BMW M5 F90 Brake Upgrade Guide: Floating Rotors, Carbon Ceramic Conversion & CS Variant Explained
- Triton Motorsports
- Jul 22, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
The BMW M5 F90 is the generation that changed what the M5 could be. For the first time, BMW M installed xDrive all-wheel drive, pushed output to 600 horsepower in standard form and 617 in Competition trim, and produced a car that the Nürburgring confirmed in under 7:40 as a genuinely capable performance machine — while remaining a comfortable four-door sedan that owners use every day. The M5 CS pushed it further still: 627 horsepower, the highest output ever from a BMW production car at the time, with factory carbon ceramic brakes as standard equipment.
That range — standard M5, Competition, CS — covers three distinct brake setups, three upgrade paths, and one platform. This guide covers all of them with verified specifications, correct OE part numbers, and pricing for every option.
The F90's Factory Brake Limitation — and Why It Matters on This Specific Car
The F90 M5's performance profile creates a specific set of demands on its braking system that previous M5 generations never had to address. xDrive distributes power to all four wheels, which means the car accelerates harder, carries more speed into braking zones, and places higher thermal loads on the front brakes than a rear-wheel-drive M5 would. Add the S63-series 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8's torque delivery — immediate, relentless, with very little wind-up — and the average M5 F90 braking event is more thermally demanding than its M3 counterpart on the same road.
The factory M Compound rotors are large — 395mm front — and competent. But like all BMW M-series production rotors, they use a quasi 2-piece construction: a fixed or riveted connection between the rotor ring and hub, meaning the two pieces behave as a single rigid unit under heat. Without true mechanical independence between ring and hat, thermal energy from sustained braking transfers more freely into the hub and bearing. The rotor expands less predictably under load, pedal feel becomes less linear over extended use, and the onset of fade — while never dangerous — builds more quickly than it would with a true floating design.
For an M5 owner who pushes the car on an HPDE track day, runs mountain passes at pace, or simply expects the pedal to feel the same on lap three as it did on lap one, the factory setup leaves performance on the table.
Option 1: True 2-Piece Floating Steel Rotors
Triton's F90 M5 floating rotors are the most popular upgrade path for this platform — and the most versatile. A G3500 high carbon iron alloy rotor ring is mechanically separated from a billet aluminum hat via stainless steel drive pins, free to expand thermally without transmitting stress into the hub. The result is more consistent pedal feel across a range of temperatures, less hub heat soak, and more predictable wear across the friction surface.
One advantage specific to the F90: Steel floating rotors deliver consistent cold-bite from the first stop of the day — which matters on a car that spends as much time in urban traffic as it does at speed. Carbon ceramic brakes on the F90 M5 require careful warm-up before delivering full braking force, making steel floating rotors the more practical choice for owners who drive their M5 daily year-round.
Technical Specifications
Specification | Front | Rear |
Diameter | 395mm | 380mm |
Thickness | 36mm | 28mm |
Ring material | G3500 High Carbon Iron Alloy | G3500 High Carbon Iron Alloy |
Hat material | Billet Aluminum | Billet Aluminum |
Design | True 2-piece floating | True 2-piece floating |
OE part replaced (front) | 34117991101 (left) / 34117991102 (right) | |
OE part replaced (rear) | 34217991103 (left) / 34217991104 (right) | |
Machining options | Cross drilled, X slots, J-hook slots, dimpled | |
Caliper compatibility | Factory OEM calipers | Factory OEM calipers |
Price: From $1,391.00
Turnaround time: ~35 days
Customer rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (12 reviews)
Warranty: 1 year / 36,000 miles against manufacturer defects
Note: anti-vibration shims are strongly recommended for the F90 M5 platform to minimise low-speed brake noise. Contact Triton when ordering to discuss shim fitment for your specific build.
Option 2: Iron-to-Carbon Ceramic Conversion Kit
For M5 F90 owners who want to eliminate fade entirely rather than reduce it — particularly those who run regular track days or extended mountain driving — Triton's CCB conversion kit replaces the factory steel rotor and pad system with a complete Gen 3 carbon ceramic setup engineered as a direct bolt-on for the factory M5 calipers.
The conversion uses Triton's Gen 3 technology: continuous long carbon fibers bonded in a three-dimensional interlocking network throughout the silicon carbide matrix. Compared to the short-fiber architecture of older-generation OEM carbon ceramic systems, Gen 3 delivers superior structural integrity under thermal cycling, better heat distribution through continuous fiber pathways, and longer effective service life from the reinforced friction layer.
No caliper changes. No bracket modifications. No ABS recalibration. Direct bolt-on for the factory F90 M5 brake system.
