[DARKKN1GHT]

As the title states I have begun to play around with retrofitting brakes from other BMW vehicles on my F10 535i xDrive in hopes of achieving cheaper options for an upgrade in brake performance. Hopefully this thread will be a nice source of information for others wishing to do the same and possibly help out with what fits and what doesn't.

So far from my online research and personal experience it seems that (7 Series ) F01 front brake calipers and rotors are a direct bolt on to our cars. Bigger caliper while still a single piston, uses a 374x36 Rotor. The stock F01 rear calipers do not fit as the F01 doesn't use the electronic brake on its caliper.

It seems that E60 stuff may fit on the front as well based on online research but not entirely sure as I have not tried it personally. E60 M5 calipers are cheap and 2 pistons with a 374x36 rotor as well.

G11 Brakes sadly did not fit. I was able to bolt them on my F10 and the front calipers themselves mount up to the carrier but will not work due several design changes of the cars. BMW went from 5x120 to 5x112 bolt pattern, therefore the brake pad of the G11 caliper interferes with the hub of the 5x120 rotor, it also was not centered on the rotor itself, but a washer or spacer could have fixed that. The rear G11 calipers did not fit at all.

I am in the process of fitting the front brakes from an E70 X5M/X6M. These brakes are massive and are a Brembo caliper with four pistons. The rotors are also massive at 395x36. So far the X5M caliper bolts on to the stock carrier without an adapter and everything appears to line up. Still waiting on new brake pads and rotors I ordered to fit everything up and test them.

I've attached some pictures. Blue calipers are G11 and Black ones are X5M.

[.BMW.]

Looking forward to follow your progress.

I have also looked into what brake differences there are within the F10 range. The stock brakes differs in the US compared to Europe.

Example for front F10 brakes below:

535i (US) uses 2-piece non-directional 348x30 rotors.
Partnr. 34 11 6 786 820
Caliper housing.
L: partnr. 34 11 6 792 689
R: partnr. 34 11 6 792 690
Caliper carrier.
Partnr. 34 11 6 792 691
Brake pads.
Partnr. 34 11 6 850 885

535i/535d (Eu) use the same brakes as 550i (US), that is 2-piece directional 348x36 rotors.
L: partnr. 34 11 6 785 669
R: partnr. 34 11 6 785 670
Caliper housing.
L: partnr. 34 11 6 786 817
R: partnr. 34 11 6 786 818
Caliper carrier.
Partnr. 34 11 6 786 820
Brake pads.
Partnr. 34 11 6 851 269

550i in Europe instead uses 2-piece directional 374x36 rotors.
L: partnr. 34 11 6 785 675
R: partnr. 34 11 6 785 676
Caliper housing.
L: partnr. 34 11 6 786 817
R: partnr. 34 11 6 786 818
Caliper carrier.
Partnr. 34 11 6 786 829
Brake pads.
Partnr. 34 11 6 851 269

So one simple mod for 535 and 550 owners in the US is to order European 550i front brakes, if you have 550i only brake caliper carriers, pads and rotors are needed (calipers is the same). For 535 carriers, calipers, rotors and pads are needed.

[DARKKN1GHT]

The cheaper option for the 374x36 front rotors could be F01 rotors since they make drilled and slotted aftermarkets and they fit our cars.

[.BMW.]

F01 750i share the same part numbers with F10 550i for the 374x36 front rotors, at least in Europe, so yes you are correct!

L: partnr. 34 11 6 785 675
R: partnr. 34 11 6 785 676

[.BMW.]

Originally Posted by DARKKN1GHT

The cheaper option for the 374x36 front rotors could be F01 rotors since they make drilled and slotted aftermarkets and they fit our cars.

Have you found any 2-piece drilled and/or slotted 374x36 rotors for F01 or F10?

The only ones I found was for E60 M5, but they still might fit.

Would be better with F01 since the part numbers are the same from factory.

[DARKKN1GHT]

I haven't found any budget 2 piece rotors unless you go for low mileage used ones from M cars. Seems like all the aftermarket ones are 1 piece cast. That's what I'm going with for my replacements.

[sesh1957]

I put this brand on my Lexus and will on my F10 when due to change. Noticable difference compared to regular rotors.

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Stop-K6.../dp/B0741W6BQ9

[DARKKN1GHT]

Originally Posted by .BMW.

Have you found any 2-piece drilled and/or slotted 374x36 rotors for F01 or F10?

The only ones I found was for E60 M5, but they still might fit.

Would be better with F01 since the part numbers are the same from factory.

https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/341122...BoCLT4QAvD_BwEThose look like 2 piece M5 E60 rotors which I am pretty sure would fit, same exact dimensions.

[DARKKN1GHT]

Originally Posted by sesh1957

I put this brand on my Lexus and will on my F10 when due to change. Noticable difference compared to regular rotors.

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Stop-K6.../dp/B0741W6BQ9

Powerstop rotors look nice, thats what I used for the test fit, I didnt try them out as I sent them back though.

[.BMW.]

Originally Posted by DARKKN1GHT

Those look like 2 piece M5 E60 rotors which I am pretty sure would fit, same exact dimensions.

