Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post Reply
User avatar
Darkangelv2
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1276
Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2015 1:20 pm
Location: Southampton

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by Darkangelv2 » Mon Oct 17, 2016 5:03 pm

kis wrote:
Ducklakeview wrote:I used carriers and calipers from an E46 330d. They went straight on. Coupled with new slotted & dimpled discs and quality pads, they have made a massive improvement in braking. I paid £60 delivered for compete front hubs, but only used the carriers and calipers.

Mike
Thats really good. I've been looking and most places quoting me around £150!! ...the search continues.
Cheapest way I found was searching for '330 breaking' on eBay and then just firing emails to he guys who were breaking them requesting a price.

Think I paid £60 too.

PS. The carriers are actually the same on the 300MM & 325MM calliper setup.
BMW Z4 2006 2.5SI - 437M Wheels - Strut Brace - H&R ARBs
Image
3.0si Brake Conversion - Custom Nappa Sport Interior - Z4M Bumper+Bonnet -
BC Racing BR Coilovers - AFE Stage 2

User avatar
kis
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4536
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2016 2:33 pm
Location: Surrey / West Sussex Boarder

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by kis » Mon Oct 17, 2016 6:04 pm

Darkangelv2 wrote: Cheapest way I found was searching for '330 breaking' on eBay and then just firing emails to he guys who were breaking them requesting a price.

Think I paid £60 too.

PS. The carriers are actually the same on the 300MM & 325MM calliper setup.
So as I've already got a 3.0 I can use my existing carriers? My fronts are 300mm.

Or are you talking about e46 300mm carriers?

Thanks for the update! :)
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

User avatar
Darkangelv2
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1276
Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2015 1:20 pm
Location: Southampton

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by Darkangelv2 » Mon Oct 17, 2016 7:02 pm

kis wrote:
Darkangelv2 wrote: Cheapest way I found was searching for '330 breaking' on eBay and then just firing emails to he guys who were breaking them requesting a price.

Think I paid £60 too.

PS. The carriers are actually the same on the 300MM & 325MM calliper setup.
So as I've already got a 3.0 I can use my existing carriers? My fronts are 300mm.

Or are you talking about e46 300mm carriers?

Thanks for the update! :)
You can use your existing carriers with either of the 325mm upgraded callipers.
BMW Z4 2006 2.5SI - 437M Wheels - Strut Brace - H&R ARBs
Image
3.0si Brake Conversion - Custom Nappa Sport Interior - Z4M Bumper+Bonnet -
BC Racing BR Coilovers - AFE Stage 2

User avatar
kis
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4536
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2016 2:33 pm
Location: Surrey / West Sussex Boarder

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by kis » Tue Oct 18, 2016 11:10 am

Darkangelv2 wrote:
kis wrote:
Darkangelv2 wrote: Cheapest way I found was searching for '330 breaking' on eBay and then just firing emails to he guys who were breaking them requesting a price.

Think I paid £60 too.

PS. The carriers are actually the same on the 300MM & 325MM calliper setup.
So as I've already got a 3.0 I can use my existing carriers? My fronts are 300mm.

Or are you talking about e46 300mm carriers?

Thanks for the update! :)
You can use your existing carriers with either of the 325mm upgraded callipers.
Thanks Darkangelv2. A lot of E36 owners sourcing the E46 330 brakes, common mod for them too. So makes sourcing parts a right pain. So if I can use my existing carriers I'm gonna hit up some X3 breakers! It seems far easier to get your hands on calipers than both calipers and carriers. No idea how that works... Will source parts and report back!
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

User avatar
Darkangelv2
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1276
Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2015 1:20 pm
Location: Southampton

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by Darkangelv2 » Tue Oct 18, 2016 12:26 pm

kis wrote:
Darkangelv2 wrote:
kis wrote:
So as I've already got a 3.0 I can use my existing carriers? My fronts are 300mm.

Or are you talking about e46 300mm carriers?

Thanks for the update! :)
You can use your existing carriers with either of the 325mm upgraded callipers.
Thanks Darkangelv2. A lot of E36 owners sourcing the E46 330 brakes, common mod for them too. So makes sourcing parts a right pain. So if I can use my existing carriers I'm gonna hit up some X3 breakers! It seems far easier to get your hands on calipers than both calipers and carriers. No idea how that works... Will source parts and report back!
Just a warning reference the X3 calipers (of which I have no experience). The OP made this note in his initial post.

PS3: sourcing the front brakes from an X3

The X3 has the same front calipers as the 330i (325mm vented); however the carrier has a different p/n so it might not be a perfect bolt on.
BMW Z4 2006 2.5SI - 437M Wheels - Strut Brace - H&R ARBs
Image
3.0si Brake Conversion - Custom Nappa Sport Interior - Z4M Bumper+Bonnet -
BC Racing BR Coilovers - AFE Stage 2

User avatar
kis
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4536
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2016 2:33 pm
Location: Surrey / West Sussex Boarder

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by kis » Tue Oct 18, 2016 6:25 pm

Darkangelv2 wrote:
kis wrote:
Darkangelv2 wrote:
You can use your existing carriers with either of the 325mm upgraded callipers.
Thanks Darkangelv2. A lot of E36 owners sourcing the E46 330 brakes, common mod for them too. So makes sourcing parts a right pain. So if I can use my existing carriers I'm gonna hit up some X3 breakers! It seems far easier to get your hands on calipers than both calipers and carriers. No idea how that works... Will source parts and report back!
Just a warning reference the X3 calipers (of which I have no experience). The OP made this note in his initial post.