Price: $11,998.00 for a complete front and rear set including pads
Turnaround time: ~45 days
Warranty: 1 year / 36,000 miles against manufacturer defects
Option 3: Direct Carbon Ceramic Replacement (M5 CS and Factory CCB Cars)
The M5 CS (2021–2023) came with factory carbon ceramic brakes as standard — not optional. If you drive a CS, the floating rotor upgrade and conversion kit do not apply to your car. What you need when your factory CCB wears out is a direct replacement Gen 3 carbon ceramic disc — a bolt-in replacement that installs exactly where your current factory discs are, with no conversion hardware required.
This also applies to standard M5 Competition models that were optioned with the factory M Carbon Ceramic Brake package (option code 2NK) at time of order.
Triton manufactures direct replacement Gen 3 carbon ceramic discs for F90 M5s with factory carbon ceramic brakes — the same performance tier as the conversion kit, in a direct drop-in form for cars already equipped with CCB calipers.
Price: From $6,098.00 (pads sold separately)
Turnaround time: ~45 days
Which Option Is Right for Your F90 M5?
Choose floating steel rotors if: your M5 has standard M Compound iron brakes, you drive the car daily including in cold weather, and want a meaningful step up in thermal consistency and rotor longevity without the cold-bite limitations of carbon ceramic. The $1,391 starting price point and 35-day turnaround make this the most accessible and most versatile upgrade for the majority of F90 M5 owners.
Choose the CCB conversion if: your M5 has standard iron brakes and you want to eliminate fade entirely — primarily track-day users, canyon runners, and owners who want the highest-tier braking performance regardless of daily-driver trade-offs. The 45-day lead time reflects the custom manufacturing process.
Choose direct CCB replacement if: you drive an M5 CS or a Competition with factory 2NK CCB — these cars need like-for-like carbon ceramic disc replacement when worn, not a conversion kit.
Complete Fitment Guide
Variant | Years | Factory Brakes | Floating Rotors | CCB Conversion | Direct CCB |
BMW M5 (standard) | 2018–2023 | M Compound iron | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
BMW M5 Competition | 2018–2023 | M Compound iron (standard) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
BMW M5 Competition (2NK) | 2018–2023 | Factory M Carbon Ceramic | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
BMW M5 CS | 2021–2023 | Factory M Carbon Ceramic (standard) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
The easiest way to confirm which brake system your F90 has: check for the factory carbon ceramic option code 2NK on your original build sheet. If present, or if you drive a CS, you need the direct CCB replacement. If absent, the floating rotor or conversion kit applies. Contact Triton if you're unsure before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the F90 M5's xDrive system affect which brake upgrade is best?
xDrive changes how the M5 puts power down but does not change the brake system specification — the front and rear rotor sizes are the same regardless of drivetrain configuration. However, xDrive does increase the thermal load on the front brakes relative to rear-wheel-drive setups, which is one reason why consistent pedal feel across a range of temperatures matters more on the F90 than on older M5 generations.
Do anti-vibration shims come with the rotors?
Shims are not automatically included but are strongly recommended for the F90 M5. They reduce low-speed brake noise that can occur with floating rotors when pads are cold — particularly relevant on a car used in urban driving. Contact Triton at info@tritonmotorsportsusa.com when ordering to discuss shim fitment for your build.
Will upgrading brakes affect the M5's DSC or ABS systems?
No. Triton's rotors maintain OEM sizing and are fully compatible with the F90's factory ABS, DSC, and M Dynamic Mode. No coding, recalibration, or module changes are required for any of the three upgrade paths.
Can I replace just the front or rear rotors?
Yes — Triton sells front and rear sets separately. However, replacing both axles simultaneously is recommended for balanced braking performance, particularly after the rotors have been run for a season and wear patterns are established.
What is the difference between the standard M5 and CS rotor specification?
The factory brake specification (rotor sizing, caliper design) is the same across standard M5, Competition, and CS. The difference is the friction material: standard and Competition cars use M Compound iron rotors as default; the CS uses factory carbon ceramic as standard.
How long do Triton's F90 floating rotors last on track?
Service life depends on use intensity, pad compound, and driving conditions. Under typical mixed street and HPDE use, G3500 high carbon iron alloy rotors significantly outlast standard OEM rotors. Individual rings can be replaced when worn without replacing the full assembly — contact Triton for ring replacement pricing.
The Bottom Line
The BMW M5 F90 is the most capable, most powerful, and most technologically advanced M5 ever built in the F-series lineage. The S63 V8, xDrive traction, and sub-7:40 Nürburgring capability combine to produce a car that regularly outperforms machinery costing twice as much on a circuit. The factory braking system is competent. Triton's upgrade makes it match the level of everything else the F90 was designed to do.
Whether you're on iron brakes looking for a track-capable step-up, or a CS owner who needs factory CCB replaced — Triton has a direct-fit, Gen 3 solution for every F90 M5 configuration.
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