M5 F10 with Efficient Dynamics - hot brake discs?
Discussion
Hi all,
I’m fairly new to this forum but have followed PH for years! I’m Joep from the Netherlands and a big car enthusiastic, especially BMW M (for years have had a M3 E30 and BMW e46 Touring converted to M3 tech, with the S54 and manual shift).
This week I took delivery of my 2012 M5 F10 and immediately took it on a 1500 mile roadtrip to Austria. The car is fantastic but there is one thing I quickly wanted to check with you to make sure I don’t overlook something.
I notice that after driving (basically always, also if I haven’t driven the car hard) the brake discs seem to produce a lot of heat. You can only just touch them with your bare hands for a few seconds (so they are probably 40-50 degrees Celsius?) and also seems that on the wheels there is quite some brake dust. Don’t notice anything during braking (except for light peep sometimes during slow traffic) and the car rolls free (also don’t smell the brake pads). The car is equipped with the Efficient Dynamics brake energy regeneration system.
Is this something that is normal that the brake discs produce considerable heat after driving? Or is something off?
Any input is much appreciated!
Best,
Joep
I’m fairly new to this forum but have followed PH for years! I’m Joep from the Netherlands and a big car enthusiastic, especially BMW M (for years have had a M3 E30 and BMW e46 Touring converted to M3 tech, with the S54 and manual shift).
This week I took delivery of my 2012 M5 F10 and immediately took it on a 1500 mile roadtrip to Austria. The car is fantastic but there is one thing I quickly wanted to check with you to make sure I don’t overlook something.
I notice that after driving (basically always, also if I haven’t driven the car hard) the brake discs seem to produce a lot of heat. You can only just touch them with your bare hands for a few seconds (so they are probably 40-50 degrees Celsius?) and also seems that on the wheels there is quite some brake dust. Don’t notice anything during braking (except for light peep sometimes during slow traffic) and the car rolls free (also don’t smell the brake pads). The car is equipped with the Efficient Dynamics brake energy regeneration system.
Is this something that is normal that the brake discs produce considerable heat after driving? Or is something off?
Any input is much appreciated!
Best,
Joep
40/50 degrees is nothing.
To stop the car when driving you obviously have to use the brakes, brakes stop using friction, friction builds up a lot of heat very quickly.
A quick stop can easily generate these temperatures & a lot more.
If the wheels are free & there is not significant heat in the wheels indicating a lot of heat soak there is not a problem.
To stop the car when driving you obviously have to use the brakes, brakes stop using friction, friction builds up a lot of heat very quickly.
A quick stop can easily generate these temperatures & a lot more.
If the wheels are free & there is not significant heat in the wheels indicating a lot of heat soak there is not a problem.
I am surprised you can even touch the discs after driving, especially if you are in mountainous Austria where you are likely to use the brakes - those temperatures are nothing to worry about, you should see the temperatures after a 250 kph to 80 kph braking exercise when a Dutch caravan decides to pull out in front of you 
Efficient Dynamics is nothing to do with the brakes, apart from the fact that the car maximises the load on the alternator during braking (in order to minimise the load during cruising, to improve fuel economy).
If you're seeing lots of brake dust on the rear, it's worth noting that the traction control (when fully on) operates on the rear brakes. So if you're driving hard and seeing the traction light a lot, it'll be wearing your rear pads like crazy. Either ease up on the right foot, fit some better tyres, get your rear geo checked or switch to the more forgiving MDM mode
As for brake disks being 'hot'. I find that 'everything' in the car is damn hot after a drive. Packing a 4.4ltr hot-v twin turbo into a 5 series means heat pours off the car in every direction after a spirited drive.
Hope that helps.
If you're seeing lots of brake dust on the rear, it's worth noting that the traction control (when fully on) operates on the rear brakes. So if you're driving hard and seeing the traction light a lot, it'll be wearing your rear pads like crazy. Either ease up on the right foot, fit some better tyres, get your rear geo checked or switch to the more forgiving MDM mode
As for brake disks being 'hot'. I find that 'everything' in the car is damn hot after a drive. Packing a 4.4ltr hot-v twin turbo into a 5 series means heat pours off the car in every direction after a spirited drive.
Hope that helps.
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