brake upgrade requirements?

[jflip2002]

I saw a previous post, about someone upgrading to 330 brakes. What mods are required to upgrade your brakes? New mount positioning, different lines or what? I work at an auto parts store, so I can get m3 calipers for about $50 per, in wagber brand, loaded with thermo quiet brakes.

I'm going to need brakes in a few thousand miles I'm assuming, so if I don't need to change too mane things around, I can go ahead with those. I apologize for the typos, I'm mobile right now though.

[ZeroG]

Originally Posted by jflip2002

I saw a previous post, about someone upgrading to 330 brakes. What mods are required to upgrade your brakes? New mount positioning, different lines or what? I work at an auto parts store, so I can get m3 calipers for about $50 per, in wagber brand, loaded with thermo quiet brakes.

I'm going to need brakes in a few thousand miles I'm assuming, so if I don't need to change too mane things around, I can go ahead with those. I apologize for the typos, I'm mobile right now though.

To go bigger the right way to do it should be the following:

New Calipers & Carriers (F&R)

New Pads

New Rotors

Brake Lines (Might as well go with SS)

Rear wheel spindles (F&R) (Front- Not required, when I did it the carrier did not fit right so we ground it down. If I replaced the front spindle then I probably would not have to grind it. Rear- Depending how big you go. If you swap the rear and want your ebrake to work you will need to swap them. Also may need to make an adapter the the Diff or Half Shafts as the connections might be different)

-Chad

[jflip2002]

So basically a lot of work.

$50 per loaded caliper = $200
$50 per wagner rotor = $200
New carriers = $$$ Special Order
New Spindles = $$$ Special Order
Labor = Assuming Id have to take it to a customizing shop, because our single BMW shop in town doesnt really do mods.. More major $$$

Well that pretty much sucks. Where do you get new spindles? Id have to special order them from Weber BMW in Fresno, and that would be quite a bit of money. Or am I wrong? Is it worth it, or is it better just to spend the cash on the Brembo Big Brake Upgrade Kit?

[CirrusSR22]

You'll also need 17" wheels to clear the brakes (I think, not 100% sure though)

Check out www.car-part.com. I found two almost brand new E46 325i calipers including the caliper carriers for $90 at some junkyard in Arkansas.

[jflip2002]

I'll be goin to 19"s before any of the brake mods... I get bored at work, and work at an auto parts store, so my mind goes nuts thinkin about what to do to her lol

[ZeroG]

Originally Posted by jflip2002

So basically a lot of work.

$50 per loaded caliper = $200
$50 per wagner rotor = $200
New carriers = $$$ Special Order
New Spindles = $$$ Special Order
Labor = Assuming Id have to take it to a customizing shop, because our single BMW shop in town doesnt really do mods.. More major $$$

Well that pretty much sucks. Where do you get new spindles? Id have to special order them from Weber BMW in Fresno, and that would be quite a bit of money. Or am I wrong? Is it worth it, or is it better just to spend the cash on the Brembo Big Brake Upgrade Kit?

The best place to get the parts you need is from a totaled Bimmer Or a few totaled Bimmer's. I think I did a complete M3 brake swap minus spindles for $800 in parts. That is totally cheap compared to Brembo or Stop Tech kit.

My friend has a Grand Torismo BBK from Brembo and my car with the M3 brake swap stops just as fast if not faster.

-Chad

[jflip2002]

im sure it would be cheaper to go that way, but wouldnt it be easier to just get the brembo bbk? I mean rotors, calipers, and new pads are going to cost me $400 total. I just gotta find the spindles from somehwere, Im assuming i can get em at a junk yard for $50-$100 each. The guy who runs the bigger junk yard here usually gives me stuff for cheaper. Though Im not sure how much they usually run, Ive never had to buy spindles.

[KIRASIR]

Don't waste your money on M3 front brakes. Too $$ and too much work replacing the spindles (or grinding the carriers).

Go with 330 front brakes (~300USD for everything).

http://www.emotors.ca/articles/article.aspx?id=77

Note: Rear M3 brakes will NOT fit a ti.

