[PabloK]

** update 4 new calipers, same issue, same shit quality***



Last fall ordered front/rear stoptech BBK for my e46

Imola Motorsports of MN installed.. legit spot(brembo dealer, not stoptech dealer)

Pulled car out of storage couple weeks ago and noticed all 4 calipers had major paint failures

Contacted stoptech and this is what they told me:

StopTech believes that this was caused by left over brake fluid left on the caliper paint and won't cover it under warranty. There exact response is below.

Per Stoptech,
this is caused by the residual fluid left in the bleeder screw after bleeding, once bleeding is complete there is a bit of fluid left in the screw that wasn't flushed out before the cap went on, and once the system gets hot the fluid runs out of the cap and onto the caliper.


Essentially they told me install error... and I'm out of luck.

Imola agrees this can happen.. and they are working with me on a solution.

All that being said, do you guys think this stoptech having lower end paint quakity/control? I've had 10-12 bbk kits over the years and this has never even remotely been an issue.

The tech is a former shop foreman at bmw dealer and is top notch. Could this have been an honest mistake On his end?

The white stoptech logo literally comes off if i run my finger across the caliper. The paint by the valve is literally falling off.


Car always hand washed, sonex wheel cleaner, 2 bucket method.. never tracked or ran hard. Just a weekend cruiser..

Regards
Pete

[Killakittie]

Yep I'd definitely be upset with that.

[sspade]

First off... Id be fucking pissed. Brake calipers should be allowed to have brake fluid on them at times, shouldn't they?

I've never seen this on a Brembo caliper and personally owned them on my last vehicle (Camaro). I was not overly gentle or sensitive when handling those and never had an issue.

Im wondering if its a paint vs. powder coat difference?

Either way, you can remedy the situation and be in "as good" or even better situation than before. The only problem is that its going to cost you a few hundred.

Id be lying if I said I wasnt disapointed in StopTech after seeing this. Thanks for sharing.

[Billfitz]

Looks to me like they used crap paint.

[AK415]

This seems ridiculous.

Back in my poor college days I rattle canned my calipers with engine cover paint and it never peeled like these ones. I am wondering if Stoptech prepped them properly before they painted these...

[Logicoeur]

Definitely crap paint. ECSTuning does own Stop tech now so..

[PabloK]

Yes to say I'm upset is an understatement.

What, if anything, would you communicate back to stoptech?

It's not like I purchased these used on eBay.

Brand new from an authorized dealer, took 4 weeks for them to build... something like 7k total, 1500 miles and they are walking away from this.

Feel like I got ripped off.

[Logicoeur]

Definitely crap paint. ECSTuning does own Stop tech now so..

[sspade]

Originally Posted by PabloK

Yes to say I'm upset is an understatement.

What, if anything, would you communicate back to stoptech?

It's not like I purchased these used on eBay.

Brand new from an authorized dealer, took 4 weeks for them to build... something like 7k total, 1500 miles and they are walking away from this.

Feel like I got ripped off.

You did get ripped off at this point. That's a fact.

This whole thing could be remedied by them sending you a new set... taking your set back for refinishing.

Worst case... the classy thing for them to do would be to pay for a powder coat job. Would probably cost less than $400 to be done properly.

[PabloK]

Originally Posted by Logicoeur

Definitely crap paint. ECSTuning does own Stop tech now so..

You sure?

I believe stoptech is a brand under APC automotive technologies.

[PabloK]

Originally Posted by sspade

You did get ripped off at this point. That's a fact.

This whole thing could be remedied by them sending you a new set... taking your set back for refinishing.

Worst case... the classy thing for them to do would be to pay for a powder coat job. Would probably cost less than $400 to be done properly.

Besides the current general communication between stoptech, do I have any legal grounds or wording in warranty that would leverage my request for a new set of calipers?

I'm upset now that many of you have confirmed this was not the appropriate response from stoptech.

I'm not going to end up spending 10k on a stoptech bbk. I'm pissed.

[M4_GTS]

I recieved a set of Stoptech bbk back in my e60 m5 days. The kit came with calipers that had paint too thin and at spots chipping off already. I sent it back and never again buy their products again.

Brembo is top notch and never had an issue with their calipers.

