Big Brake Kits - anyone in LA, CA area? - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

JamesC · 06-01-2005, 06:38 PM

Looking for an E90 owner in or near LA that is willing to loan a car for a couple of visits so we can have the big brake kit mocked up by Stoptech. In exchange, you will get a deal on the kit and free install. Please email me if interested.

james@bimmerworld.com

YYimports · 06-01-2005, 10:24 PM

Man I wish I was in the area. Approximately how large are the Stoptech calipers going to be James?

shipo · 06-01-2005, 11:32 PM

Thinking that the folks at StopTec would probably just modify their existing E46 kit for the E90 I took a quick look at their web site.

Hmmm, the StopTec brakes from the E46 330i have rotors that are fully one inch greater in diameter (not to mention 33% thicker) than the new E90 330i brakes. Yikes, 14" brakes? Geez, do ya think that might could well be enough for a 3400 pound car? ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

ldpantoja · 06-02-2005, 12:16 AM

I may sound greedy but if the person is willing to give up the car as some kind of GP, they should get the kit and installation for free.

JamesC · 06-02-2005, 02:45 AM

Would be the traditional ST-40 caliper they uise for all BMW front fitments. The piston sizes change to meet brake system needs. The biggest advantage of the kit will be the 4 piston caliper. Now that factory brakes are getting so big, it is wierd to call them "big brakes". 332 will stop pretty much anything, 355mm is generally for better looks, unless we are talking M5-weight cars.

Free is not an option. $100 is $100 to me. I think that $1000 off a brake kit would be worth my time. Remember, rental companies loan out their cars for less than $100 per day...

ldpantoja · 06-02-2005, 03:07 AM

Not bad

res_ipsa · 06-02-2005, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldpantoja

I may sound greedy but if the person is willing to give up the car as some kind of GP, they should get the kit and installation for free.

That's probably asking for too much. Big brake kits are usually several thousand dollars no? A good discount and free install should make it worthwhile for someone looking to upgrade brakes anyway.

timzerofive · 06-02-2005, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by res_ipsa

That's probably asking for too much. Big brake kits are usually several thousand dollars no? A good discount and free install should make it worthwhile for someone looking to upgrade brakes anyway.

Well the fact is we're giving up our car for them to do whatever they need to, with risk at hand. $1000 discount off a $2000 brake system is still $1000. Considering the fact that the cost of a brake system to the company that manufactures them will not exceed $300, I know because my friend's company distributes brake systems. Their cost is extremely low, and they're only the distributor, manufacture should be lower. Now their brake system might not be as reputable as stoptech, but I can't imagine their own cost being much greater. Now let's say their product is THAT much better, than lets double their cost, $600. They are still making money off of us when we are helping them develop a system to make them money.

I'm not here to knock them or anything. $1000 is a great discount, but I just don't think asking for a free set of brakes are that ridiculous. If you don't care about giving your car to some total stranger and still pay $1000 for a brake system, then by all means, go for it. The way I look at it is, basically they don't want to spend any money at all to develop something that will make them money, on top of that they still want to make money off of you, the person who's helping them.

Yes they can rent a car for about $200-$300 a day (I've looked into it in LA area), but now they're spending money out of their pocket, instead of just making less money off a brake system that you probably wasn't going to buy in the first place. And lets see how soon a rental place will have a 330i for rent. And lets not start on all the horror stories I've heard about cars being lend out for testing. Again, $1000 is a tremendous discount and paying $1000 for a set of stoptech system is CHEAP, but at the cost of giving up my brand new car for someone to disect? No.

res_ipsa · 06-02-2005, 12:45 PM

timzerofive - you make good points. I guess I've just been desensitized to the price of BBK's. I do remember when I first started modding my cars that when I saw the price of a BBK kit, I was floored!!

If the cost is really that low, then yea it's not so ridiculous to ask for a free BBK if you lend them your car.

JamesC · 06-07-2005, 02:12 PM

It all depends on the person. If I was there, I would do it, but I am not. If no one is interested, there is a rental company there with one, or I can take the required parts off my car and ship them out. I definitely don't disagree with your points, but for it to make sense for StopTech, that is the offer on the table.

YYimports · 06-07-2005, 02:52 PM

James, any idea what the Stoptech brakes will be priced at? Thank you.

timzerofive · 06-07-2005, 02:59 PM

Try posting on BMW owner's club LA chapter, maybe then can get the news out to more people.

JamesC · 06-14-2005, 12:38 AM

I assume around $2k for a 332mm kit, assuming that is the size. The stock brakes are already nicely sized, so we are going to have to get away from having to have "big" brakes. 355mm are around $2400 and wouldn't be an issue, just not sure if they are necessary.

Thanks timzerofive - great idea!

skimo · 06-14-2005, 10:29 PM

I am not experienced in this area as most of the guys here, I was curious, will the brake mods in any way affect the BMW features that utilize breaks? (from the wesite: dry pads, brake pad moves closer to rotor in an emergency, DSC...etc...) ?

Thanks
Skimo

timzerofive · 06-14-2005, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skimo

I am not experienced in this area as most of the guys here, I was curious, will the brake mods in any way affect the BMW features that utilize breaks? (from the wesite: dry pads, brake pad moves closer to rotor in an emergency, DSC...etc...) ?

Thanks
Skimo

He told me all factory function would not be effected.

JamesC · 06-21-2005, 01:56 PM

Right - should have no effect.

