How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

[Bmwforachange]

Hi rays545i,

I have calipers, carriers, discs for sale on this site (somewhere). They are from front of e85 3.0. if you're interested. Cheers mark

 

[casadefadi]

I have been attempting to install the 330i 325mm front brake on my 04 2.5l 5speed with no luck.

Here's the problem I am facing:
Rotor: EBC Front Slotted Brake Rotors - Pair (325x25) https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ebc-parts/front-slotted-brake-rotors-pair-325x25/usr1002/
Brake and carrier: 57/25 off of an E46 330i I believe

The carrier is interfering with the rotor and knuckle and doesn't event mount on the knuckle to begin with.
So it's clear that I have the wrong carrier, but does anyone have any recommendations and if I am even on the right path here?

thanks,
FG

 

[Mr Tidy]

I don't know what parts were fitted to the E46 in the US but in the UK it was only the 330i and 330d that came with the bigger front discs. If the same was true in the US then I suspect the carriers you have didn't come off a 330i.

Hope you find a solution.

 

[kis]

Well from what I can tell the calliper (57/25 stamp) and the disc (325mm) is correct.
Are you sure the calliper carrier is the correct one? Can they fit over the calliper like this:



It may be a good idea to remove the brake disc and try fit the carrier and brake calliper without the disc in the way (as a test fit). That may help you align things better?

 

[casadefadi]

It may be a good idea to remove the brake disc and try to fit the carrier and brake caliper without the disc in the way (as a test fit). That may help you align things better?

[ref]kis[/ref], it's really weird but interesting at the same time because they fit together as you mentioned above but do not fit on my Z4 knuckle. There's no doubt I have the wrong carriers (see images below) but I am just trying to figure out which ones I need at this point.

thanks,
FG

 

[Raj_UK]

Are there any markings on the carriers? Perhaps Google other e46 330 carriers and see if they look any different?

 

[kis]

If you cross check the part numbers on realoem, then you'll see that this brake calliper was available on the E46 (3 Series), the E83 (X3) and the E85 (Z4). If you check the carrier then it was the same for only E46 (3 Series), and the E85 (Z4).

So my money is on the carrier being from an E83.

Some links...
Left calliper as an example
Carrier (no difference between left and right)

I hope that helps?

 

[Raj_UK]

I just went down the exact same route as Kis and came to the same conclusion. Search the part number for the X3 carrier 34113413266 on Google and they look like yours. There’s some subtle differences...

 

[casadefadi]

Right, it makes sense. Thank you [ref]kis[/ref], and [ref]Raj_UK[/ref], for your contribution.
I happened to live in the same city as ZetaTre, so I called up Autobahn in El Cajon here in San Diego and should have new carrier guides within a few hours for $60.00 USD. I found a pair for $20.00 cheaper on Ebay, but I guess I am paying for immediate delivery.

On another note, rear brakes. I started the same process and purchased 330i brakes to complete the 320mm upgrade. As many have stated in previous posts, the 330i brakes do not fit. Any info on this? Whats the right move to still be able to get 320mm in the rear?

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=64860&sid=f76a2feb8cb7b2ee499eebecebc66800

Just wanted to add to post, I tried the rear brake conversion to the 330i and to be honest it will NOT work. Hat hight on disk is completely different. Not to mention spacing.
If anyone wants to give it a go I have callipers carriers with brand new disks and pads for sale.

 

[kis]

Glad I could help!

I've not done the rears. My rears are 294mm AFAIK, the format is the same as the 3.0si (so 325mm at the front and 294mm at the rear). This was good enough for me, for now at least. So couldn't comment! If you get them to work, please do a write up

 

[Jeremy Z4]

has anyone done the X3 rear brakes? Do they work? whats needes if this is posible?

 

[ESP]

Unread post by Jeremy Z4 » Wed May 18, 2022 1:31 am

has anyone done the X3 rear brakes? Do they work? whats needes if this is posible?

I did the fronts Years ago. Just buy the callipers with carriers, there a straight swap

Re; REAR ; I bought callipers carriers and had a go, and there wasn't any problem 'as-such' fitting them, but the Hand/Parking Brake was a major headache, and as far as i could work out wasn't a straight swap and would need modifying to work, so gave up on the idea.