Wet Brakes?

[jayfk21]

When I am driving on the highway for extended periods in the rain (usually high speeds, not using brakes) and then I need to slow down I can feel my brakes not slowing me down as well as they usually do. I am guessing they are wet (therefore less friction).

Is this normal? Anything I can do to fix it?

(The rear pads/rotors are new)

Thanks,
jay

 

[tazza0712]

BMW recommends in their driver's manual to occasionally step on the brakes while driving in inclement weather to remove excess water and therefore retain optimum braking power when needed. Likewise after getting your car washed, you'll probably notice that the brakes do not work as well as they normally do, excess water on the discs is the culprit.

 

[Big Daddy]

What Adrian said!

 

[Dutch]

You know what's strange?

I have the same 'problem' with my set of winter tires and rims. But with my summer set: I never never have these problems (when driving in the rain for prolonged periods). I guess it's the outside temperature.

 

[jayfk21]

That's OK, I hardly ever use the brakes anyway...

 

[tazza0712]

haha, with cars like these, who can really blame you??

 

[squarehat]

I remember reading that the new E90's have an automatic brake-drying feature built into the DSC system. When the windshield wipers are going at a certain speed, the computer will periodically apply the brakes just light enough to dry the rotors, without slowing down the car.

 

[B M W]

The problem also slies in the fact that your brake ducts are directing waters directly to your rotors. BMW decided to block off the brake ducts on the US spec e46 M3 because they find htat some of us US drivers might get a bit too confident in our M3's and decide to sue BMW for those precious milaseconds of "Oh my ****ing god my brakes are wet and apparently they dont work in the rain and now im about to hit a pole cuz i drive like an idiot in the rain" moments.

If it really bothers you try blocking off your brake ducts.

 

[Skunk2R0722]

yea the water problem is what i had but after getting my car washed the bake pad light came on and hasent gone off for a couple of days so i dont kno if i need new brake pads or just them getting wet i think i just need new brake pads

 

[William330]

Yes, this is 'normal' for all cars in the rain.

During driver's ed class in high school, they gave the
instructions provided by tazza0712 in the second post.