PS3: sourcing the front brakes from an X3

The X3 has the same front calipers as the 330i (325mm vented); however the carrier has a different p/n so it might not be a perfect bolt on.
Hi, thanks mate. From my research the calipers are exactly the same, it's just the carriers which are different. So I'll get the calipers and use my existing carriers. That's the plan at least. Should work out if it's as everything we've discussed?
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

User avatar
cj10jeeper
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 17846
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:50 am
Location: Lichfield, England

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by cj10jeeper » Tue Oct 18, 2016 7:45 pm

Not sure if I've missed something here but you cannot use the existing 3.0 carriers for the larger 330 calipers. They won't be big enough.

I did the conversion from my stock 3.0 and need the matching set of carriers and calipers
Jaguar F-Type 3.0 Supercharged V6 S, Stratus Grey, LSD, Active Exhaust, CF wheels, Performance brakes, Sports seats and mods ongoing
Gone but not forgotten Z4 3.0i SE Roadster ///M front, Red ///M leather seats, Aero sills

User avatar
Ducklakeview
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6362
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 4:08 pm
Location: Merseyside

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by Ducklakeview » Tue Oct 18, 2016 8:06 pm

cj10jeeper wrote:Not sure if I've missed something here but you cannot use the existing 3.0 carriers for the larger 330 calipers. They won't be big enough.

I did the conversion from my stock 3.0 and need the matching set of carriers and calipers
+1

My 330d calipers would physically fit onto the 3.0 brackets, but they would not allow the (bigger) disc to fit, as they 330d brackets are (obviously) around 12.5mm or extended from the mounting points compared to the 3.0 ones. They are different part no's on RealOEM, I checked as it was obv easier to find just calipers rather than those with carriers.

Mike

User avatar
Ducklakeview
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6362
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 4:08 pm
Location: Merseyside

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by Ducklakeview » Tue Oct 18, 2016 8:18 pm

kis wrote:
Hi, thanks mate. From my research the calipers are exactly the same, it's just the carriers which are different. So I'll get the calipers and use my existing carriers. That's the plan at least. Should work out if it's as everything we've discussed?

The calipers are different.

Mike

User avatar
Darkangelv2
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1276
Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2015 1:20 pm
Location: Southampton

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by Darkangelv2 » Tue Oct 18, 2016 8:54 pm

Ah, my apologies guys. I thought they were identical when I swapped them over.
BMW Z4 2006 2.5SI - 437M Wheels - Strut Brace - H&R ARBs
Image
3.0si Brake Conversion - Custom Nappa Sport Interior - Z4M Bumper+Bonnet -
BC Racing BR Coilovers - AFE Stage 2

User avatar
Toe-side
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2078
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:31 pm
Location: In the 'Borders'

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by Toe-side » Tue Oct 18, 2016 10:48 pm

Use the real oem web site to confirm parts are the same and direct replacement. Different numbers = different parts :wink:

Ducklakeview and cj10jeeper are spot on. 325mm Carriers are different to the 300mm's :thumbsup:

Another source for the calipers I believe is the old MG ZT's which shared a number of BM parts.
Never purchased any however.
Before: 2003 3.0 Roadster, Porsche Boxster 987S Now 981S
Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive

User avatar
Toe-side
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2078
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:31 pm
Location: In the 'Borders'

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by Toe-side » Tue Oct 18, 2016 11:07 pm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-ZT-190-2-5 ... Swh2xYAgiw

Difficult to say about the carriers being correct but they did run 325mm discs on the bigger output ZT's
Before: 2003 3.0 Roadster, Porsche Boxster 987S Now 981S
Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive

User avatar
kis
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4536
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2016 2:33 pm
Location: Surrey / West Sussex Boarder

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by kis » Mon Oct 24, 2016 7:31 am

Ducklakeview wrote:
The calipers are different.

Mike
Thanks Mike & CJ - that messes up my plan!
Toe-side wrote: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-ZT-190-2-5 ... Swh2xYAgiw

Difficult to say about the carriers being correct but they did run 325mm discs on the bigger output ZT's
Just to update everyone, the calipers are okay (as Toe-Side said), however the carriers do not fit.
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

User avatar
cj10jeeper
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 17846
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:50 am
Location: Lichfield, England

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by cj10jeeper » Mon Oct 24, 2016 12:54 pm

Out of curiosity has anyone tried a set of the Rover calipers?

While they are the same casting I'd want to be sure they had the same piston size inside. Could be scary and out of balance if not.

Not a concern for me as I have the 330d fitted
Jaguar F-Type 3.0 Supercharged V6 S, Stratus Grey, LSD, Active Exhaust, CF wheels, Performance brakes, Sports seats and mods ongoing
Gone but not forgotten Z4 3.0i SE Roadster ///M front, Red ///M leather seats, Aero sills

User avatar
kis
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4536
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2016 2:33 pm
Location: Surrey / West Sussex Boarder

How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by kis » Sat Nov 05, 2016 1:09 am

Okay so I'm back! :roll:

I'm still trying to source these and possibly going down the route of X3 calipers and sourcing carriers separately.

I know you need to check part numbers as mentioned before, only I don't know how? I've looked at RealOEM and I know which part numbers I can use, so that's fine... Only there aren't part numbers stamped/engraved on the actual part are there?

It's fairly easy to see if the calipers are correct, they are normally stamped with 57/25 on the front (if they're not completely rusted!) so along with the description from the seller you know. But the carriers? How do you identify them? They're normally stamped up on the inside. I've seen a few with 443 and 505? Listing here shows an example.

Anyone know which number or numbers to look out for? (I'm thinking possibly different numbers for a 3.0si carrier and a 330 carrier which is why I say numbers).

Cheers guys! :)
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

Post Reply