Brake Upgrades????????

[L84THSKY]

All this talk about upgrading brakes has me wondering. First off, I have a July 1998 model 318ti. That means I have the front vented rotors. I realize that there is the possibility of upgrading to 330 calipers or M3 calipers.

Is the reason most people want to upgrade because they have the older style non vented front brakes? The other reason could be that they are supercharging or changing motors, and need added stopping power.

If I have the later model front brake design and do not plan on changing motors or supercharging, is there any point in upgrading my brakes?

[1996 328ti]

I upgraded from solid to vented because I track the car.
Why do people upgrade to 330 or M3 brakes?
Because they want to. I don't see it serving any purpose other than being able to add something to their signature. There is a bling factor there.

I have my 2.8, CAI and chipped. I have no problem stopping from 115 mph to make a turn. I do not experience brake fade unless I go to long on my brake fluid. Perhaps larger rotors would disappate heat better so I can go 3 full weekends on the same brake fluid.

If I had the money, I'd go with Brembos for no other reason then they look cool.

[gadgetphreak]

What is the diff between the 325/8 calipers and M3 calipers?

Can you just switch over to the M3 calipers?

[1996 328ti]

M3 brakes require 17" wheels. <I think>.
They need new steering knuckles.
You should probably also replace the master cylinder.

[KIRASIR]

There are basically two real reasons why people upgrade 318ti brakes:

a) They have the older style non vented front disks (my case), which are crap (admitted by BMW themselves).

b) They want to have cool looking huge front brakes.

With a good set of pads, fluid and some steel braided lines, your car with 328 style rotors will stop just as good (if not better) than a car with the same pads/fluid/lines with M3/330 brakes. Why? Simple answer - BRAKE BIAS. If only the front brakes are replaced, brake bias is changed more towards the front, so the rear brakes now do even less work than before. This means that there will be less friction between the rear wheels and the road, hence longer stopping distances. Don't waste your money, get a good set of pads, good fluid, and some steel braided lines, and you will be all set.

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

SL

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

M3 brakes require 17" wheels. <I think>.
They need new steering knuckles.
You should probably also replace the master cylinder.

[L84THSKY]

If I have the vented rotors [July 1998], then wouldn't I need to replace the carriers to put on larger rotors? I assume the 328 rotors are larger.

Originally Posted by KIRASIR

There are basically two real reasons why people upgrade 318ti brakes:

a) They have the older style non vented front disks (my case), which are crap (admitted by BMW themselves).

b) They want to have cool looking huge front brakes.

With a good set of pads, fluid and some steel braided lines, your car with 328 style rotors will stop just as good (if not better) than a car with the same pads/fluid/lines with M3/330 brakes. Why? Simple answer - BRAKE BIAS. If only the front brakes are replaced, brake bias is changed more towards the front, so the rear brakes now do even less work than before. This means that there will be less friction between the rear wheels and the road, hence longer stopping distances. Don't waste your money, get a good set of pads, good fluid, and some steel braided lines, and you will be all set.

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

SL

[KIRASIR]

Your front brakes are the same as the ones on e36 325s/328s/e46 323s.

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

If I have the vented rotors [July 1998], then wouldn't I need to replace the carriers to put on larger rotors? I assume the 328 rotors are larger.

[maurolin]

well, I have to agree and disagree with some of you.
First off, Brakes are your life. Based on that, I say to myself... is it worth it?? HELL YEAH, and if I could afferd Stop Techs... bring it on!!

The size difference between an M tech caliper and a regular is HUGE.
Rotors are so much bigger, which means there is more braking surface, bigger rotors are cooler, and bigger calipers and pistons mean more braking power.

No offense to anyone, but I have known some People do a mediocre upgrade to 328 calipers JUST because they don't want to spend the extra $ replacing the Spindles that are required for an Mtech Upgrade. WITH THE EXEPTION of people that DON'T TRACK OR RACE THEIR CARS. Don't get me wrong, 328 brakes are great street brakes, but under high speed high temp this is not the set up to go with. Also, if you have a turbo or SC... Upgrade to AT LEAST M is a must.

And if 328 brakes and rotors brake as good an M3 brakes like some one mentioned... WHY did BMW Motorsports even bother spending the time and money upgrading the setup?? I mean let's face it... Steel bradded lines STIFFEN your pedal, Dot 4 or 5 brake fluid DOES NOT GIVE YOU ANY BETTER BRAKING it just prevents the fluid from BOILING under really hard braking or track driving. Better rotors will help and better pads will definately help. but after you've spent the cash on new UPGRADED rotors and pads, new lines... you'll have upgraded 328 calipers and you've reached your limit, but you could have had M tech setup, for the same price, and still have room to grow.
This is MY example: I paid $200 M calipers $200 M spindles $110 Brembo slotted rotors $50 Axxis pads, $100 steel lines and $10 blue racing fluid. I will put any passanger through my winshield with a hard brake. and the wheels look full... (talking about the front ones... cause the rears looke like the caliper and rotor came off a geo metro!)
but that's just my 2 cents and opinion.

[maurolin]

Photos

[1996 328ti]

Instructors have always commented on how good the brakes are stopping.
I use Ate blue with Carbotech Panther Plus pads on the track.
If I had higher speeds that I could obtain with an M motor, I'd consider larger brakes. Until then I am comfortable with my brake setup.

[GDB]

Right now I have no brake upgrades (solid rotors and whatever pads came on the car). These are fine for now, but when it's time to replace the pads I will most likely be going with either the E36M3 brakes, or the E46 rotors (haven't done much research on these though). The main reason it that it's not that much more to do and I feel that if I am going to go to the effort of upgrading then I should go ahead and do it right. I am not saying that the vented rotors are not enough, I would just rather have something better. That is just my mindset though.

[1996 328ti]

But doesn't M3 brakes use a different master cylinder?

[maurolin]

nope. all you replace are spindles and calipers. Rotors ofcourse. I've done it twice.

[GDB]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

But doesn't M3 brakes use a different master cylinder?

Not from what I've read, but I could be wrong. Until a couple days ago I thought you could put the electric vent windows on a ti.

[maurolin]

the master cylinder is what preassurizes the fluid. Brake booster and cylinders are the same. NOW, the ABS pump on some Ti's have a 3 OUTLET ABS, 2 for the front wheels 1 for the rears. M3's have 4 outputs, independent for each wheel.. that;s my next upgrade. Easy for the most part. You MUST replace the ABS computer, pump and add ANOTHER line to go to one of the rear wheels.