AW330i · 06-23-2005, 02:14 PM

I wonder, does anyone know if the stoptech kit will fit the factory 18" Sport Rims? Or would i have to by bigger rims?

06-01-2005, 06:38 PM	#1
JamesC Second Lieutenant Drives: BMW 3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 213 iTrader: (0) Garage List 1996 320iT [0.00] 2003 M3 [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2008 M3 [0.00]	Big Brake Kits - anyone in LA, CA area? Looking for an E90 owner in or near LA that is willing to loan a car for a couple of visits so we can have the big brake kit mocked up by Stoptech. In exchange, you will get a deal on the kit and free install. Please email me if interested. james@bimmerworld.com __________________ - James Clay Engineered BMW Performance
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06-02-2005, 02:45 AM	#5
JamesC Second Lieutenant Drives: BMW 3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 213 iTrader: (0) Garage List 1996 320iT [0.00] 2003 M3 [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2008 M3 [0.00]	Would be the traditional ST-40 caliper they uise for all BMW front fitments. The piston sizes change to meet brake system needs. The biggest advantage of the kit will be the 4 piston caliper. Now that factory brakes are getting so big, it is wierd to call them "big brakes". 332 will stop pretty much anything, 355mm is generally for better looks, unless we are talking M5-weight cars. Free is not an option. $100 is $100 to me. I think that $1000 off a brake kit would be worth my time. Remember, rental companies loan out their cars for less than $100 per day... __________________ - James Clay Engineered BMW Performance

06-07-2005, 02:12 PM	#10
JamesC Second Lieutenant Drives: BMW 3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 213 iTrader: (0) Garage List 1996 320iT [0.00] 2003 M3 [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2008 M3 [0.00]	It all depends on the person. If I was there, I would do it, but I am not. If no one is interested, there is a rental company there with one, or I can take the required parts off my car and ship them out. I definitely don't disagree with your points, but for it to make sense for StopTech, that is the offer on the table. __________________ - James Clay Engineered BMW Performance

06-14-2005, 12:38 AM	#13
JamesC Second Lieutenant Drives: BMW 3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 213 iTrader: (0) Garage List 1996 320iT [0.00] 2003 M3 [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2008 M3 [0.00]	I assume around $2k for a 332mm kit, assuming that is the size. The stock brakes are already nicely sized, so we are going to have to get away from having to have "big" brakes. 355mm are around $2400 and wouldn't be an issue, just not sure if they are necessary. Thanks timzerofive - great idea! __________________ - James Clay Engineered BMW Performance

06-21-2005, 01:56 PM	#16
JamesC Second Lieutenant Drives: BMW 3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 213 iTrader: (0) Garage List 1996 320iT [0.00] 2003 M3 [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2008 M3 [0.00]	Right - should have no effect. __________________ - James Clay Engineered BMW Performance

06-01-2005, 10:24 PM	#2
YYimports First Lieutenant Drives: TitanSilver E90 Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 304 iTrader: (0)	Man I wish I was in the area. Approximately how large are the Stoptech calipers going to be James?

06-01-2005, 11:32 PM	#3
shipo Private Drives: 2002 530i 5-Speed Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southern New Hamster Posts: 38 iTrader: (0)	Thinking that the folks at StopTec would probably just modify their existing E46 kit for the E90 I took a quick look at their web site. Hmmm, the StopTec brakes from the E46 330i have rotors that are fully one inch greater in diameter (not to mention 33% thicker) than the new E90 330i brakes. Yikes, 14" brakes? Geez, do ya think that might could well be enough for a 3400 pound car? ;-) Best Regards, Shipo

06-02-2005, 12:16 AM	#4
ldpantoja Lieutenant Drives: 330i (E90) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 585 iTrader: (0)	I may sound greedy but if the person is willing to give up the car as some kind of GP, they should get the kit and installation for free.

06-02-2005, 03:07 AM	#6
ldpantoja Lieutenant Drives: 330i (E90) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 585 iTrader: (0)	Not bad

06-02-2005, 12:45 PM	#9
res_ipsa First Lieutenant Drives: 325i SparkGraphite Join Date: May 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 210 iTrader: (0)	timzerofive - you make good points. I guess I've just been desensitized to the price of BBK's. I do remember when I first started modding my cars that when I saw the price of a BBK kit, I was floored!! If the cost is really that low, then yea it's not so ridiculous to ask for a free BBK if you lend them your car.

06-07-2005, 02:52 PM	#11
YYimports First Lieutenant Drives: TitanSilver E90 Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 304 iTrader: (0)	James, any idea what the Stoptech brakes will be priced at? Thank you.

06-07-2005, 02:59 PM	#12
timzerofive there is no spoon Drives: 330i manual Join Date: May 2005 Location: Irvine Posts: 881 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Try posting on BMW owner's club LA chapter, maybe then can get the news out to more people.

06-14-2005, 10:29 PM	#14
skimo Lieutenant Drives: 2011 335 vert Dinan II Join Date: May 2005 Location: Austin Texas !! Posts: 509 iTrader: (1)	I am not experienced in this area as most of the guys here, I was curious, will the brake mods in any way affect the BMW features that utilize breaks? (from the wesite: dry pads, brake pad moves closer to rotor in an emergency, DSC...etc...) ? Thanks Skimo

06-23-2005, 02:14 PM	#17
AW330i Captain Drives: Alpine White 330i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 881 iTrader: (0)	I wonder, does anyone know if the stoptech kit will fit the factory 18" Sport Rims? Or would i have to by bigger rims?