Best discs and callipers
- Thread starter Fox2000
- Start date
Scottish Borders
The discs and callipers let the car down. Performance Is most important and I need new disks anyhow so midpriced would be ideal but I will fit myself on driveway so ideally just a standard fit job. The std fit discs do look small so maybe could go bigger but I’m wary of the electric parking brake.
At the summit of the picturesque fens
I changed mine myself with TRW discs and (low dust) pads from Autodoc. They are great and after 2,000 miles still look like new and stop well with no squeaking. Cost for a 20i size (330mm discs IIRC) were around £200 to do all four corners.Fox2000 said:
The electric parking brake is easily do-able on your drive or garage, there are various threads on here. You do not need a code reader to put it into 'service mode' as long as the parking brake doesn't apply itself automatically which it doesn't on the N20 engined cars so can't see why it would on the 6 pots.
There are some you tube videos that are wrong regarding the e-brake, so beware.
You can't just put larger discs on without changing the calipers and carriers, cos they won't fit.
Calipers can be tidied up with smooth silver and black Hammerite paint and a very small paintbrush. It is cheap and can be painted directly on rust so minimal prep needed.
Before and after shots of mine (I did spend £4 a corner on new wheel bolts and £1 on new centre caps from eBay):
20i has 300mm discs n calipers
28i has 330mm discs n calipers
You can fit 330mm discs on 20i but you need the appropriate calipers
Pondrew was confused there was never 330mm discs fitted to 20i as stock.
All E89s apart from 35i in Europe and 35is have same size rear disc n caliper
28i has 330mm discs n calipers
You can fit 330mm discs on 20i but you need the appropriate calipers
Pondrew was confused there was never 330mm discs fitted to 20i as stock.
All E89s apart from 35i in Europe and 35is have same size rear disc n caliper
I am a real cheapskate, so did them for the least financial outlay I could. They still look as good a year on.Fox2000 said:
The e-brakes are nowhere near as difficult as they seem. I hadn't changed a set of pads since 1988 but did all four discs and pads in a day. If you are careful and they don't fall to pieces you can even re-use the pad wear sensors.
And B21 is right, 300mm discs on the 18i and 20i (I did say IIRC which I didn't).
A wire brush and tin of silver spray paint would cost less than £15.
Wheel nut caps good quality about £15.
Centre caps, not cheap tin one's, about £10.
Provided you have the tools and time to do the job.
I used Plasticote graphite colour, especially on rear calipers as the rust can break through.
Mine have been good with that paint 3 years on now.
Wheel nut caps good quality about £15.
Centre caps, not cheap tin one's, about £10.
Provided you have the tools and time to do the job.
I used Plasticote graphite colour, especially on rear calipers as the rust can break through.
Mine have been good with that paint 3 years on now.
I do like the look of McButler’s solution... I went for BMW Performance replacement callipers. There’s a thread elsewhere on here where I learned about this. I’ll admit at the start it’s not a cheap option (around £1200) and bmw will tell you there isn’t an upgrade kit available (true, this is for a 330 I think) and code ends ...738 from memory. But, adds a drilled and vented 330mm disc to front with the epic six piston brake callipers. Hugely over engineered for my 23i I’m sure... your problem will then be rears... I went for new, stock discs and managed to find a pair of colour matched callipers and pads here on the forum. Just good fortune (and saved some money on doing it myself). As I said, it’s not the cheapest option, but they do look fab behind 5 spoke wheels. Would I do it again? Probably not as a) it stopped just fine on its standard brakes and b) I’ll never recover the cost, oh and c) I don’t have the amount of cash any longer. A
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Totally agree with you Jenniferlouise. I would love mcbutlers solution but wow that’s expensive.
At this stage I’m thinking replace the std discs and paint the callipers.
Gotta try and get my cracked 236 rear wheel fixed before its MOT first but discs is the next job.
Thx for sharing.
At this stage I’m thinking replace the std discs and paint the callipers.
Gotta try and get my cracked 236 rear wheel fixed before its MOT first but discs is the next job.
Thx for sharing.
Potato pot-tar-to 
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Just a warning if you have a 35i and are looking overseas for the brake calipers/discs: the 35i in the UK has the same size brake discs and pads as the 35iS as standard.
The 35i in America has the same size discs/pads as the 28i over here, as I found out when my StopTech Street pads wouldn't fit
PS: Anyone want some StopTech front Street pads...
The 35i in America has the same size discs/pads as the 28i over here, as I found out when my StopTech Street pads wouldn't fit
PS: Anyone want some StopTech front Street pads...
engine killer
Member
sumotan said:
that looks like the good old AP Racing CP5200