Are M3 front BRAKES WORTH THE SWAP?

[Engalwood]

Is it worth do do the swap? Are they much bigger from the 318is? Thanks guys!

-Ben

[e36]

there was a thread somewhere areound this e36 forum about e46 330 bbk swap....very good...direct blot on...about 600 bones i think

[jdmfan13]

For that price... why not get a stage kit? Or something?

[e36]

how much are they? i think for the price it aint bad at all....

[Serious]

m brakes are worth it, u need the spindles + calipers and rotors.

good thing is that the spindles have some extra negative camber built in.

[Bremsen]

Why the 330 setup over a BBK? answer: OE availability/pricing for parts. Not that a Stoptech kit isn't better, but its over 4 times the cost and you have to consider replacement discs and pads are much more expensive.

With the E46 stuff, the problem will be sourcing the used calipers/carriers since the 330 is harder to find at a recycler and the brakes have become a hot commodity. If you do find some, $600 would be closer to the cost of an entire swap....front 330 AND rear E46 32x with new discs/pads.

[ZeroG]

I did the swap on my 95' 318 and I think it greatly improved brakeing. The Calipers and rotors are 3 times the size of the 318 ones. My back rotors are the size of the front ones on a 318.

Warning: Because I did not do the swap complete which would include the spindles my e brake no longer works.

-Chad

[mlytle]

unless you are doing serious racing (like on a race track with multiple hard brake zones in succession), none of the "bbk's" or m3/e46 upgrades are worth it. just get better brake pads and braided brake lines. spend all the cash you just saved on more driving schools to learn how to best use the excellent brakes these cars already come with.

marshall

[Serious]

unless you are doing serious racing (like on a race track with multiple hard brake zones in succession), none of the "bbk's" or m3/e46 upgrades are worth it. just get better brake pads and braided brake lines. spend all the cash you just saved on more driving schools to learn how to best use the excellent brakes these cars already come with.

marshall

totally but they look cool as Fu*k!!! compared to 325 brakes.

[NeverLeaned]

totally but they look cool as Fu*k!!! compared to 325 brakes.

I went with Zimmerman Cross Drilled Rotors, PBR metal master pads, and sprayed my calipers....

A nice improvement in looks, and more importantly breaking power. I don't take the car to the track so i can't comment on brake fade though

Total: $310 + $8.00 for paint.

[Bremsen]

unless you are doing serious racing (like on a race track with multiple hard brake zones in succession), none of the "bbk's" or m3/e46 upgrades are worth it. just get better brake pads and braided brake lines. spend all the cash you just saved on more driving schools to learn how to best use the excellent brakes these cars already come with.

marshall

Well, I say a brake upgrade is always worth the money....even if you rarely use/need it. With the best street pads (and 13" discs), I can get pad fade with a good spirited mountain run. When aproaching 300ft dropoffs with no guardrails you'll start looking hard at any improvement in fade resistance and consistency. Since you can't run ultra hi-temp race compounds on the street, the only other way to combat pad fade is to increase the thermal mass of the disc.

[Engalwood]

Okay, so I tihnk im goingot do it. they are from a 95 M3, and Im getting Calp, Rotors, Pads, SS Break Lines, and the spindals, for the Chip that I bought form that guy, that didnt work! SO IM GETN A HUGH DEAL, since all the shit I had to go threw! In total I have paynd 110 for it all! WOrht it guys?? wh00t

[E36Eric]

Okay, so I tihnk im goingot do it. they are from a 95 M3, and Im getting Calp, Rotors, Pads, SS Break Lines, and the spindals, for the Chip that I bought form that guy, that didnt work! SO IM GETN A HUGH DEAL, since all the shit I had to go threw! In total I have paynd 110 for it all! WOrht it guys?? wh00t

Nice. Thats an awesome deal.

[Engalwood]

Maybe!

[Daved]

Okay, so I tihnk im goingot do it. they are from a 95 M3, and Im getting Calp, Rotors, Pads, SS Break Lines, and the spindals, for the Chip that I bought form that guy, that didnt work! SO IM GETN A HUGH DEAL, since all the shit I had to go threw! In total I have paynd 110 for it all! WOrht it guys?? wh00t

Are you sure everything works and is in good shape? If it is, it's a damn good deal.

