The auto manufacturers use cast iron or steel for making disc brakes but some of the latest high performance vehicle models have brakes made up of carbon fibre and ceramics. Similarly, BMW has introduced carbon ceramic brakes.
The carbon ceramic brakes provide an advantage of functioning properly at extreme temperatures. These carbon ceramic brakes are found in BMW M models that provide great endurance and braking power.
Here’s a complete guide on what are BMW carbon ceramic brakes, their advantages, disadvantages, colour and cost.
WHAT ARE BMW CARBON CERAMIC BRAKES?
The ceramic brakes are manufactured from a combination of carbon fibre, ceramics and silicon just like space shuttles. The space shuttles made up of this material provide high strength and functions under extra pressure and temperature.
The disc brakes generate high heat from the friction. The conventional materials such as iron and steel heat up and result in degradation of components. Whereas, this is not the case with BMW M carbon ceramic brakes as their design and material help in dissipating friction heat effectively.
ADVANTAGES OF CARBON CERAMIC BRAKES
Here are few of the advantages of carbon ceramic brakes over the conventional ones:
BRAKING POWER
The braking power fades because of overheating of brakes due to the friction. These brakes don’t dissipate heat completely and cause degradation in the braking rotor, brake callipers and other braking components. Unlike the iron or steel brakes, the carbon ceramic ones provide the same high performance at extreme temperatures. Whether you drive on race tracks or down the hill, the carbon ceramic brakes provide a steady braking performance and road safety.
DURABILITY
The conventional brakes have a durability of around 80,000 kilometres but the BMW carbon ceramic brakes lifespan is around 150,000 kilometres. There are no specific parameters to measure the durability of brakes because the lifespan of brakes can go down depending upon the driving performance.
CLEANING
The iron or steel brakes go through a lot of wear and tear. The dust from this wear and tear accumulates on the tyres which then require cleaning. On the contrary, the carbon ceramic brakes don’t wear off easily. Even if they wear, the particles are so fine that they blow off when you drive the vehicle.
Moreover, the carbon ceramic brakes are corrosion resistant. Therefore, these brakes always have a unique and impressive appearance.
LIGHTWEIGHT
Auto manufacturers make high performance vehicles lighter in weight and improve their aerodynamics. The carbon ceramic brakes used in Ferrari, Nissan, and BMW sports performance cars have half the weight of conventional ones which are made up of iron or steel. The BMW M carbon ceramic brakes reduce the unsprung weight to provide a smooth handling and powerful drive.
DISADVANTAGES OF CARBON CERAMIC BRAKES
Following are some of the cons of BMW carbon ceramic brakes:
SPONGY FEEL
The carbon ceramic brakes or rotors can give a spongy feel during winters. This spongy brake pedal can take a long time to go away. The drivers find this spongy feel hard to manage and unpleasant at times.
EXPENSIVE
The carbon ceramic brakes are quite expensive because of the materials used and quality. The price of carbon ceramic brakes starts from AED 28,000.
SHOULD I REPLACE CONVENTIONAL BRAKES WITH CARBON CERAMIC ONES?
Both the brakes have their own utilities. A few driving conditions may require carbon ceramic brakes. For instance, High performance car drivers use carbon ceramic brakes for better road safety and braking performance.
This was all about BMW carbon ceramic brakes. You can find carbon ceramic brakes to replace the conventional ones in used brakes for sale in the UAE for better braking power and road safety. If you wish to get a car with carbon ceramic brakes, then here is a list of used cars for sale in the UAE that feature these types of brakes:
- Pre-owned BMW M4 for sale in the UAE
- Used BMW M5 for sale in the UAE
- Second-hand Ferrari 488 GTB in the UAE
Stay tuned to the UAE’S top auto blog for more information on automotive parts and their maintenance.
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