I’ve looked into E60 M5 374x36 rotors, since they have the same diameter and thickness as F10 550i.

But unfortunately they will not fit with F10 calipers without modifications. The offset of the E60 rotors is 11mm bigger than for F10.

Rotor width plus offset equals to the rotor height, the rotor width is 36mm for both but the height is 66mm for F10 and 77mm for E60 (i.e. 11mm higher rotor offset).

[DARKKN1GHT]

Originally Posted by .BMW.

I’ve looked into E60 M5 374x36 rotors, since they have the same diameter and thickness as F10 550i.

But unfortunately they will not fit with F10 calipers without modifications. The offset of the E60 rotors is 11mm bigger than for F10.

Rotor width plus offset equals to the rotor height, the rotor width is 36mm for both but the height is 66mm for F10 and 77mm for E60 (i.e. 11mm higher rotor offset).

Hmm, maybe with a small spacer on the inside of caliper mounting locations to space the caliper out some or shave it down.. Or just run the M5 e60 calipers as well, its a better caliper anyways.

[.BMW.]

Changing also the calipers to E60 M5 would be a nice upgrade.

But I was looking for a cheaper option with 374x36 rotors and my current calipers. The options now, since I like to continue with 2-piece rotors (less unsprung weight), are either OEM F01/F10 374 rotors or aftermarket. But then instead I miss slotted/dimpled rotors since that combination dosen't seem to exist.

[DARKKN1GHT]

Well you can always buy some used e60 m5 calipers, they can be had for about 100 bucks online and then sell your stock ones..

As far as the X5M calipers and rotors are concerned, it seems like I will have to run a small washer as the caliper isnt perfectly centered between the rotor. Should not be a huge issue, but I will see during the test drive..

[DARKKN1GHT]

I am also attempting to retrofit the 370mm rear rotors from the F01 but it appears that I will be unable to. The calipers and rotors them self fit without issue but they do not use the electronic e-brake like F10 on the caliper body so cant do it, unless I want to drive around without an e'brake or retrofit the entire system from the F01..

So I am going to fit the 550i calipers and rotors which are a bigger caliper and larger rotor at 345mm versus the stock 330mm that came on my 535i.

[addy27]

Biggest OEM options for F10 are the (as mentioned in the first post) front calipers/pads/rotors from a 760i F01 (Also sold as high speed braking system in Europe with 374/36 rotors..while 750i uses same size rotors as 550i : 348/36). Rears keep the same as 550i..

High speed braking system for 528 or 535i just bump them to 550i size. But Fronts from 760i are also used on Alpina B5/B6/B7s.

[.BMW.]

I upgraded the front brakes to 2-piece directional 374x36 rotors found on Euro spec 550i/M550d today.

2nd photo show the visual difference between 374x36 and 348x36 rotors.

[addy27]

Are you using the bigger calipers too or just bigger rotors?

EDIT : I read above that you planned to keep the same calipers.. so any issues keeping them as is? thickness of the rotors is the same between both rotors so piston travel distance does not change. However, you'll still be using the same surface area for braking as your 348x36 rotor. Which means this is purely a cosmetic upgrade, which none the less...will def look better.

[.BMW.]

The calipers are the same for 348 and 374 rotors, look at the part numbers in the second post above.

The caliper carrier is different though.

[.BMW.]

Not only cosmetical upgrade.

Since the calipers is the same, the force between the disc and brake pads is also the same.

But the bigger rotors generates more torque on the front wheels (friction force times leverage), i.e. more stopping power.

The 374mm rotors are 7.5% bigger than 348, the stopping power (on the front axle) will be increased by the same amount.

[addy27]

So its interesting to note though. For US, cars come with country specific brake systems, S212A which specifies the rotors as 348X36.

And the only cars that come with the 374x36 are either 760i or Alpina cars. Others in the US do NOT get the 374x36 brakes.

having said that, both the Alpinas and 760s have a different part number for the Caliper : 34116786827 (OR blue painted version 34117990053).

On initial observation you can see the caliper edges are not as chamfered and cover more of the rotor..

Lastly, you can see the Brake Pads for the 827 calipers are bigger than the ones for the 817 calipers..

Basically, what you have done is put a bigger rotor, which is essentially more mass which is increasing your rotational torque and will require more friction to stop and so, the only drawback might be that you wear your pads slightly faster

[DARKKN1GHT]

F10 535i has the smaller discs and calipers front and rear. In my experience it is cheaper to buy a used F01 caliper than buying a new caliper bracket only. The pads between F10 535 and F01 750i calipers are different in size. The F10 550i rear brakes are also bigger than my F10 535i and a huge upgrade judging based on caliper, brake pad and rotor size.

[addy27]

Originally Posted by DARKKN1GHT

F10 535i has the smaller discs and calipers front and rear. In my experience it is cheaper to buy a used F01 caliper than buying a new caliper bracket only. The pads between F10 535 and F01 750i calipers are different in size. The F10 550i rear brakes are also bigger than my F10 535i and a huge upgrade judging based on caliper, brake pad and rotor size.

Were you able to retrofit the X5m brakes onto the F10?