[IanS100]

I've managed to get a photo of the rust, and whilst it's not exactly terminal it looks pretty crap under minimalist M Sport wheels. I'm amazed that BMW were unable to paint them, even though brake painting is a service they offer (at a price) but not apparently for these? I'll just do the job myself when the weather warms up!

[HighlandPete]

Looking at the picture I'd say that is a typical pattern of corrosion I'd see, looking at 90% of cars up here. Zinc based coatings go just the same way in a similar time on many cars. See it all the time in our environment. Does look as if the coating is simply a new part coating, not a "full life" protection. Certainly not a durable finish, as on the M-sport brake components.

I've put a light coating of waxoyl on my outer brake parts. Not a nice colour (greyish brown), but stops the corrosion, also stops the calipers from looking so bad and patchy.

HighlandPete

[IanS100]

I wonder how much more it would've cost to put a decent coat of paint on them, buttons, and when you consider that we pay a premium price to own these cars it doesn't seem an unreasonable expectation

[jedpause]

I have the same problem folks, but I know in my case it's harsh chemicals at drive in carwashes are the cause (yes salt/grit is partially to blame too)

I could see it happening over time even when the roads were dry, and it was summer... so that's my basis...

What paint is safe to use?

[MrPogle]

I assume you are only talking about rear callipers. My rears look like yours but my fronts are fine. Why don't they just make the rears out of the same stuff as the fronts?

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by MrPogle

I assume you are only talking about rear callipers. My rears look like yours but my fronts are fine. Why don't they just make the rears out of the same stuff as the fronts?

+1 the fronts look fine. The last set of calipers I painted were on a Vectra, I used blue Hamerite smooth, and although it isn't great at keying to aluminium, they were still looking good when I sold the car 4 years later. I think BMW used blackboard paint on our rear calipers