Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Rear brakes sizes

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    vero beach, FL
    Posts
    221
    My Cars
    1997 328ic

    Rear brakes sizes

    I ordered and had a shop install an E36 brakes. Later I read that verts all? use thicker vented rear rotors in back. I noticed that installed rotors are solid.l and mechanic said he would’ve noticed if new brakes were different size. Brakes seem to work fine and well no issues. Is there an issue here? Can I check for sure that my vert needs bigger rear rotors ??


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    m50 mani / AA c38-81 stage 2 / 12psi / AEM progressive w/m kit / stg3 SB endurance clutch + SS / 3.38 LSD / cdv + asc delete / stromung catback + cat delete / ebay coilovers + GC RSMs / square CSL wheels / ski-pass 8" sub


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    vero beach, FL
    Posts
    221
    My Cars
    1997 328ic

    Realoem shows vented disks! D’oh!! Should I redo? When pads wear out more will the calipers over extend on a thinner solid disk? Or is this not a huge deal?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    m50 mani / AA c38-81 stage 2 / 12psi / AEM progressive w/m kit / stg3 SB endurance clutch + SS / 3.38 LSD / cdv + asc delete / stromung catback + cat delete / ebay coilovers + GC RSMs / square CSL wheels / ski-pass 8" sub


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Miamisburg, Ohio
    Posts
    819
    My Cars
    1997 328iC, 2003 Z4
    Had my vert for 6+ years now and never knew that. Have had solid blanks in it and no problems.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Baton Rouge, LA
    Posts
    940
    My Cars
    '98 328i convertible
    My 328i vert does not have vented rotors. Maybe the M's do.
    - Ken -

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    1,249
    My Cars
    03 525it/5, 1967 GTO
    Mine had the vented rotors. I then ran regular E36 solid for awhile before upgrading to the e46 brakes (also vented rears). I think the vented ones were originally spec to address the heavier rear ends of the convertibles. Probably not a big performance deal given most people don’t track verts, but I will say the e46 brakes are a noticeable upgrade.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    vero beach, FL
    Posts
    221
    My Cars
    1997 328ic
    Quote Originally Posted by Twistytee View Post
    Mine had the vented rotors. I then ran regular E36 solid for awhile before upgrading to the e46 brakes (also vented rears). I think the vented ones were originally spec to address the heavier rear ends of the convertibles. Probably not a big performance deal given most people don’t track verts, but I will say the e46 brakes are a noticeable upgrade.
    Twistytee I am more concerned with thinner rotor causing calipers to overextend. Or perhaps put too much bias toward front. dunno. Maybe I’m freaking out for nothing but to others if you search for E36 brake differences you will see that nonM had vented disks too. I’ll find link once I get home


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    m50 mani / AA c38-81 stage 2 / 12psi / AEM progressive w/m kit / stg3 SB endurance clutch + SS / 3.38 LSD / cdv + asc delete / stromung catback + cat delete / ebay coilovers + GC RSMs / square CSL wheels / ski-pass 8" sub


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    1,249
    My Cars
    03 525it/5, 1967 GTO
    I think the solid is 9mm thinner (10mm vs 19mm for vented). I know many have run either without changing the carrier dimension and no one seems to report a piston over extension issue. But I would suspect the 96+ MY cars have a wider caliper/carrier combo. I don’t have both versions on hand so I cant confirm this.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    SanDiego,Dallas,Miami,Orl
    Posts
    376
    My Cars
    Too Many
    This is taken from another online blog
    From messing with my 6 e36s of all years and configuration, I can say this was true for me.
    If you dont want the full read, then
    the important bits are underlined in red

