that performs no better than the stock rotors (no, they would say UNDER PERFORMS the stock brakes). Sigh... what is wrong with people. I guess trying to justify why they didn't get CCB ?

[SF848]

Originally Posted by AM4ZING

I've gone to the canyons and angeles crest on several occasions and i have to say, the CCB's are flawless. They stop the car on a dime. Squeaky when cold, yes. Because racecar though.


People who cant afford them/ have not driven them are going to complain and say they aren't worth it. DO NOT listen to them.
Your car- your money- YOUR CHOICE (you will not regret getting CCB's but many forum members regret NOT getting them and they eventually order the retrofit it)

I run the Crest all the time, have tracked my car several times already and the standard brakes held up well with no fade. During the track days we ran with a few cars that had the CCB's and they didn't seem to be performing any better.

That's just my opinion though and for reference I have driven the car at SPA, Nurburgring, Willow, Thermal, & Fontana (Plus tons of days up the Crest). Oh and I can afford CCB's

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by absoluteis350

And then check if you can find ANYONE that has EVER needed to replace CCB rotors, whether it be from tracking or damage. Check out the M5/6 forums where they have had similar CCBs longer.

It's like the same ghost story over and over. The rotor cost. Even tho no one ever has had it happen to them.

By the way, the rotors are supposed to last the life of the car, under normal use. So you would just change the pads, which also last longer (but yes, cost more).

And yes, according to the all knowing forums, BMW engineers have developed an $8k brake package that performs no better than the stock rotors (no, they would say UNDER PERFORMS the stock brakes). Sigh... what is wrong with people. I guess trying to justify why they didn't get CCB ?

I was referring to track use not normal/commuter use

Check the Porsche GT3 forums. That's the place to look for a longer history of CCB track users. There are definitely owners replacing the CCB with steel rotors to keep cost down for their tracked GT3

Not sure many track an M5 or M6 so that's not a great place to look, in my opinion

I'm not trying to justify anything, just want to make sure OP is fully aware of the potential cost if he tracks his car heavily