Caliper and rotor compatibility

[Nitro Nick]

Hey guys,

I have an 89 325is with stock brakes. I was wondering what the compatibility is with the e36 and e46 calipers and rotors. As in will the other calipers bolt right up to the stock e30 application? I'm thinking you could probably get the stock e36 M3 calipers off a part out for a pretty cheap price and was wondering if they would bolt right up to the e30 platform and i'm guessing they would be a little better than the stock e30 brakes.

Thanks,

[mitchlikesbikes]

An Rx7/corrado setup will outperform oem e36 or e46 brakes and costs less than $300 if you do it right.

stock e30 brakes with nice pads and fluid are pretty good unless you track your car or really beat the shit out of it on the street. i am going rx7 brakes because i'm going boosterless and steel calipers flex while the aluminum rx7 ones do not. brake bias comes into play as well with the e36 and e46 calipers as the pistons are larger. rx7 pistons are almost the same as e30 ones so you can keep your original master cylinder and bias valve if you wish.

[mitchlikesbikes]

also, e36 and e46 are both 5 lug while the e30 is 4 lug. so you will have to redrill the rotors right off the bat which isn't cheap or easy unless you can do it yourself or have a machine shop hookup. i'm sure there are more things that make them incompatible but that one alone is enough of a red flag in my opinion


why are you wanting to upgrade? have you actually maxed out the potential of your stock brakes? if you're not running fresh good fluid and pads then you should do that before you throw a bunch of time and money at a retrofitted setup.

[AndrewBird]

Pro-3 guys run stock Brembo blanks and stock calipers. If it's good enough for the track, it's good enough for the street.

Pads are WAY more important. Get a decent set of pads and maybe some better brake cooling ducts and you will be great.

[mitchlikesbikes]

Pro-3 guys run stock Brembo blanks and stock calipers. If it's good enough for the track, it's good enough for the street.

Pads are WAY more important. Get a decent set of pads and maybe some better brake cooling ducts and you will be great.

to be fair those cars are a fair bit lighter than stock

[Nitro Nick]

I think I am just going to go with the stock set up. I have new rotors and pads. as well as a SS brake line kit. I think that will be fine for the weekend warrior...

Thanks for the input for the future guys!

[mitchlikesbikes]

I think I am just going to go with the stock set up. I have new rotors and pads. as well as a SS brake line kit. I think that will be fine for the weekend warrior...

Thanks for the input for the future guys!

probably a good idea. it's not really worth upgrading unless you go to an aluminum caliper. the rx7 setup is nice but massivebrakes makes some nice setups using wilwood calipers for around a grand