Upgrading brakes on e36 to e46 (non ///M)

NYSpeed Automotive
1

So I have been searching around to find some good inexpensive brake rotor and caliper upgrades for my 1992 e36 325i and have found some nice options and wanted to share. Good news, e46 non///M translates to e36 non///M!
(e36 ///M is not the easiest option for non///M e36, req’s hub & spindle swap, although kit available from Turner Motorsports)

Front brake rotor sizes of E46 cars:
M3- 325 x 28 (not a simple bolt on)
330i- 325 x 25 (12.8", 17" wheels req’d)
323i vert & Touring/325i/328i- 300 x 22 (11.8", 16" wheels req’d)
323i coupe/sedan- 286 x 22 (same size as e36)
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1001447

I think this info translates to the xi’s also, I know for sure in the case of the 330’s

If you use 330 rotors, you must use 330 calipers & carriers, and same with 325/328 parts, except that the e36 carrier is probably same as the e46 325/328 carrier (300mm rotor).
This will likely increase bias to the front of the car unless you upgrade the rear also.

My experience with the 330 swap was positive but I noticed that the pedal travels farther down with the larger piston 330 calipers. I’d recommend swapping in the 330 or perhaps M3 master cyl.

Unfortunately, using 330i rotors in the rear would require a swap of the hubs, shoes, and possibly backing plate to retain use of parking/emergency brake, but I read the rear trailing arms can be swapped out if you can find them. I plan on using the e46 325/328 rear 294mm vented rotors to upgrade my car from the 280mm solid as shown in the following link (retains use of parking brake):

This web page shows some pictures of the e46 325/328 brake swap f & r
http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/htm/brakes/index.htm

If you have any good info to add, please do. Use track pads on the track for best results, put fresh clean Dot4 fluid in, preferably Ate blue/200 or better which is availabe from Innovative tuning for $11 a litre.

2

Copied this from 318ti.org http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24547

FRONT ROTORS

286 mm x 12 mm Solid
95-3/98 318ti

286 mm x 22 mm Vented
4/98+ 318ti
E36 323 coupe, convertible
E36 325 sedan, coupe, convertible
E36 328 sedan, coupe, convertible
E46 323 sedan, coupe
Z3 2.3, 2.5, 2.8 coupe/roadster

300 mm x 22 mm Vented
E46 323 convertible, touring
E46 325 sedan, coupe, convertible
E46 328 sedan, coupe
Z3 3.0

315 mm x 28 mm Vented
E36 M3 sedan, coupe, convertible
Z3 M Coupe
Z3 M Roadster

325 mm x 25 mm Vented
E46 330 sedan, coupe, convertible

325 mm x 28 mm Vented
E46 M3 coupe, convertible

345 mm x 28 mm Floating/Vented
E46 M3 Competition Package (US)

REAR ROTORS

272 mm x 10 mm Solid
E36 318ti (all)
Z3 (all non M models)

280 mm x 10 mm Solid
E36 323 coupe
E36 325 sedan, coupe, to '95 convertible
E36 328 sedan, coupe

276 mm x 19 mm Vented
E36 obd2 96-99 323 convertible
E36 obd2 96-99 328 convertible
E46 323 sedan, coupe

294 mm x 19 mm Vented
E46 323 convertible, touring
E46 325 sedan, coupe, convertible, touring
E46 328 sedan, coupe

312 mm x 20 mm Vented
E36 M3 sedan, coupe, convertible
Z3 M Coupe
Z3 M Roadster

320 mm x 22 mm Vented
E46 330 sedan, coupe, convertible

328 mm x 20 mm Vented
E46 M3 coupe, convertible

FRONT PADS

Part # 34 11 6 761 242 or 34 11 6 761 244
E36 318 sedan, coupe, convertible, compact
E36 323 coupe, convertible
E36 325 sedan, coupe, convertible
E36 328 sedan, coupe, convertible
E46 323 sedan, coupe, convertible, touring
E46 325 sedan, coupe, convertible, touring
E46 328 sedan, coupe

Part # 34 11 1 162 535
E36 M3 sedan, coupe, convertible
M Coupe
M Roadster

Part # 34 11 6 779 652
E46 330 sedan, coupe, convertible

Part # 34 11 2 282 416
E46 M3 coupe, convertible

Part # 34 11 2 282 995
E46 M3 Competition Package coupe

REAR PADS

Part # 34 21 6 761 238 or 34 21 6 761 239
E36 318 sedan, coupe, convertible, compact
E36 323 coupe
E36 325 sedan, coupe, convertible
E36 328 sedan, coupe

NOTES:

  1. E36 M3, M Coupe, and M Roadster (S52 and S54) FRONT parts will only fit with the ///M spec spindles on all E36 318, 323, 325, 328 models.

  2. The only upgrade for the rear of the 318ti is by swapping in the entire rear of a M Coupe or M Roadster (spendy).

  3. Most all E36 and E46 non M models have front interchangeability. Meaning with the proper caliper and carriers any front kit will fit other models. Examples:
    E46 330 fronts on any E36 model
    E46 325 fronts on any E36 model

  4. A note on Stainless Steel Lines
    -E36 SS line kits should fit the same cars (6 piece kits), but the 318ti is a different rear setup for suspension (like e30) and brake hoses. Supposedly all other E36 rear 4 line kits have the same part numbers. Anyways, the following are some of the popular kits available for our cars.

UUC: $115
Tire Rack (Goodridge): $164
HMS Motorsport (Goodridge): $152
Bavauto: $120
Turner Motorsport: $129

  1. (wasn’t true…)

  2. the 286mm vented and 300mm vented use the same caliper, but different caliper carriers
    -The thickness of the rotor is the same for the 286mm and the 300mm as well as the breaking surface. Same braking surface of the 286mm solid which means same pads as the 318ti. The only difference between the 286mm vented and the 300mm vented setup is the carrirer: on the 300mm the carrier is larger and relocate the caliper 7mm outer.

  3. 286mm solid, 286mm vented, and 300mm vented use the same pads

Credit to “lpcapital” from 318ti.org for helpful added notes. Thanks bud.

3

i wanted to do this however i couldnt fit my small diameter wheels for my drag slicks.

4

Wow, nice info, Eric!

edit- waiting for the coldaccord approval.

5

that list is wrong, european E46 M3 had a 325 vented/floating rotor not the ZCP/CS/CSL rotors.

Also 17" wheels will clear the 328mm rotors on the rear of a M

All E46 M front brakes standard/euro/cs/zcp/csl use the same front brake pad, same caliper too.

When swapping fronts you may have to trim your dust shields, don’t remember if it was the 330 swap for sre.

Have you thought about the E36 “porsche” upgrade?

Rears:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1227233

Fronts:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=965619

6

coldaccord does not approve because coldaccord is parting out an e36 m3 and wants to sell the brakes

7

Well you have the whole hubs and knuckles assembled too so thats easy

Edit: I tried to edit the wrong stuff, let me know if anything is wrong

66ImpalaSS, I did think about making my own brake kit with an evo caliper or the porsche, but only for the front using a C5 vette rotor, or the 14" C6 zo6 but they would require the center hub bore opened up to 73mm, gm bore is ~70.5