Z4 sDrive 35i rusted brake calipers

[andharri]

Hi,

Hopefully can get some advice....

I have just bought a 2nd hand Z4 35i from a franchised dealer under the "approved used" scheme.

The car is two years old, everything is fine, complete service history etc, drives perfectly etc.

Before I bought it I did do a thorough check over at the car at the dealer, all looked into mint condition, obviously you have a certain expectation when buying from an approved scheme.

However since taking it home I noticed that all four brake calipers are rusted along with part of the axel. I dropped the car to BMW to have a few other niggles looked at (which they sorted no fuss), however they said the rusted caliper issue is "normal, the paint is only a temporary measure"

Is this right? Surely a two year old car shouldn't have rusted calipers already. I had a good look at some other cars walking to work today and not one young or old had any rust.

Sorry I don't have any photos, but can do if it helps.

All replies welcome including the "it's your fault, you should have spotted it before ...." type!

[M3Charlie]

They all do it, we have brand new cars sat at work like it. We usually spray the calipers and hubs before the customer takes the car but it won't last forever!! It can make a very expensive car look very tatty and something we have comments on a lot.

[M3Charlie]

A good heat resistant spray paint, black for the calipers and silver for the hubs should do the trick.

[4rephill]

Pretty much standard along with rusty hubs on the brake discs.

As you've been told, BMW use the bare minimum of paint on the brake parts so that they look nice when they're new but it doesn't last.

Most definitely not your fault but it's also pretty definite that BMW will not sort it free of charge.

[M3Charlie]

Sunny weekend, trolley jack, cup of tea and a can of spray paint.

[djtex]

I've been told they're supposed to do this to draw moisture away from the discs, not 100% convinced on that though.

[andharri]

Hi,

Thanks for all the helpful replies so far, looks like I will have to do it myself.

Is it a good idea to "file" or clean off the rust before applying the heat resistant paint?

[M3Charlie]

You could wire brush the calipers and possibly clean up the hubs just to make sure all the brake dust is off but it will probably become an annual job for you depending on how long you keep the car. I personally refresh mine every 6 months on my M3

[Davey S2]

Thanks for the info chaps. I bought a 320d M Sport last Friday and thought that the wheels and calipers had been stored in a salt water bath for 6 months!