[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Lightweight Springs and Brakes to Reduce Weight of Future Models

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Here's some good news which highlights BMW's dedication to reduce weight in its future models. In addition to using lighter materials such as advanced steel and carbon fiber and using more aluminum to cut future vehicle weight, BMW is now looking to lighten future models' brakes and suspension springs. The reduction of at least 44 pounds of unspring weight at a car's corners should yield particularly greater improvements in performance, handling, and feel.

Lightweight Rotors

According to Motor Trend, BMW's new lightweight rotors called "Slim Rim," despite being larger in diameter than a traditional rotor, weighs in at only 28.6 pounds, versus 39.2 pounds for the traditional rotor. How does this work? Proportions is the answer.

Originally Posted by Motor Trend

The steel friction surface, the ring the brake calipers actually clamp on to, is far and away the heaviest piece of the puzzle. While the Slim Rim rotor’s steel ring is larger in diameter, which gives the brake caliper better leverage, the friction surface is shorter top to bottom, saving weight. The result is that the same amount of work is done by the brake pads, but the rotor weighs less. Add an aluminum rotor hat that’s been turned into Swiss Cheese to remove all non-essential material and you’ve got over 10 pounds of weight savings at every wheel. Combined with a new, slimmed down two-piston caliper, BMW says the whole package will reduce the total weight of the car by at least 17.6 pounds.

Lightweight Springs

To reduce the weight of traditional steel coiled springs, BMW is developing glass fiber reinforced plastic constructed springs - saving at least 13.2 pounds from the total weight of all four springs combined. This, combined with the lightweight rotors reduces the car's weight by at least 44 pounds, according to BMW's estimates. This may not sound like much, but keep in mind that this is a reduction of unsprung weight, which yields more benefit than reducing the sprung weight of the car (i.e. the car's body) by the same weight.

Source: Motor Trend

[antzcrashing]

sweet.

[BillLee]

weight reduction is always a good thing!

[cuban335i]

those rotors and calipers look sick and that's a ton of weight savings!

[Adamk24]

Originally Posted by Jason

"you’ve got over 10 pounds of weight savings at every wheel. Combined with a new, slimmed down two-piston caliper, BMW says the whole package will reduce the total weight of the car by at least 17.6 pounds."

"over 10 pounds of weight savings at every wheel .... reduce the total weight of the car by at least 17.6 pounds"

"10 pounds... at every wheel... 17.6 pounds"

Hmmm, I'm no math expert but there is something they are not telling us here.

Cool stuff for sure but it sounds like this would add to the cost of new cars, not to mention replacement cost of pads and rotors. I'll take the lightweight springs though.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by -=Hot|Ice=-

This is great news but 17 pounds off of a 4,000 pound car doesn't really help.

It's at least 44 pounds saved from the corners combined. Not an insignificant amount of weight.

It would be like reducing each of your wheels by 11 pounds each. You'd definitely notice the benefits.

[Diver]

Nice engineering. Does this come on the next 3?

[3XTR3M3]

I'm just excited they are really trying to make an effort in the right direction and it looks like they are making progress.

The thing that bothers me is, all this weight reduction will be implemented, but a bunch of weight will be added for safety reg and other shit.

Its a cycle. I was so excited to hear that the E9x V8 would be lighter than the E46 I6... then the cars weight was announced.

[PINeely]

WHAT

Those things look amazing. And 44 pounds off? Yes please.

[JimB_328XI]

Originally Posted by maxnix

What is the filler in the wheel? Looks like sand so I wonder if it is structural.

Cork. Feels lighter on wet roads.

[nlpamg]

that's pretty cool.

guess you won't be able to put coilovers or lower the car in the traditional ways though!

[skiernan36]

awesome, i'm interested to see where else they shed weight. perhaps a back seat delete option okay maybe not that, but we can dream

[Hops128i]

Yes, Yes! These are the innovations I want to BMW to pursue. Reduce unsprung weight has great benefits. These are the sort of innovations that make BMW what it is. And to further this goal: GET RID OF THE RUN FLATS!!! Please!!!

[antzcrashing]

This is unsprung weight - in other words this weight means much more in performance, especially corning performance.

People who track cars spend significant $$ on lightweight wheels (and brake components) for this very reason. Not to say it only benefits the track, of course.

[blender]

Let's see a OEM 'competition' pkg with the big brakes, springs and wheels.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Originally Posted by Jason

It's at least 44 pounds saved from the corners combined. Not an insignificant amount of weight.

It would be like reducing each of your wheels by 11 pounds each. You'd definitely notice the benefits.

That sounds MUCH better. I thought it was a 11 pounds total, not 11 pounds each corner.

[lionheart90k]

awesome... and that brake caliper model looks good comparing to the OEM e9x brake calipers too

[Taipei-TT]

It's amazing what a few new fuel regulations and rising oil prices can do for the pace of innovation that both improves fuel efficiency and driving dynamics. Aside from the cost of these innovations on the purchase price (which I for one would happily pay for given the benefits), this is a win all around. More of the same, please!

[DDS2015]

I wonder what size wheels they're going to have to put over these things because they look huge. Not that I'm complaining.

[bavarian19]

Good move BMW.

[jworms]

would be great as long as they don't balloon the weight of the cars that get this treatment, offsetting any benefits


...unfortunately, i feel this will probably be the case

[madmanhiker]

It's these types of innovations from BMW that make them the benchmark for others to follow. I love it, and they look great too!