How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

[Panta Rhei]

I have read about Porche 911 996 front Brembo calipers. If I am right - 330 mm. Maybe this is a chance.

 

[Ducklakeview]

Would the fronts from an E46 330CD be the same as the E46 330i, and therefore a straight swap to my 3.0i Z4?

Mike

 

[Darkangelv2]

Would the fronts from an E46 330CD be the same as the E46 330i, and therefore a straight swap to my 3.0i Z4?

Mike

Yes -

 

[SonnyA85]

Would the fronts from an E46 330CD be the same as the E46 330i, and therefore a straight swap to my 3.0i Z4?

Mike

Can you get these new anywhere or is it too expensive and your better off just buying second hand and if they fail replace with second hand again.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Would the fronts from an E46 330CD be the same as the E46 330i, and therefore a straight swap to my 3.0i Z4?

Mike

Can you get these new anywhere or is it too expensive and your better off just buying second hand and if they fail replace with second hand again.

Of course you can buy new but would needs carriers too. Better buy second hand and clean them up or use those to trade in for refurb end units. New disks of course not old stuff.

 

[SonnyA85]

Would the fronts from an E46 330CD be the same as the E46 330i, and therefore a straight swap to my 3.0i Z4?

Mike

Can you get these new anywhere or is it too expensive and your better off just buying second hand and if they fail replace with second hand again.

Of course you can buy new but would needs carriers too. Better buy second hand and clean them up or use those to trade in for refurb end units. New disks of course not old stuff.

what would you say is a good price then for front calipers, carriers and discs? They tend to be sold all together I find or you get 1 caliper and no carrier but asking stupid money in comparison to an all in one set.

 

[cj10jeeper]

I just called breakers yards and they sold me calipers as singles. Threw in the carrier for free.
Can't recall prices, but supply and demand. When I did mine it was a new idea so cheap as chips.
Replacements since are around £50 exchange

Disks and pads depends on what you choose. I like EBS grooved and their pads.

 

[kis]

Just researching this for another to-do on my list. Is there any other calipers and carriers that would suit the Zed? I'm going to upgrade to the 325mm so at present I've got Z4 3.0si and E46 330's to choose from. Just wondering if there are any other sources out there that I could pursue?

 

[cj10jeeper]

Just researching this for another to-do on my list. Is there any other calipers and carriers that would suit the Zed? I'm going to upgrade to the 325mm so at present I've got Z4 3.0si and E46 330's to choose from. Just wondering if there are any other sources out there that I could pursue?

If you're talking about bolt on swops then the E46 330 is the route to go down. I'm not aware of any other caliper and carrier combo that is a direct swap

 

[MACK]

if you look at real oem the 3,0Si calipers and carriers are the same on the 330d and the 325i as well as the 330i

 

[kis]

If you're talking about bolt on swops then the E46 330 is the route to go down. I'm not aware of any other caliper and carrier combo that is a direct swap

if you look at real oem the 3,0Si calipers and carriers are the same on the 330d and the 325i as well as the 330i

Thanks for your replies guys. Yes, just a standard bolt on set up. Don't want to be getting too technical or end up working myself into a messy situation.

I knew about the 3.0si (Z4) and the 330's (e46) but didn't know about the 325i? Is this a e46 as well? Or a newer 3 Series? I think you've got e90, e92, etc? This is a good shout and will hopefully mean I can grab something a bit easier and maybe cheaper as well.

Cheers, Kis.

 

[Ducklakeview]

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

 

[cj10jeeper]

If you're talking about bolt on swops then the E46 330 is the route to go down. I'm not aware of any other caliper and carrier combo that is a direct swap

if you look at real oem the 3,0Si calipers and carriers are the same on the 330d and the 325i as well as the 330i

Thanks for your replies guys. Yes, just a standard bolt on set up. Don't want to be getting too technical or end up working myself into a messy situation.

I knew about the 3.0si (Z4) and the 330's (e46) but didn't know about the 325i? Is this a e46 as well? Or a newer 3 Series? I think you've got e90, e92, etc? This is a good shout and will hopefully mean I can grab something a bit easier and maybe cheaper as well.

Cheers, Kis.

I have never heard of 325 calipers fitting, but if they carry the same size disk as 330's then they will fit. You can cross reference any part numbers on realoem.com

 

[kis]

325 is only 300mm? So apparently not? Unless someone can direct me otherwise?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=ET36-EUR-06-2003-E46-BMW-325i&diagId=34_0758

 

[kis]

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.

 

[Darkangelv2]

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.

 

[kis]

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!

 

[Darkangelv2]

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.

 

[kis]

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!

 

[Darkangelv2]

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.