[Engalwood]

Yes, and he jsut threw in slotted rotters for the back as long as I pay for shipping, whoot

[mlytle]

of course someone will come up with the extreme borderline street example...
there is another way to combat pad fade....a good set of brake ducts. again, a bunch cheaper and probably more effective for street driving that a bbk.

braking technique also has a big effect on brake performance and fade. long partial pressure application of the brakes can cause them to overheat.

personally i wouldn't do "spirited mountain runs" on any brake system with 300ft dropoffs and no guardrails. even the best brake systems can break. sounds like zero room for error, mechanical or otherwise. potentially even full race brakes can fade if you drag the brake pedal down a long decline. just my opinion without knowing more complete details of the endeavour. where do you find any mountains east of the rockies anyway?

i keep my, ahh, spirited driving on a race track. in a race car. with full cage and safety gear. with the STOCK 325is brake system. never a fade problem, even in hour long races.

as someone mentioned in the thread, at least the bbk's and slotted/drilled/whatever rotors LOOK cool! maybe there is that 1% of the time that 1% of the drivers could actually use the increased capbability, but 99% of the time the other 99% of the drivers could have had better results by simply learning how to use the existing brakes better.

marshall
SCCA 325is race car - hawk ht10 pads, bw brake cooling, braided lines, stock rotors and calipers, no abs

Well, I say a brake upgrade is always worth the money....even if you rarely use/need it. With the best street pads (and 13" discs), I can get pad fade with a good spirited mountain run. When aproaching 300ft dropoffs with no guardrails you'll start looking hard at any improvement in fade resistance and consistency. Since you can't run ultra hi-temp race compounds on the street, the only other way to combat pad fade is to increase the thermal mass of the disc.

[Engalwood]

BIGGER IS BETTER

[1995red318i]

not necessarily from a performance stand point...but as far as looks, sure bigger is better

[Engalwood]

BIGGER IS BETTER< BOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[dtmracerx]

I know this thread is ANCIENT, but since it is listed in the FAQ list i thought I would add my input.
My car is a 4dr 325i 5spd for reference.

I recently undertook the complete M3 swap after having serious lack of stopping power with my stock brakes on the street. (swapping paint in a residential zone is not my idea of fun so I figured i should do something about it!)

I looked around and saw Turner offered a front conversion set for $1500. I said to myself "hey I can do that, i see sets of calipers on ebay all the time for like $100" and so it started!

I used front spindles off a 98 Mcoupe, calipers from a 98 M3, stock rotors front and back, Hawk HP+ pads, and braided lines. (and yes my budget ended up around the $1400 by the time i was done but that does include other non brake items like wheels&tires)

The improvement over stock brakes is rediculous (of course I am using autocross pads which makes a huge difference as well). I recently attended an SCCA HPDE and I could outbrake everybody else in my run group. including an E46 m3 convert.

I would agree though that using fresh/true rotors and high performance pads will correct most issues with the stock brakes BUT if you want high performance with stock parts and a limited budget I HIGHLY suggest it.

A couple things to keep in mind: you are forced to run 17"+ rims after you do this swap and that increases future maintinence costs. the ride will change with the lower profile tires. M3 brakes with Hawks will put your face in the wheel if you dont have your seatbelt on...

thats about all I can think of for now. PM/e,ail if you got questions, i will try to answer them.

[GotBHP?]

The improvement over stock brakes is rediculous (of course I am using autocross pads which makes a huge difference as well). I recently attended an SCCA HPDE and I could outbrake everybody else in my run group. including an E46 m3 convert.

lol so you can outbrake a 3600-3700lb car thats traveling faster at the end of the straights than you.

[323iM]

The best and most effective way to slow down is down gearing, full stop...

[IdriveBMW]

A couple things to keep in mind: you are forced to run 17"+ rims after you do this swap and that increases future maintinence costs. the ride will change with the lower profile tires. M3 brakes with Hawks will put your face in the wheel if you dont have your seatbelt on...

....Agree.......Seems to me that, unless you increase the amount of rubber on the road, your M3 brakes won't stop you any faster -especially if your car is equipped with ABS. -Just a thought.

[IdriveBMW]

The best and most effective way to slow down is down gearing, full stop...

Could you expound on that statement?