E36 M3 calipers with E34 M5 rotors?

[cohny]

Can you run E36 M3 brakes at the front and rear with E34 m5 rotors? I'd always heard that the E36 M3 got it's brakes from the E34 M5 and that would be a convenient upgrade for my build.

[de Witt]

Can you run E36 M3 brakes at the front and rear with E34 m5 rotors? I'd always heard that the E36 M3 got it's brakes from the E34 M5 and that would be a convenient upgrade for my build.

They fit but as for it being an upgrade is debatable.

[cohny]

You think so? E36 M3 rear rotors are twice as thick as the 525i rotors and vented. They're also slightly larger in diameter. The fronts are slightly thicker and also larger in diameter. They might not make a noticeable difference in outright stopping power, but when I'm finished with my build I plan on tracking the car and the M3 brakes would be a significant upgrade in terms of heat management while being relatively affordable.

I'd really like to find some E31 brembos but I think those will more expensive and harder to find.

[de Witt]

You think so? E36 M3 rear rotors are twice as thick as the 525i rotors and vented. They're also slightly larger in diameter. The fronts are slightly thicker and also larger in diameter. They might not make a noticeable difference in outright stopping power, but when I'm finished with my build I plan on tracking the car and the M3 brakes would be a significant upgrade in terms of heat management while being relatively affordable.

I'd really like to find some E31 brembos but I think those will more expensive and harder to find.

Ah, ok, it read as if you had an E34 M5, which is what my statement relates to. If you are upgrading a 525i with the M3 equipment, then it probably would be an upgrade.

Also, the E34 M5 equipment is not based off the E36 M3, not that it matters. It fits which is what matters.

You can buy the E31 brembos, here is a convenient kit:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-assemble...34111161177kt/

[XCRN]

Just buy some F30 335i calipers and rotors. They are SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than E31 Brembos and are bigger. All you need is shims and longer bolts. Angry Ass Solutions sells the shims and bolts. They also sell the calipers new, but there are a lot of used standard calipers. A lot of people with F30 335i, my self included swapped from the 340mm rotor to 370mm rotor which needed different calipers. So the standard greys are cheap used.

https://www.angryasssolutions.com/parts/stage-1-bbk

[cohny]

I hadn't heard of that before. That looks awesome and I have plenty of time to sit and wait for a set of calipers. What are people pairing with that setup for the rear? Right now I still have stock 525i brakes and I'll be needing to upgrade the rear as well.

[goodnight1985]

I’m not sure if the E36 M3 brake calipers are direct figment or not, but E34 540i calipers are. They will provide good braking, not be super expensive, maintain front to rear bias/balance, dont have to worry about brake hose fitment and they also use the same pads as E36 M3s. Unless you are constantly tracking your 525i, most other options would just be expensive overkill.

- - - Updated - - -

A great pad option for E34 540i or E34 M5 US caliper’d cars: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ebc-part...uff/dp4689rkt/

I currently run this setup on my E34 540 with M5 calipers. Great performance for the money!

[XCRN]

I hadn't heard of that before. That looks awesome and I have plenty of time to sit and wait for a set of calipers. What are people pairing with that setup for the rear? Right now I still have stock 525i brakes and I'll be needing to upgrade the rear as well.

I am currently working on a rear setup using 328mm rotors vs the 300mm and using 370z 2 piston calipers. They fit into my 17” Style 137 wheels and might be able to fit into 16”. If I had a set of 18” wheels, I would try using the Nissan 355mm rotor. I already finished the bracket but have yet to test it since it is going to be for my 95 LS project that is a LONG way from being done. But if there is interest, I might just try them on my 93 make sure it will work then sell a few.

[BleedsBlue]

I hadn't heard of that before. That looks awesome and I have plenty of time to sit and wait for a set of calipers. What are people pairing with that setup for the rear? Right now I still have stock 525i brakes and I'll be needing to upgrade the rear as well.

The nice thing is you likely don’t need a rear big brake upgrade with our front Street kit. The late Euro M5 brakes, which are considered the pinnacle of street-focused/factory E34 brakes, shifted brake bias rearward compared to the B36 brakes we received on all NA-market M5s. Our Street setup does the same, which means a beefier rear setup is not necessarily needed to adjust bias.

We recommend an M5/540 rear 300mm setup, with M5 master cylinder, if starting with a 525. Those parts are pretty easy to find and very affordable.

Of course, a larger rear rotor has advantages, but we are developing a rear upgrade primarily for use with our AP Racing 6 piston Race front brakes, which can overwhelm front axle ABS with warmed up Pilot Sport Cup 2s! Our primary rear upgrade will mimic the late M5 328mm sliding caliper setup.

[sugaki]

Of course, a larger rear rotor has advantages, but we are developing a rear upgrade primarily for use with our AP Racing 6 piston Race front brakes, which can overwhelm front axle ABS with warmed up Pilot Sport Cup 2s! Our primary rear upgrade will mimic the late M5 328mm sliding caliper setup.

I think I asked before, but the rear upgrade isn't just the F30's 2-pot caliper?

[BleedsBlue]

I think I asked before, but the rear upgrade isn't just the F30's 2-pot caliper?

No - that does make a nice, matched set, but we aren't comfortable with any of the methods required to adapt the rear caliper to the hub. Also, those rear F30 fixed calipers are not that cheap!

This is still in flux, but we plan on at least the following rear upgrades for E34s:

• E46-based 328x20mm sliding caliper upgrade
  
  • Designed for Street front BBK users looking for more brake bias split, or very lightweight track-focused cars
  • Technically very similar to the late M5 328mm rear set-up, which is NLA/rare as hen's teeth
  
  
• Custom AP Racing 4 piston fixed, race caliper upgrade
  
  • Matched with a two-piece rotor (size tbd) with a custom aluminum hat, and likely a steel hat liner for the parking brake
  • Designed for Race front BBK users (AP Racing 6 piston), or heavier track-focused cars