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      02-06-2012, 07:26 PM   #1
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Brake dust anyone?

Can't go for a drive around town in my just washed car without coming home to black rims. Anyone had any success with reducing or preventing brake dust? Do they make brake covers or something, or is this something we are stuck with?
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      02-06-2012, 07:51 PM   #2
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Some people claim the newer Z4's had less dust problems, but apparently not. Switching to ceramic brake pads will solve your problem.
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      02-06-2012, 08:07 PM   #3
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When I saw the topic I was going to be a smart arse and say "No thanks, I have enough already."

Quote:
Originally Posted by jparnes1 View Post
Some people claim the newer Z4's had less dust problems, but apparently not. Switching to ceramic brake pads will solve your problem.
Anyone had any luck sourcing ceramic pads for the e89?
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      02-06-2012, 08:23 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2 View Post
When I saw the topic I was going to be a smart arse and say "No thanks, I have enough already."



Anyone had any luck sourcing ceramic pads for the e89?
I have been searching for a while. The fronts are available but I have not been able to find any ceramics for the rear.

The amount of brake dust produced by my 2011 335d is about 10% of what my Z4 brake pads produce so BMW definitely did change something between the 2010 and 2011 models.
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      02-06-2012, 08:28 PM   #5
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I don't have a brake dust problem in my 2012 and I've been driving it daily for the past 2 weeks. The IS250, now that has some major brake dust problem and only in the front so the front wheels are black while the rears are still grey. lol
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      02-06-2012, 08:31 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmorin49 View Post
I have been searching for a while. The fronts are available but I have not been able to find any ceramics for the rear.

The amount of brake dust produced by my 2011 335d is about 10% of what my Z4 brake pads produce so BMW definitely did change something between the 2010 and 2011 models.
POssibly they spec a softer pad on a sports car?

If anyone does find a good set of low dust pads - please let us all know.
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      02-06-2012, 10:27 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jparnes1 View Post
Some people claim the newer Z4's had less dust problems, but apparently not. Switching to ceramic brake pads will solve your problem.
In my case the dust is not a problem. Compared to my 2006 Z4 3.0Si the 35i has MUCH less brake dust. I just take a soft brush and brush them off once a week. Just a very light film after driving 300 miles for the week. Just curious how much more dust can vary from car to car. Unless you are braking often and heavily. Anyone else have heavy dust on the e89?
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      02-06-2012, 11:27 PM   #8
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I use this stuff and works great at keeping my wheels stay cleaner longer:
http://www.armorall.com/products/vie...ry_index=wheel

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Last edited by flpnout; 02-07-2012 at 02:06 AM..
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      02-07-2012, 01:33 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rfx45 View Post
I don't have a brake dust problem in my 2012 and I've been driving it daily for the past 2 weeks. The IS250, now that has some major brake dust problem and only in the front so the front wheels are black while the rears are still grey. lol
Mine's a 2012 Z4 is. Took it for a nice ride up in the Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu this weekend, and when I got home, the wheels were black....
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      02-07-2012, 07:54 AM   #10
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rfx45,

My wife has a 2009 IS250 AWD with the same problem. Turns out there was a technical service bulletin out for 06 through 09 models. They replaced her brake pads (and rotors no less) with lower performing pads and surprise....ZERO brake dust.

Apologies for high-jacking the thread....
Dave
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      02-07-2012, 03:58 PM   #11
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brake dust come whit disc brake unless you have ceramic brake you'll have to live whit it.
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      02-07-2012, 04:34 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flpnout View Post
I use this stuff and works great at keeping my wheels stay cleaner longer:
http://www.armorall.com/products/vie...ry_index=wheel

I don't know how dirty your car gets in San Fran, but I'm washing my car once a week anyway, so the wheels get washed before the brake dust gets insane.
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      02-08-2012, 10:12 AM   #13
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Mine gets washed once a month. I need the product. But then again, my car only gets driven on weekends (long drives). Weekdays I'm on BART or MUNI.
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      02-08-2012, 02:31 PM   #14
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The pads are the culprit, but there is also the wheel design/aero/venting as well as driving habits and what helps that I most recently discovered...turning off DSC. Seems the handling/safety helpers are more efficacious than the dashboard light may tell us. Buyer beware on hard pads. Accelerated rotor-replacement is the exchange for less dust. Try to spend more time on the go pedal than the whoa pedal.
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      02-09-2012, 10:06 PM   #15
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I have an '11 35is and the brake dust is minimal. I have replaced the pads on my other non BMW cars with ceramics in the past because I hate brake dust and had planned to do the same on this one, but it is minimal enough that I have chosen not to replace them. As previously said, I think the fronts are the only ones available in ceramics so far though.
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      02-09-2012, 10:28 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rfx45 View Post
I don't have a brake dust problem in my 2012 and I've been driving it daily for the past 2 weeks. The IS250, now that has some major brake dust problem and only in the front so the front wheels are black while the rears are still grey. lol
Tell me about it! I had an IS350. Actually saw puffs of dust come around the fenders during hard braking! The Z4's brake dust is nothing compared to that.
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