SL

Originally Posted by jflip2002

im sure it would be cheaper to go that way, but wouldnt it be easier to just get the brembo bbk? I mean rotors, calipers, and new pads are going to cost me $400 total. I just gotta find the spindles from somehwere, Im assuming i can get em at a junk yard for $50-$100 each. The guy who runs the bigger junk yard here usually gives me stuff for cheaper. Though Im not sure how much they usually run, Ive never had to buy spindles.

[jflip2002]

The 330s would be more than good enough for my TI I think. The stock TI brake calipers and rotors are just so tiny. I think it would look a little funny with those sitting behind 5 spoke 19" wheels. The 330's should fill the space a little better it looks like.

But now that I look at what is required for the M3 upgrade, knowing that spindles are only the hub units, that wont be so bad. We sell Hubs at my work, theyre National Brand. Which is a top stock/Oe bearing and seal manufacturer.

I also noticed you say go with 330 FRONT brakes.... But M3 REAR brakes wont fit. Am I supposed to leave the rear brakes stock with the 318ti unit? I read on that DIY link that you shouldnt upgrade your rear brakes, as they make lock up easier.

The 330 upgrade looks simple enough, and when they show the 328 next to the M3, theres not too much of a difference. Thanks for the help and the great link

[jflip2002]

What's the difference between e46 330 and 328 brakes? We don't have 330 brake stuff here, but we have 328 loaded calipers here for $27.80 each at my employee cost, when they list $110.15 each for wagner oem calipers.

Is there a huge size difference between the two? Thanks

[KIRASIR]

See the link above.

Originally Posted by jflip2002

What's the difference between e46 330 and 328 brakes? We don't have 330 brake stuff here, but we have 328 loaded calipers here for $27.80 each at my employee cost, when they list $110.15 each for wagner oem calipers.

Is there a huge size difference between the two? Thanks

[AlaskaBlue]

I actually just bought the 330 front brakes today like 5 minutes ago. I got a complete kit from zionsville autosport http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/s...tegory_Code=BB I think they may be installed today because I am having coil-overs put on at a shop that shares the building with ZA. They were real customer friendly they went ahead and took the brake kit to my installer so it basically comes down to how much time my installer has left.

[jflip2002]

I can get them totally cheaper than $400+. That link compared 330 and m3, 318ti and 330, but I don't think they compared 330 and 328 calipers. If the sizes are close, a 328 upgrade would be about $200 cheaper for me than a 330 upgrade. Because we stock the 328 parts, but don't even show anything for the 330 brakes

[KIRASIR]

The link compares 330 vs 318ti and M3 vs 328.

328 brakes are the same as 318ti brakes except the rotors are vented and thicker. The piston size and rotor diameter are the same.

I paid just over 300USD for the complete 330 front conversion with brand new rotors and pads. The calipers are about 150USD from a junk yard.

SL

Originally Posted by jflip2002

I can get them totally cheaper than $400+. That link compared 330 and m3, 318ti and 330, but I don't think they compared 330 and 328 calipers. If the sizes are close, a 328 upgrade would be about $200 cheaper for me than a 330 upgrade. Because we stock the 328 parts, but don't even show anything for the 330 brakes

[CirrusSR22]

Originally Posted by jflip2002

I can get them totally cheaper than $400+. That link compared 330 and m3, 318ti and 330, but I don't think they compared 330 and 328 calipers. If the sizes are close, a 328 upgrade would be about $200 cheaper for me than a 330 upgrade. Because we stock the 328 parts, but don't even show anything for the 330 brakes

You might also want to consider E46 325i brakes. They use the same caliper as the E36 328i (& many other e36's), but use a different caliper carrier which allows a larger rotor than the E36 328i, but smaller than the E46 330i

E36 328i = 286 x 22mm
E46 325i = 300 x 22mm
E46 330i = 325 x 25mm

* E46 325i front brakes and 318ti stock rear brakes is the same set-up the Z3 3.0i has.