E90Post
 


Coby Wheel
 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > DIY Guides > DIY: Caliper Painting



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      08-10-2005, 04:20 PM   #1
nexus66
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep
239
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland

iTrader: (0)

DIY: Caliper Painting

Here's a rough guide to painting your calipers.

Of course you can buy special caliper paint, but over 5 cars I've used Japlac High Gloss Laquer, Colour - Jet Black (of course) and never had any problems with heat. Another good paint would be a gloss enamel, but I have the Japlac, so...

For those of you thinking to paint them Silver, I would think again! I've never found a silver paint that has the same smooth enamel type finish, they all have a graininess to the finish which holds brake dust. A very smooth glossy finish keepsl the calipers very clean, since every time you wash the wheels, the calipers get cleaned too.

On with the instructions...

Unsurprisingly, this is another wheel off job, so jack up the car, remove the wheel and make sure the car is also supported by an axle stand - you don't want it falling off the jack and damaging the brake disk!

Depending on how dirty your caliper is, you might want to begin by lightly cleaning the caliper with a wire brush to remove any brake dust or corrosion already there.

You don't need to bother priming the surface - usually a single coat of paint is enough to last a couple of years. I find it easiest to apply the paint using a 1/2" paint brush - it's big enough so that it doesn't take all day, and small enough that it's easy to control exactly where the paint goes. Using a paint with a good glossy finish will ensure that you don't see any brush lines as the paint will set to a smooth finish.

When painting the caliper, there isn't really much to go wrong. Make sure you keep the paint away from the actual brake pads, and watch for the places where the pads sit, you don't want to restrict their movement as they wear down. Don't be paranoid - just be careful!!

It's also ok, to paint the little shield on the front one, and the springy tensioner thing.

Make sure and get a nice even finish, and use the opportunity you have with the wheel off to give the inside of the alloy a good clean!

You can remount the wheel while the paint is drying, just be sure to leave the car sitting for a few hours while the paint hardens. (Hard I know! )

Once you've done all four wheels you can stand back and admire your work!

Sorry - I forgot to take a picture of the front caliper painted, but I'm sure you'll all get the picture...
Attached Images
   

Last edited by nexus66; 08-11-2005 at 03:55 PM..
Appreciate 2
      08-10-2005, 04:23 PM   #2
CC 330i
Captain
CC 330i's Avatar
44
Rep
722
Posts

Drives: 330i SG/Blk/Alum
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Orange County, CA

iTrader: (0)

Nice work. Thanks for posting!
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2005, 09:44 AM   #3
UncleWede
Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner
UncleWede's Avatar
United_States
17873
Rep
9,376
Posts

Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oxnard, CA

iTrader: (0)

You didn't pull the line out of the caliper before painting, so no need for bleeding the brakes, right?
The wheel well seems pretty smooth, did you use something else to hang them from while painting?
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2005, 09:51 AM   #4
nexus66
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep
239
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by UncleWede
You didn't pull the line out of the caliper before painting, so no need for bleeding the brakes, right?
The wheel well seems pretty smooth, did you use something else to hang them from while painting?
I didn't even remove the calipers from their mounting to paint them - I just painted them in situ! So no hanging them from anywhere and definately no need to bleed them!!

Probably if you were under the car you'd see where the paint stops - but how often does that happen! Unless of course you're in the habit of running over people - but I suspect they'd have more to worry about than unpainted bits of your caliper!
__________________
Drives: BMW F80 M3 - Sahkir Orange
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2005, 10:25 AM   #5
UncleWede
Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner
UncleWede's Avatar
United_States
17873
Rep
9,376
Posts

Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oxnard, CA

iTrader: (0)

But I can still read numbers on the pads! You covered everything you DIDN'T want to paint pretty well!!!
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2005, 03:05 PM   #6
RichP
Major
RichP's Avatar
United_States
144
Rep
1,184
Posts

Drives: F80
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: CT

iTrader: (4)

Good writeup, and NOW is the time to do them, when the car is brand new and one doesnt need to spend an afternoon doing cleaning prep!
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2005, 03:24 PM   #7
nexus66
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep
239
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by UncleWede
But I can still read numbers on the pads! You covered everything you DIDN'T want to paint pretty well!!!
I used a small 1/2" paintbrush so that it was easy to miss things I didn't want painted. I didn't mask any of the caliper - just be careful with the brush!

Quote:
Originally Posted by RichP
Good writeup, and NOW is the time to do them, when the car is brand new and one doesnt need to spend an afternoon doing cleaning prep!
Couldn't agree more - especially since doing it now saves cleaning the corrosion off the caliper beforehand, and gives you a nice base to apply the paint to!
__________________
Drives: BMW F80 M3 - Sahkir Orange
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2005, 03:51 PM   #8
UncleWede
Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner
UncleWede's Avatar
United_States
17873
Rep
9,376
Posts

Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oxnard, CA

iTrader: (0)

Oh, you brushed them. That's missing from the write-up, I was assuming a can.
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2005, 03:56 PM   #9
nexus66
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep
239
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by UncleWede
Oh, you brushed them. That's missing from the write-up, I was assuming a can.
Good point - I've amended the write-up! Cheers
__________________
Drives: BMW F80 M3 - Sahkir Orange
Appreciate 0
      08-15-2005, 08:41 PM   #10
longtran
Lieutenant General
longtran's Avatar
1427
Rep
16,628
Posts

Drives: E90 M3
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: CA

iTrader: (105)

