[iCARMIX]

When it comes to upgrading the factory brakes, many owners opt for the sporty and vibrant red version. But there are also those who prefer to keep things low-key and avoid flashy colors on their vehicle, and so, like this iX (I20) pictured here, chose to upgrade their car with a blue version of the M Power high-performance system. While the blue M Power calipers may not grab attention like the red ones do, they exude a touch of understated luxury and a unique personal style.
I'd call them a sleeper brake.

The iX originally came equipped with another blue version of the M Sport braking system, smaller 4-piston calipers at the front and a single-piston caliper at the rear. For an electric vehicle weighing over 2.5 tons, this braking setup was just "good enough" in terms of overall braking performance but felt a bit "soft". The upgrade, on the other hand, features 6-piston calipers at the front and a single-piston caliper at the rear, along with larger and better heat-dissipating 395mm front and 380mm rear semi-floating discs. Compared to stock, this upgrade offers stronger braking performance, and greater security. Additionally, the M Power 6-piston calipers feature pistons arranged in a progressively larger configuration, resulting in more linear braking and a smoother braking experience. Also, since it's a genuine BMW factory product, comes with a guarantee of easy installation and compliance with vehicle inspection. That's peace of mind right there.

As far as I'm concerned, this upgrade has the iCARMIX seal of approval.

Check out our comprehensive list of items, for your I20 iX:
https://icarmix.com/?s=I20+ix&post_type=product


And look at this beauty!

[Pictor]

But why? Why cross drilled rotors on an EV?

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by Pictor

But why? Why cross drilled rotors on an EV?

For the same two reasons people in gas cars would make this switch. Esthetics and improved hard braking and heat dissipation.

Not my cup of tea but there are plenty of folks who like this kind of stuff.

[Cortexiphan]

Brake disks and pads are very rarely used on iX, especially if the owner lives in an urban area and use 'B' mode...
I bet most people won't even need to replace brake pads for the life of the car.

[thebishman]

This ‘upgrade’ is purely for esthetic reasons alone, since the actual braking 95% of the time is done via regeneration, or a blend of regeneration and mechanical brakes. In the incredibly rare case of a true emergency stop when regeneration isn’t much in the mix, stopping the car is all about the tyres as the OEM brakes will work perfectly well. The only time the OEM brakes might be lacking is in perhaps fade after repeated high speed, high deceleration braking, but anyone using their iX on a road course is mental anyway.

[Pictor]

Right. So essentially a spam post for ~$5,000 USD cosmetic upgrades that only serve to increase unsprung weight at each corner.

[exxxviii]

This seller looks like it posts an ad in every forum every month or two. It has been happening for a while, so the moderators must be OK with it.

[Young04]

Are these actual M compound pads? If so, on an EV, they're gonna squeal like crazy when used. In the M cars I've had in the past, you really had to regularly heat up the brakes to get to not squeal.

[Pictor]

Originally Posted by Young04

Are these actual M compound pads? If so, on an EV, they're gonna squeal like crazy when used. In the M cars I've had in the past, you really had to regularly heat up the brakes to get to not squeal.

Only if you or the iX uses the friction brakes. Not to mention the brake dust.

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by Pictor

Not to mention the brake dust.

Now there's something I don't miss from my previous modern BMWs...
My 335xi, X4 M40i and X5 40i all had m-sport brakes and the brake dust was crazy. I eventually stopped caring but for those that are OCD about keeping their cars clean, this would drive them crazy.

I lived with it because I traded the cars in before needing a brake job.
I only had to replace pads on my X4 because they wore unevenly between the inside and outside pad, so one of them was almost completely gone while the other was still very thick but BMW didn't admit to it being an issue on their end... I went with a quality non-bmw pad through my indie garage, I believe it was a pad made by Bilstein. No dust in comparison to the OEM ones and I noticed absolutely no difference in braking. So if anyone is having that issue with another BMW, this is what I would suggest.

[iCARMIX]

Originally Posted by exxxviii

This seller looks like it posts an ad in every forum every month or two. It has been happening for a while, so the moderators must be OK with it.

Hi, thanks for the concern of the forum, and my posts. I've actually been around here a while, posting as a private individual. But in order for me to be able to use watermarks on my photos (which are taken from my garage, on the installs I do), I had to pay a sponsor fee. So I decided to go all in, and also change my name into my brand name

[iCARMIX]

Originally Posted by Pictor

Right. So essentially a spam post for ~$5,000 USD cosmetic upgrades that only serve to increase unsprung weight at each corner.

*with pretty pictures

[iCARMIX]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

Now there's something I don't miss from my previous modern BMWs...
My 335xi, X4 M40i and X5 40i all had m-sport brakes and the brake dust was crazy. I eventually stopped caring but for those that are OCD about keeping their cars clean, this would drive them crazy.

I lived with it because I traded the cars in before needing a brake job.
I only had to replace pads on my X4 because they wore unevenly between the inside and outside pad, so one of them was almost completely gone while the other was still very thick but BMW didn't admit to it being an issue on their end... I went with a quality non-bmw pad through my indie garage, I believe it was a pad made by Bilstein. No dust in comparison to the OEM ones and I noticed absolutely no difference in braking. So if anyone is having that issue with another BMW, this is what I would suggest.

Wow that was quite the experience. Usually pads are considered consumables, even more so than the discs. Not sure if they even go through the same thorough testing as the rest of the kit, save for the break-in which is done by the driver. Could it have been a faulty one?

[javapro]

Originally Posted by iCARMIX

Hi, thanks for the concern of the forum, and my posts. I've actually been around here a while, posting as a private individual. But in order for me to be able to use watermarks on my photos (which are taken from my garage, on the installs I do), I had to pay a sponsor fee. So I decided to go all in, and also change my name into my brand name

Yes but you are in Hong Kong and most forum members here are in the US!

[exxxviii]

This does raise a curious question to me... EV friction brakes rarely get used. I go weeks at a time without every engaging the friction brakes. They last forever. So, the usage patterns are radically different from every other type of car.

Therefore, do BEV automakers use different brake pad compounds and disc designs given that they will last the life of the car and need to work perfectly when bone cold?

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by iCARMIX

Wow that was quite the experience. Usually pads are considered consumables, even more so than the discs. Not sure if they even go through the same thorough testing as the rest of the kit, save for the break-in which is done by the driver. Could it have been a faulty one?

I suspect there was an issue with my brakes that caused the uneven wear issue. I've never had brakes wear unevenly like that before on any car. Their excuses were BS and I planned on fighting them to pay for the replacement and had my local garage give me the used pads to bring back to them, but I eventually just threw them in the garbage and moved on.

[iCARMIX]

Originally Posted by javapro

Yes but you are in Hong Kong and most forum members here are in the US!

It's fine, I enjoy posting about what we do. I've had some people commenting that the photos are cool. Some even ask me for advice in PM. It doesn't have to lead to a sale (which by the way, we ship overseas). If it leads to a "thank you", and maybe even some extra clicks on my website, I'll be happy!

[iCARMIX]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

I suspect there was an issue with my brakes that caused the uneven wear issue. I've never had brakes wear unevenly like that before on any car. Their excuses were BS and I planned on fighting them to pay for the replacement and had my local garage give me the used pads to bring back to them, but I eventually just threw them in the garbage and moved on.

It's weird someone would even try to come up with excuses for something like this. I mean for a whammy like that, you gotta admit and take responsibility. I am curious though, did you ever hear any unusual sound from that brake when you had it on? or maybe some less than desirable stopping power overall? Or was is completely asymptomatic ?