[upsidedownfunnel]

Just playing devil's advocate here, but that sure does look like brake fluid (or some type of solvent) leaked onto the bleeder valve and wasn't cleaned up right away. Brake fluid will eat away at ALL paint. There's no special paint that will resist brake fluid. Whether it's powder coated or simply painted, brake fluid will pretty much immediately take off any paint.

This is an example of brake fluid that was left on car paint:


If it had been a poorly prepped surface or poorly cured paint or powdercoating, it would have flaked/chipped off. It wouldn't have bubbled like that. Also, the fact that the bubbling is right by the bleeder valve is VERY suspicious.

Lastly, where did you get the calipers installed? Did you do it yourself or did you get it done at a shop?

But that Stoptech decal definitely looks like it wasn't done properly.

[Killakittie]

Ask if the shop that installed it will cover the cost to have them powder coated.

[PabloK]

Appreciate your input.. you make very valid points.

The shop is one of the best in the Midwest and well established. They work on mclarens, lambos, build race cars... That being said, mistakes happen...

However, I'm religious about detailing. I did an 18 hour 3-step paint correction after I had the wheels and brakes installed... I lift the car, remove wheels, measure paint. Im pretty intense on anything car related.

[328iX]

Just get them powercoated again, it doesn't cost much, maybe $200?

Based of the location it definitely was residual from the bleeder.

[upsidedownfunnel]

Installing new brakes is a very easy job and they probably had a new guy do them. Just tell them that that is obviously damage from brake fluid. It really seems like someone messed up during install.

[PabloK]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

Installing new brakes is a very easy job and they probably had a new guy do them. Just tell them that that is obviously damage from brake fluid. It really seems like someone messed up during install.

My tech is a former bmw master technician and ASE certified.. he probably did make a mistake on the install.

I've known the owner at Imola since he started the company... he already offered to powder coat them.

My issue is the piss-poor customer service from Stop-tech.

The sales account manager spent about 10 seconds looking at the 4 pictures I sent him and immediately declined any support. He didn't ask for production dates, any specs on the brakes, no inquiry on the age of the brakes or who/how they were installed.

I would ship them back tomorrow if I could. For the price and marketing on these kits, they offer zero support and obviously prioritize profit over customer satasfaction.

Stay away from this company.

[upsidedownfunnel]

I feel like you can't really expect Stoptech to do anything here. What do you think they owe you? It certainly looks like the shop did a rookie job at bleeding the brakes and caused this issue.

Did you actually talk to this ASE certified master tech? Or is that what the owner told you?

[Fliplegend]

I feel like leftover fluid on the bleeder is something the install instructions should warn in 72 red font.

Did they use butter as primer? lol.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by PabloK

My tech is a former bmw master technician and ASE certified.. he probably did make a mistake on the install.

I've known the owner at Imola since he started the company... he already offered to powder coat them.

My issue is the piss-poor customer service from Stop-tech.

The sales account manager spent about 10 seconds looking at the 4 pictures I sent him and immediately declined any support. He didn't ask for production dates, any specs on the brakes, no inquiry on the age of the brakes or who/how they were installed.

I would ship them back tomorrow if I could. For the price and marketing on these kits, they offer zero support and obviously prioritize profit over customer satasfaction.

Stay away from this company.

It's a lesson learned - the real company behind the product appears when the first problem has to be dealt with. Brembo, AP Racing ... never heard of this problem with their brakes.

If the owner offered to powder coat the calipers, you have the best of both worlds: the right answer to the problem and someone who cares.

[PabloK]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

It's a lesson learned - the real company behind the product appears when the first problem has to be dealt with. Brembo, AP Racing ... never heard of this problem with their brakes.

If the owner offered to powder coat the calipers, you have the best of both worlds: the right answer to the problem and someone who cares.

Agree.. but I'm pushing hard on stop-tech.

I've clearly communicated to stop-tech that this kind of response and customer support for a 6K purchase is unacceptable for the many car enthusiasts that buy these products.

In response, the head of sales just emailed me back that they are now working with their distributer on the issue and will have a solution for me by Friday. I was clear that I had no intention of buying 4 new calipers or having them repainted and that this needed to be resolved.

If every customer just laid down flat nothing would change. My hope is this doesn't happen to another bmw guy down the road. Trying to set the bar high for what we expect as a community of enthusiasts.

I'll keep you updated.