Garage List
2006 325i  [0.00]
it be black after a couple of years, why paint it black? paint it a color that would stand out. nicely done with the brush i thougt it was can too.
Appreciate 0
      08-16-2005, 11:10 AM   #11
nexus66
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep
239
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland

iTrader: (0)

Yeah but at least it'll be a shiny black

I don't think bright red calipers would suit the car. Any other colour suggestions? I couldn't think of anything else apart from silver - and I mentioned why I don't like silver!
__________________
Drives: BMW F80 M3 - Sahkir Orange
Appreciate 0
      08-16-2005, 11:47 AM   #12
UncleWede
Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner
UncleWede's Avatar
United_States
17873
Rep
9,376
Posts

Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oxnard, CA

iTrader: (0)

Depends on what look you are going for with the paint. For cover-up and to match exisitng, black is the right choice. Want people to think you did some mods, gotta get something flashy. Is there a brushable clear coat?
Appreciate 0
      08-19-2005, 04:02 PM   #13
nexus66
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep
239
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by UncleWede
Depends on what look you are going for with the paint. For cover-up and to match exisitng, black is the right choice. Want people to think you did some mods, gotta get something flashy. Is there a brushable clear coat?
The first time I painted calipers black I wasn't sure at first with the result - but now I absolutely love it! Red does suit a black car - my mate has a Mondeo ST24 in black with red calipers, but IMO it's too flashy/ricey for a bmw! (I await a flaming on that one maybe!)

Don't think you need a clear coat UncleWede... A nice gloss finish is best. I tried a clear laquer on top of silver calipers once, but even then the result wasn't that great! (Again it was with a brush though - spraying might yield a better result!)
__________________
Drives: BMW F80 M3 - Sahkir Orange
Appreciate 0
      08-28-2005, 04:21 PM   #14
tightie
JOSH SHOKRI.
tightie's Avatar
United_States
522
Rep
5,881
Posts

Drives: 991 GT3RS, 964, Raptor
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: los angeles, california.

iTrader: (7)

Garage List
2008 BMW M3  [7.90]
hey can you please post a picture from your car like from far? so we can see how it looks.
i have a jet black one too i want to see if theres a difference really.
thanks.
Appreciate 0
      08-28-2005, 04:28 PM   #15
nexus66
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep
239
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland

iTrader: (0)

I tried that once I'd finished tightie! Unfortunately my camera didn't really pick up the calipers because they're shaded within the wheel. Unfortunately, it's really something you can only see in person. Unless of course you pick a brighter colour like red or something...
__________________
Drives: BMW F80 M3 - Sahkir Orange
Appreciate 0
      08-28-2005, 09:39 PM   #16
tima
Custom User Title
tima's Avatar
United_States
17
Rep
215
Posts

Drives: 330i ZSP/TiAg/Blk
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Wisconsin

iTrader: (0)

Has anyone painted their wheel hubs?

When I got my '95 M3 the dealer painted the hubs to match the rest of the car (Avus Blue) and it looked really trick. Likewise best to do when the car is new.

Thanks for the great write up!
.
__________________
tima

get off the phone and drive
Appreciate 0
      10-05-2005, 01:37 PM   #17
Daddu
Daddu
1
Rep
8
Posts

Drives: 2006 325i
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio

iTrader: (0)

Do you suppose gloss black Rustoleom enamel would work and stand the heat?
Appreciate 0
      10-06-2005, 05:35 AM   #18
nexus66
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep
239
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland

iTrader: (0)

'Fraid I don't know - haven't heard of that paint!! But the stuff I use is nothing special so go for it! Worst case is you have to paint them again in a few months...
__________________
Drives: BMW F80 M3 - Sahkir Orange
Appreciate 0
      11-22-2005, 11:01 PM   #19
DEbmw
New Member
1
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: 330i Titanium
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Lewes, DE

iTrader: (0)

Calipers

Those calipers look wonderful. I am going to take on this project this weekend. I will let you know how it turns out. Thanks for the great instructions, I am very excited.
__________________
2006 330i Titanium Silver * Sport * Cold Weather * 6 speed
Appreciate 0
      11-22-2005, 11:48 PM   #20
Pretender
Colonel
Pretender's Avatar
149
Rep
2,419
Posts

Drives: 06 330i, 07 328i, 16 X1, >17M2
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Bay Area, CA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
06 330i  [0.00]
I saw lots of Porsche boxters and 911 with red calipers, no matter what color. I saw silver, black, white and blue with red calipers and they all looked awesome. I also saw them in Nissan 350Z. Nice.
Appreciate 0
      11-23-2005, 03:03 AM   #21
nexus66
Second Lieutenant
64
Rep
239
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland

iTrader: (0)

Yeah - but the Porsche ones also have "Porsche" written in white on them! Unless you have Porsche's carbon ceramic brakes fitted when the calipers are yellow! I don't think Red goes with a BMW but hey - that's just me!
__________________
Drives: BMW F80 M3 - Sahkir Orange
Appreciate 0
      11-23-2005, 12:00 PM   #22
ase2dais
//Mdicted
ase2dais's Avatar
United_States
346
Rep
9,988
Posts

Drives: a Cop Magnet
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: 495 Ring

iTrader: (18)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by nexus66
Yeah - but the Porsche ones also have "Porsche" written in white on them! Unless you have Porsche's carbon ceramic brakes fitted when the calipers are yellow! I don't think Red goes with a BMW but hey - that's just me!
Unless of crse you upgraded your brakes to these, I thk its cool, but it voids your warranty, maybe I will do it after 4-5 yrs.
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:23 AM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST