'05-'06:

 

I am sorry about my previous comment, that was uncalled for. I forgot 05+ and non-Brembo owners can't really see the brake pistons from outside of the vehicle since they are all mounted on the inside surface of the rotors.

 

Conclusion: rear active steer is wonderful.

 

Man, this active steer thing got way off topic with the brake issues. Someone more knowledgeable about brakes needs to come in and get all of this squared away. From what little I know, I can tell you that rotor diameter and piston count are not the only factors involved. Pad size, composition, caliper stiffness, rotor heat capacity, rotor heat dissipation, and caliper heat dissipation are other things that affect. I did a lot of research on brakes after I my stock '05 brakes didn't hold up at the track. I can't tell you from first hand experience, but I highly doubt the stock '05 brakes have near the fade resistance of the Brembos on the '04s. My new StopTech kit on the other hand has made a tremendous improvement in brake fade on the track.

 

...and Brembo brakes are more than just

 

Don't have to explain, just look on any Ferrari, Porsche, Lambo, Mazerati, Lotus, Bently, Bugatti, McLauren, Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Ducati, Alfa... fixed calipers with opposing pistons are standard... The list goes on and on including some 03-04 G35's.

 

I will not disagree with ya' on this, it was just your comments on the Brembo's that had to be settled; there is no way you can disprove the system on the 05 is better or even equal to the Brembo system; I wish it was still an option and I am sure many people would pay the extra price.

 

Read my post again, Sherlock

 

It's really not, if that means you can't get aftermarket wheels because of it. A question I asked which was never answered.

Brembos > 05-06 OEM > 03-04 OEM. To the person claiming 05-06 brakes have great resistance to fade, here is a pic of them after a track day

http://www.ubershane.com/images/mosportpad1.jpg

I'm not saying the Brembos would have done much better or worse, just stating the facts. And btw Brembo owners need to stop being so defensive.

 

Cynical opinion: The reason they sharpen the steering ratio when you get the rear-steer package is so you think it actually makes a difference in the feel of how it handles. It's really just the tighter steering ratio that you notice. The rear-steer alone was almost completely unnoticeable so they threw in the tighter steering ratio to help people think it was worth the money.

 

Just being defensive after someone went on the offense by calling our Brembo's "Cheesy"; what if we started calling your M3 6MT ugly? Now wouldn't that get you on the defense?

 

One more thing man...
My 1995 M3 with only 41K miles started smoking and had a dashboard fire at a filling station way out on I10 in Arizona; if the station attendant would not have run out and extinguished the fire, im sure it would have burnt to the ground. I will NEVER own another BMW, they helped me with nothing and the car was bone stock, except for 4 new tires I purchased right before the trip.
I took a HUGE LOSS on that M3; good luck with yours.

 

That looks to me more like brake neglect rather than fade. i've seen faded brake pads either cracked or chiped, but that person looks like they took the pads down to the bear metal backings.

 

So admittedly you have no clue. I can buy the advantages for even pad wear and pressure, and even some hint of better break feel as well, but fade is more a function of the temperature rise of the pad and rotor interface and its resulting change in braking properties.

"Fixed calipers with opposing pistons are on nice cars, so they must have less fade" is a pretty weak explanation.

 

Your image looks like a pad issue. Assuming you keep both systems stock forever (and never upgrade the pads in either case, just keep swapping in OEMs), then my guess is that the Brembos would have less fade due to a more aggressive pad.

Regarding your aftermarket wheel issue, that sounds ridiculous to me. The rear wheels steer up to +-1 degree through a small steering rack that moves the lower arm mounting points. I don't see why it would limit your aftermarket wheel choices any more than on the front axle of the car which steers even more. I'm sure you're free to to increase the scrub radius with super wide rims that extend out further with or without rear active steer.