    Brakes
    OK, let's get this out of the way first: no, E36 M3 brakes will not bolt on to your 325/328. Nor will E46 M3 brakes. You can use E36 M3 brakes, if you buy E36 M3 spindles. The spindles are a direct bolt-on.
    Stock specs:
    E36 M3 front: 315mm x 28mm vented rotor E36 M3 rear: 312mm x 20mm vented rotor E36 325/328 front: 286mm x 22mm vented rotor E36 325/328 rear: 280mm x 10mm solid rotor The E36 325 and 328 brakes are identical and completely interchangeable with each other.
    The only exception is the 328 convertible, which had vented rear rotors. So, 328 convertible rear brakes (calipers too, as the vented rotors are 9mm thicker) are an upgrade to the 325/328.
    Other bolt-on brake upgrades are from the E46. *All* E46 non-M3 front brakes will bolt on to the 325/328 spindles. E46 323i, 325i, 328i rear brakes will bolt on to an E36. 330i rear brakes will not work, because they use a larger diameter parking brake.
    E46 323i front brakes are identical to the E36 front brakes... no upgrade there.
    E46 323i rear brakes are identical to the E36 328 convertible rear brakes, so you get the benefit of vented rotors. E46 328i front brakes are identical to E46 325i front brakes... 300mm x 22mm. Same pad fitment as the stock E36 brakes, so you gain 15mm of rotor diameter and you can re-use your existing track pads. For the above conversions, you can keep your existing calipers and pads, and just swap the caliper carriers ("rotor cages") and rotors.
    E46 328i rear brakes are identical to E46 325i rear brakes... 294mm x 19mm. These will work with your existing ebrake. For this swap, you will need calipers, in addition to the rotors and carriers. E46 330i front brakes are actually bigger in diameter than E36 M3 brakes, but the rotors are not as thick. 325mm x 25mm. For this swap, you will need 330i calipers and pads in addition to the rotors and carriers.
    Pad fitments: Are extremely interchangeable. So we should all try to update this with more detail.
    E36 M3 and E46 M3 share the same front pad fitment E30 M3 and E36 M3 share the same rear pad fitment. E36 325, 328, E46 323, 325, and 328 share the same front pad fitment For comparison, E46 M3 brakes are 328mm x 28mm.
    E36 M3 owners: No, E46 M3 brakes will not bolt on to your E36.
    One OE parts "upgrade" that is available to you is 850Ci calipers with E46 M3 front rotors. These calipers are 4-piston Brembos, and the original application is a leading mount. You have to swap the crossover tube and bleed screws in order to configure them for a trailing mount like your E36. Also, the E46 M3 rotor is not quite the right size for this application. The 850 rotor is 324mm x 30mm, so at only 28mm thick when new, the E46 M3 rotor could cause hyperextended caliper pistons. Your options are to use a pad spacer or have custom rotors made - a 12.75" x 1 3/16" would work nicely. Coleman or [TCE | http://www.tceperformanceproducts.com] would be able to help you. The last issue with this "upgrade" is pad fitment. This is not a popular FMSI number, so good luck finding your favorite track pads to fit these calipers.
    Part number 34 11 1 161 177/178, retail price over $600 each.
    Current lineup: 99 BMW M3vert (project) , 05 Mazda RX-8, 04 Mercedes CLK320, 03 Chevy Express 1500 (work van).
    Previous rides: 07 Mazda RX-8, 92 BMW 325iNV, 94 BMW 325iC, 94 BMW 325i S50 M3 clone, 84 Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo, 84 Mazda B2000 lowrider, 88 Toyota Tercel, 88 Honda Accord, 93 BMW 318i, 95 Nissan Altima, 89 Toyota Camry, 95 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T, 93 BMW 318is, 84 Toyota Tercel, 96 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T, 97 BMW 528i 1JZ swap, 94 Acura Integra 4dr, 88 Toyota Corolla Wagon, 97 VW Jetta GLS, 86 Toyota Corolla AE86 4A-GZE supercharged engine swap, 94 Lexus LS400, 95 Isuzu NPR Turbo, 01 Suzuki TL1000R, 98 Honda CBR600F3, 99 Yamaha R6 and countless other dirt bikes and toys

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Baton Rouge, LA
    Posts
    940
    My Cars
    '98 328i convertible
    Well that is interesting. PO must have put on non-vented rotors on my car.
    - Ken -

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    SF Bay Area
    Posts
    548
    My Cars
    98 M3 vert, 05 X5
    Quote Originally Posted by 110reef View Post
    My 328i vert does not have vented rotors. Maybe the M's do.
    My M vert has vented rotors front and back.
    Shizzam!

Similar Threads

  1. E46 M3 Front & Rear brake pad size…...
    By dieselm3 in forum Track, Auto-X & Drag Racing sponsored by Bimmerparts.com
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-24-2013, 08:13 AM
  2. e36 M3 rear brakes the same size as Non M Z3's?
    By Nighthawk399 in forum 1996 - 2002 Z3 (E36/7, E36/8)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 07-11-2013, 10:03 AM
  3. Rear brake rotor size?
    By Critcal Acclaim in forum 1978 - 1987 (E23)
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 10-07-2012, 04:33 PM
  4. Rear Speaker Size???
    By Mike325i in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-18-2001, 10:14 PM
  5. Rear brake noises when pedal pressed?? (m)
    By ALDOGG in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-03-2001, 01:37 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •