Anyone done the E46 330i brake upgrade on their ti?

[Budget M3]

I've pretty much settled on the E36 325/328 upgrade to stay within the "Budget", but don't have to do the work for at least a month yet. In the meantime, I'd like to know if anyone here has done the E46 upgrade. What are the size of the E46 330i rotors compared to the E36 328's? I know they're more expensive, but are they worth the extra $$?? Where did you source your used E46 calipers?

TIA...

[1996 328ti]

I got my 325/328 calipers from Zionsville. I imagine they see E46 calipers too. I still think you are going way over budget.
You want E46 rotors and I don't think anyone is going to stop you.

[Budget M3]

Understand it might be overkill, but...just looking for another data point before I make my purchase. I compared the rotor sizes between my ti's solid rotors and my '94 325i's vented rotors and found less than .5" difference. If I can get a little larger than that without having to spend a lot more $$$, I might consider it, but am looking for a first hand account of whether or not it was worth the bucks...

Anyone gone the E46 route?

[1996 328ti]

Just the fact that they are vented will make a huge difference. I experienced fading at the track with solid rotors. The track was a short circuit and there was little time for the brakes to cool. Never had fading issues with the 325/328 setup unless I waited too long between brake fluid changes.

[Panzer_M]

seen pics of the e46 job.

saw a e46 rotor compared to the Ti's OEM

well as they ladies say

Size Does Matter

Since I am going with a M50B25 I am going with 325/328 brakes.

[Budget M3]

Yeah...When all was said and done, I ended up going with the 325/328 setup, too. Sourcing the brackets for the E46 calipers proved to be too difficult/expensive. The calipers themselves are not much more expensive than the used E36 parts, but the bracket to mount them is the long pole unless you can find a wrecked 330i.

[J!m]

A used E36 M3 set up should not be too bad at this point. Most M3ers are going to HUGE brakes, when the stock ones are just fine with proper pads, lines and fluid... The ONLY advantage I can see to replacement on a M3 is less unsprung weight.

Keep eyes peeled for those maybe.

(note: it will require extensive parts replacement in the front to install, and you need M roadster/coupe` rear parts)

[KIRASIR]

http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/show...ghlight=brakes

Size DOES matter indeed.

BTW 330 front calipers cost 150US used and are NOT hard at all to find in the States.

[1996 328ti]

Size matters in heat dissipation. Once you are into your ABS or at the point of threshold braking, big brakes don't make you stop faster. Tires are probably the biggest factor in braking.

I have yet to have any braking issues with E36 vented front rotors. The only time I had brake fade was waiting too long to replace my fluid. And if it is just a matter of looks for the street, do whatever you want but realize, big brakes do not make you stop faster.

[Phil Marx]

I'm seldom lucky but somehow in my ignorance in purchasing my 318ti recently I ended up with a '98 built in April 1998, the month they switched to vented front rotors. Now I've driven a lot of BMWs over the 30 years I've owned and sold them but I can't remember a BMW that stopped appreciably better than this ti with the Hawk HPS pads I put on the front.

YMMV.

-Phil Marx

[rated///M]

Excuse my igonorance... will you have to swap spindles, and brackets for the 330 brakes? Or is this simply for the e36 M3 brakes?

[KIRASIR]

It's a direct bolt-on, all you need is the calipers and the carriers from the 330.

SL

Originally Posted by rated///M

Excuse my igonorance... will you have to swap spindles, and brackets for the 330 brakes? Or is this simply for the e36 M3 brakes?

[Silver00spike]

would brakes from the x3 fit? They're huge

[2ndBimmer]

X3 3.0 and 330i wear the same size rotors. 12.8 inches up front.

[RAiMA]

From a safety point of view, if it helps avoid or even minimise the damage in an accident, it's well worth the money.