Good Deal or What?

[Tump]

Hi -- Long time no post -- I've been quite busy.

Anyway, because of the ridiculous prices that Benz charges for replacement rotors and pads, I've wanted to upgrade the brakes on my C43 AMG -- mostly the fronts -- to the Brembo GT kit for my car (about $3,500 from Tire Rack) . (Apparently, no other Benz shares my OE rotor and caliper).

I was talking to a local high end German car customizer with infinite contacts and he told me not to waste my money on the Brembo kit, that he would hook me up with the newer AMG cast crossdrilled rotors front and back with the new AMG carbon fiber brake pads for $800 installed. This sounded like a great deal, so I told him to go ahead but, before I have these items installed, has anyone here heard of these newer AMG products (manufactured by Brembo) for the new AMG models?

The local customizer took my vin number and called it in to his AMG contact. They claim that the rotors and pads fit my car exactly; that the rotors weigh much less than the old ones because of the new alloy they are made out of, and that the carbon fiber pads will last almost forever and produce next to no brake dust.

The part numbers for the front rotors are: 210 4211 812 and 210 4330 812; and for the back rotors: 210 4211 912.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Tump]

I thought this was too good to be true. The ind. mech. called me today and said he was quoting me prices for the C36 rotors -- they are the same as the C43 rotors, right? -- I told him those rotors are not the same.

So, back to the drawing board -- either the Brembo GT kit (between 2,800 and 3,500, depending on the deal he gets me) or a set of cross drilled floating Brembo rotors made for the C43 (custom?) with new AMG carbon fiber brake pads on the stock calipers, about $1000 dollars installed.

Any thoughts or info on this upgrade?

The applicalbe sizes are:
[from: http://www.club202.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=228&highlight=Rotor]

start quote:
C36 has 4 pot caliper with 12.6" rotor (by ATE)

C43 , CLK55 (w208) and E55 (W210) has 2 pot caliper and 13.1" 2 piece rotor (by ATE)

now C32, CLK55 (w209) has 4 pot caliper and 13.6" rotor (by brembo)


the W211 E55 has larger brake I forgot the spec but they are the same as SL55. I think they 8 pot caliper brake and about 14" rotor..

I hope this clear up some confussion

Regardz,

J Irwan
end quote.

Thanks,

[ke6dcj]

I would check StopTech or Kleeman (MB Autowerks or Bergwerks) or MoveIt for your application.

However, what are you trying to do? Get shorter braking distances, less fade, or cosmetic upgrade?

Need shorter braking distances, then get wider/stickier tires, esp. up front.

Less fade (first try a performance pad like Porterfields) then maybe a bigger caliper/rotor.

Cosemetics, just paint your calipers. . .

:-) neil

hey Mark i would love to see pictures of your car if you have any from your description it seems like you have an awesome car...ferrarihat@hotmail.com

David...

[Tump]

David, I'll post some pictures as soon as I get the brakes on.

Neil, my brake upgrade was going to be too save unsprung weight and spend less money on brake pad and rotor replacement. However, that does not seem to be possible. One or the other can be done, not both at the same time.
So, now my upgrade is just cosmetic -- I want cross-drilled rotors -- and possibly, if the guy gets me carbon fiber brake pads, due to their longevity I will save a little on replacement costs.

My guy is not as good as he implied. The rotors he got are simply the stock AMG rotors made for my car that someone has cross drilled and chamfered. My guy claims that this was done by AMG for the European models -- I'm not sure of that though, and don't trust him too much. The AMG_Owners_Club.com in Europe was not able to tell me if AMG made these cross-drilled rotors.