Common issues & diagnosis
The most common issue with calipers are seized pistons—which are usually caused by exposure to harsh environments, resulting in corrosion or dirt buildup.
One of the symptoms of a failing caliper will be uneven wear in the brake pads.
What is the part's function?
Brake calipers consist of two parts—the housings and the pistons. The housing are what hold brake pads, and the pistons are what connect to the brake lines. The amount of brake fluid in the lines is increased to expand the pistons—which push the pads into the rotors, slowing the vehicle.
How to determine fitment compatibility
There are usually multiple types of caliper within any given model generation. This is to account for different engines and brake packages.
For determining like-for-like replacements, it is important to match the BMW part numbers from the catalogue. This can be done by decoding your vehicle’s VIN in a BMW EPC (electronic part catalogue.)
If you don’t have access to an EPC, provide our team with your vehicle’s 17-digit VIN—and we’ll check our stock for a compatible match.
For upgrades and retrofits we cannot advise on fitment—but we sell most of our M-Sport Brembo calipers for this use. There is plenty of information available on BMW forums.
Interchangeability between models
Calipers are highly interchangeable between vehicles that share a common platform.
