[Stormhelix]

Hey!

I just wanted to share some paint results on the 335i e90 larger calipers I am going to put on my E91. I left them to cure in a box in a dry area for 2 months to ensure there will be no issues. They had a tiny bit of dust on them when I took the photos as you can see. Overall, turned out great!

Paint conditions:
57 degrees and breezy
Challenging, the paint goes on incredibly thin so caution is required.

Cost:
$27 for fronts

Primer:
Dupli-Color DE1612 Ceramic Gray Engine Paint Primer

Base:
Dupli-Color EMC100007 Ground Coat Metal Cast Anodized Color

Color:
Dupli-Color MC201 Blue Metal Cast Anodized Color

Clear:
Dupli-Color DE1636 Ceramic Clear Engine Paint

[Volasko]

Damn those look nearly as good as my 400 dollar powder coated calipers:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...xa?usp=sharing

What kinda prep did you do before you started your primer/base coats?

[Stormhelix]

Originally Posted by Volasko

Damn those look nearly as good as my 400 dollar powder coated calipers:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...xa?usp=sharing

What kinda prep did you do before you started your primer/base coats?

Step 1:
Very hot soapy bubble bath with hard steel hand wire brush
Step 2:
Another soapy bubble bath but with cold water and soft wire brush
Step 3:
Locate any blemishes in the cast and light sand to create a smooth surface (I.E extruding bump, didn't worry about putting.
Step 4:
Hit it with a bunch of expensive brake clean (inside and out)
its like $9 a can for 2 minutes of use.
Step 5:
Hand dry with lint free towel, blow out inside, ensure piston still moves and let sit for week or oven dry.
Step 6:
Paint prep, mask off all areas you do not want painted, pull out piston, tape piston, compress piston to allow for a small seal to be made and no paint gets into the piston area. Using rubber or corks, you can fill threads or holes.
Step 7:
Hang for painting. I realized early on that the inside of the caliper will get destroyed by dust anyway so I made sure that the hanger only touched internal areas and did not touch the out side of the caliper. I painted the inside well, but there is a scratch here or two for the hangar. Impossible to see unless off the car.
Step 8:
Paint! I painted in a cold garage so the dry time was about triple.

[Stormhelix]

I've also made aluminum cutouts of the shape of the original caliper retainer that are completely flat if people want to get rid of the bulge and two dimples. Ill grab a pic here soon. Basically I took the original retainer, cut off the rivet and heated the bend to create one flat piece for quantifying of the dimensions. I have enough aluminum for 5 sets of two, which just have to be nylon lock bolted to the actually retainer arms and you have the same setup as the original retainer except its flat and perfectly smooth. No two holes and the large bump on the front. Easy to put a sticker on.

[marconi118]

is this paint heat resistant?

[Stormhelix]

Originally Posted by marconi118

is this paint heat resistant?

up to 500 degrees

[Stormhelix]

Here is a photo of my machined retainer without the arms on yet. This is the first prototype.

[714-Bimmer]

They look fantastic!

Mark

[Andystobbs]

Major thread hijack but I've just done mine in Estoril blue 2

[eljay]

I painted mine using the Dupli-color caliper brush-on kit. Worked great and holding well so far, but it's only been less than a year.

[Stormhelix]

Once I perfect the retainer cover and get consistent results I may have enough to provide to some interest parties! Should be as easy as just paint them, take off your wheel and put in on with no dimples or holes.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Stormhelix

Step 1:
Very hot soapy bubble bath with hard steel hand wire brush
Step 2:
Another soapy bubble bath but with cold water and soft wire brush
Step 3:
Locate any blemishes in the cast and light sand to create a smooth surface (I.E extruding bump, didn't worry about putting.
Step 4:
Hit it with a bunch of expensive brake clean (inside and out)
its like $9 a can for 2 minutes of use.
Step 5:
Hand dry with lint free towel, blow out inside, ensure piston still moves and let sit for week or oven dry.
Step 6:
Paint prep, mask off all areas you do not want painted, pull out piston, tape piston, compress piston to allow for a small seal to be made and no paint gets into the piston area. Using rubber or corks, you can fill threads or holes.
Step 7:
Hang for painting. I realized early on that the inside of the caliper will get destroyed by dust anyway so I made sure that the hanger only touched internal areas and did not touch the out side of the caliper. I painted the inside well, but there is a scratch here or two for the hangar. Impossible to see unless off the car.
Step 8:
Paint! I painted in a cold garage so the dry time was about triple.

It you didn't sand blast it, at some point, the paint will come off. Especially, if you live in a 4 season state.

[Stormhelix]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

It you didn't sand blast it, at some point, the paint will come off. Especially, if you live in a 4 season state.

Most likely, however for a cost effectiveness I'm okay with that! If i still have the car in the future maybe a BBK is in order.

[tcphoto]

Impressive up to the addition of the M sticker.

[Andystobbs]

The car is an M sport so whats the harm?
M performance brakes on F chassis come with an M sticker.

[neilvan]

I agree. My (M-Sport) car came with Powdercoated calipers, M stickers and clear overtop. I would LOVE to remove them but I figure it'll ruin/tarnish the paint/clear

[Stormhelix]

Technically speaking- 335i Brake calipers were the early m sport brakes for the e90? maybe i'm mistaken but that would mean that upgrading to 335i brakes would be an m-sport upgrade if you connect the dots haha. Could be wrong.

[neilvan]

Originally Posted by Stormhelix

Technically speaking- 335i Brake calipers were the early m sport brakes for the e90? maybe i'm mistaken but that would mean that upgrading to 335i brakes would be an m-sport upgrade if you connect the dots haha. Could be wrong.

M-sport had 0 brake changes on any E90 chassis; M-sport was purely a cosmetic package Brakes were determined by the engine size/model.

[Stormhelix]

Originally Posted by neilvan

M-sport had 0 brake changes on any E90 chassis; M-sport was purely a cosmetic package Brakes were determined by the engine size/model.

Ah thanks for the clarification. I think maybe I saw a post worded "The m-sport 335i has these brakes- thus... " etc. Good to know!

[feuer]

Looks good. I can't find Dupli-Color EMC100007 Ground Coat Metal Cast Anodized Color

[mantis]

Originally Posted by feuer

Looks good. I can't find Dupli-Color EMC100007 Ground Coat Metal Cast Anodized Color

https://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-E.../dp/B000994BU2

[feuer]

Originally Posted by mantis

https://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-E.../dp/B000994BU2

Do I need this? I want my brakes to be just blue.