New Brakes for the Car - Input Please

[AnuketTi]

Hi Guys -

My "new" car with allegedly "new" brakes apparently needs brakes! Go figure, the Seller is a totally lying "c-word"! Apologies to anyone offended by that.

Any-hoo, the good news is that I can now get really new brakes on the car. The indicator light is on in the dash, so it's time to start looking.

I am wondering what I can upgrade to? I don't plan on tracking this car in the near or distant future so BBKs or things like Brembo / Porsche brakes or ///M brakes are not in the equation.

However, I would like to have something like vented rotors, maybe cross drilled or slotted and nice performing brake pads - front and rear.

I am just wondering what kits from other models would work on this car - 1995 318Ti 5-Speed?

I already looked up the informational thread about brakes that is stickied (Nice write up!).

My question is because I would like to just buy one complete kit and install it on the car - preferably without replacing the calipers. I am wondering which model's kit I can use. E36 325is? 325i Sedan?

Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Michael

[AnuketTi]

I was just shopping around and I see that EBC seems to have slotted rotors for the 1995 model. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find a both fronts and rears in one place.

Would vented rotors work with the 1995 Calipers? I noticed they are of course thicker than the solid ones.

[MINIz guy]

You can't use vented rotors.

Bimmerworld has OEM quality front rotors for $20 a pair. You have to add shipping to that price, so it does ruin the deal a little.

Otherwise, I've found that RockAuto always has the best prices. I paid about $17 a pop for Centric C-TEK rear rotors and it looked like I ended up getting Centric Premium rear rotors when I opened up my packaging two days ago to do my rear brakes. I also got pads from RockAuto; I went with Stoptech Street pads. Their shipping isn't bad as long as you get everything from the same warehouse.

Don't forget a pad wear sensor to get rid of that light!

[AnuketTi]

Thanks Miniz - I will check RockAuto out. I also found some EBC kits that piqued my interest:

http://ebcrotors.com/p-235-stage-5-s...brake-kit.aspx

http://ebcrotors.com/p-232-stage-2-sport-brake-kit.aspx

[MINIz guy]

I have no problems with EBC pads for daily driving.

However, I'm not a fan of drilled and slotted rotors. Those additions actually decrease surface area and therefore decrease stopping power of the pads. You only see big brake kits have drilled/slotted rotors as they increase surface area enough where the holes/slots do not decrease the surface area enough to counteract the purpose of a BBK.

[COOPERDB]

Originally Posted by AnuketTi

Thanks Miniz - I will check RockAuto out. I also found some EBC kits that piqued my interest:

http://ebcrotors.com/p-235-stage-5-s...brake-kit.aspx

http://ebcrotors.com/p-232-stage-2-sport-brake-kit.aspx

Michael --- What size wheels/tyres are you considering with these kits ---

[E36 TI-M]

How about looking into the ff:

Front - E46 330

Rear - E34 325

And some SS brakelines

[AnuketTi]

Originally Posted by COOPERDB

Michael --- What size wheels/tyres are you considering with these kits ---

I am planning on mounting my DS-1 wheels soon, they are 17' wheels front and rear.... basically E36 M3 wheels.

Originally Posted by E36 TI-M

How about looking into the ff:

Front - E46 330

Rear - E34 325

And some SS brakelines

I have heard of this upgrade as well, I would love to do this - just need to find a set of brakes. I believe I need the calipers and the carriers / mounting brackets and it should bolt right up?

[E36 TI-M]

Originally Posted by AnuketTi

I have heard of this upgrade as well, I would love to do this - just need to find a set of brakes. I believe I need the calipers and the carriers / mounting brackets and it should bolt right up?

yes it is a plug and play bolt on! i do have the E46 fronts on my car.

[1996 328ti]

There is absolutely no reason to install anything more than vented rotors up front.
Caliper bracket, caliper and rotors. Then you don't have to be concerned with wheel offsets.