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Thread: 540i brakes on 525i?

  1. #1
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    540i brakes on 525i?

    Hi, there are a set of brand new EBC discs and rotors being sold for 200.

    Seller never used them because he sold his car prior to installation. He used to have a 95' 540i. (Dinan 5)

    However, I have a 92' 525i touring.

    Would the brakes fit on my touring? I read online from other bimmerforums articles that some people upgrade their brakes from 525 to 540 and that 540 brakes are the same as e31 brakes in the front etc.

    But without any modification, would the 540i brakes fit on my car?

    Thanks

  2. #2
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    According to everything I've read yes they will fit and are a nice upgrade. You'll need the whole brake setup though, rotors, calipers, brakets and pads.

    Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk

  3. #3
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    Copied this off another article on the forums


    For all of you non-540 owners, you'll like this. You can upgrade to 540 brakes!! The brakes have the same diameter, but are thicker. They allow for faster stopping power, and fit onto your OEM MacPherson assembly, and fit inside your wheels. They bolt on exactly like when you do a regular brake job. You can find these off of parts cars, or junk yards, all you need are the calipers and the brake carriers. You can take the rotors and pads if they are in good shape but that's a last resort. Try to get replacement rotors and pads, obviously for the 540i. Aftermarket rotors and pads for performance may also be bought, make sure they fit your calipers and hubs though, they are also up to you for research.

    So in this case what kind of brackets are you talking about? Like the dust shield or the ones that come with the caliper?

    Thanks!

  4. #4
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    moroza is offline MORΩN ΛABIA BMW CCA Member
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    Wider rotors do not increase stopping power; they have more heat capacity and would be less prone to warping. Increased stopping power comes from, among other things, bigger rotor diameter or greater piston area.

    The brackets in question are those that bolt to the strut, and on which the calipers slide. Dust shields are the same.

    Quote Originally Posted by Siebenthal View Post
    Hi, there are a set of brand new EBC discs and rotors being sold for 200.
    Discs = rotors. Did you mean calipers?

    Would the brakes fit on my touring?
    Yes.

    540 brakes are the same as e31 brakes in the front etc.
    No.

    But without any modification, would the 540i brakes fit on my car?
    Yes, if you use the correct calipers and rotors.

    See here.
    Last edited by moroza; 10-11-2017 at 12:21 AM.

  5. #5
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    Thank you - I just picked them up for 200. The receipt said 470.

    22429103_856569081185499_30676233_o.jpg

    So I don't need to pick up the calipers? Because I read that the difference is 8mm in terms of width but the diameter remains the same. Doesnt that mean I need the bigger 540i calipers?

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    You would also need the calipers from the 540. Even though they're the same the diameter, they're wider as well. So if your 525 calipers are fully compressed and you're fitting new pads, the caliper might not go in. Also for reference, the 540 brakes are the same from E32's. The front pads for the 540, 525, and E32's are the same as per realoem, as they have the same part numbers.

    I want to know too if this is a worthwhile upgrade. I've been thinking of doing this as I have a 735 parts car just laying here.

  7. #7
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    Hello, fellow San Josean.

    You'll need the carriers and calipers from a 94-95 540i to use the thicker rotors you purchased.

    More information, including part numbers, can be found here.

    http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Upgrade/Brakes.htm

  8. #8
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    Thanks for all the feedback!

    We should hang out sometime! @PorscheH6

    I will look at pick n pull for the carriers and calipers along with everything else listed on the website.

    thank you everyone!

  9. #9
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    When I upgraded the front brakes on my 92 Touring I just went down to Advance Auto and bought a pair of reman 540 calipers, which came with carriers, ($75 ea at that time) and threw on a set of 540 rotors. 20 minute job. Didn't see much point in upgrading the back for my needs.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by gtopaul View Post
    When I upgraded the front brakes on my 92 Touring I just went down to Advance Auto and bought a pair of reman 540 calipers, which came with carriers, ($75 ea at that time) and threw on a set of 540 rotors. 20 minute job. Didn't see much point in upgrading the back for my needs.
    What improvement did the 540 brake set bring against the 525's?

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by cirrusblau View Post
    What improvement did the 540 brake set bring against the 525's?
    Nothing noticeable really. It would probably only be noticeable under extreme braking conditions with a full load or panic stops.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Siebenthal View Post
    Thanks for all the feedback!

    We should hang out sometime! @PorscheH6

    I will look at pick n pull for the carriers and calipers along with everything else listed on the website.

    thank you everyone!
    I'm about to swap an M5 set-up onto my 10/94 540. Let me know if you want the calipers and carriers, I can ship them to you on the cheap.
    - Brent
    www.angry-ass.com

    Quote Originally Posted by danespann View Post
    Every E34 needs the same things in the end.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by cirrusblau View Post
    I want to know too if this is a worthwhile upgrade. I've been thinking of doing this as I have a 735 parts car just laying here.
    The 735 does not have the good stuff on it. Brakes are the same as 525i/530i/535i.

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