[eljay]

Do the M3 calipers work on 328xi?

I know they will bolt up to 335i, therefore, they should bolt up to 328i.
But can I use regular 335i rotor (348mm) with these instead of the M3 size 360mm? Is the caliper the same size shape?

Thanks!

[neilvan]

335 and M3 calipers are the same(pads I believe too).

The brackets have a different eye spacing so M3 brackets will only work with M3 hubs; the 335 brackets have the same as the rest of the E90s

[eljay]

Originally Posted by neilvan

335 and M3 calipers are the same(pads I believe too).

The brackets have a different eye spacing so M3 brackets will only work with M3 hubs; the 335 brackets have the same as the rest of the E90s

Got it. Thanks.
So, 335i bracket is required and then the caliper bolts on fine and clears the same wheels as woukd fit into any 335i.

[neilvan]

Originally Posted by eljay

Got it. Thanks.
So, 335i bracket is required and then the caliper bolts on fine and clears the same wheels as woukd fit into any 335i.

Using the 335 bracket youll need 335 rotors; Essentially having 335 brakes.

But yes they are a bolt on front and rear for xi's

[eljay]

Originally Posted by neilvan

Using the 335 bracket youll need 335 rotors; Essentially having 335 brakes.

But yes they are a bolt on front and rear for xi's

Thanks.
OK, so 335i brackers are needed front and rear and use 335i rotors front and rear.

Is a master cylinder from M3 needed as well for these? I believe they have a larger piston, so larger fluid volume, correct?

[feuer]

Originally Posted by neilvan

Using the 335 bracket youll need 335 rotors; Essentially having 335 brakes.

But yes they are a bolt on front and rear for xi's

No the rear brakes, they aren’t bolt on for all xi’s as some have smaller parking brake.

[neilvan]

Originally Posted by feuer

No the rear brakes, they aren’t bolt on for all xi’s as some have smaller parking brake.

Really? I had the assumption that the 330/335, xi's and E93s had the larger parking brake; only the rwd 323/325/328 ones had the smaller parking brake.

Which part am I missing?

[neilvan]

Originally Posted by eljay

Thanks.
OK, so 335i brackers are needed front and rear and use 335i rotors front and rear.

Is a master cylinder from M3 needed as well for these? I believe they have a larger piston, so larger fluid volume, correct?

335s have the same master cylinder as all other non-M E9X

[eljay]

Originally Posted by neilvan

335s have the same master cylinder as all other non-M E9X

But that is assuming 335i calipers. What happens when I switch to M3 calipers, which seems to have a larger piston, which likely means more fluid volume to push it?
The marking on 335i front caliper is 57/30/348.
384x30 rotor and 57mm piston size.

The marking on M3 front caliper is 60/30/360.
360x30mm rotor and 60mm piston size.

Rear piston size is 46mm for M3 and 44mm for 335i.

[neilvan]

It looks like you are right; I must be thinking of something else. They are bigger and the pads are not the same.

Cannot confirm switching to 335 brackets/rotors will work then but I'd be very curious of the M3 calipers are a direct swap. IF you do then yes Id grab the m3 master.

[feuer]

M3 front calipers, brackets and rotors don’t fit. Different mounting tab space out. M3 rear caliper, bracket and rotors don’t fit. Larger mounting bolts and larger parking brake. Some drive have larger parking brake but I don’t know if your car does. M3 brake cylinder fits. All of this has been covered many times over the last decade or so...

[eljay]

Originally Posted by feuer

M3 front calipers, brackets and rotors don't fit. Different mounting tab space out. M3 rear caliper, bracket and rotors don't fit. Larger mounting bolts and larger parking brake. Some drive have larger parking brake but I don't know if your car does. M3 brake cylinder fits. All of this has been covered many times over the last decade or so...

Thanks.
The main attraction of the M3 calipers for me is that they are powder coated black from factory. But yes, finding the 335i brackets and
getting those coated and swapping the master cylinder is not all I want to get into right now. So used 335i calipers is what I'll search for and just paint them myself for now.

[Soravia]

M3 will kill you in rotor price. Best to get 4 pot aftermarket with rotors that can replace disc into same aluminum hat.

I have 335i front and rear on my 328i xDrive (LCI). Works great. I put on brass caliper slide (unequal for 335i front, equal for rear), to firm up pedal feel.
335i fronts can be bought cheap but quality rebuilds from Autozone website, Duralast brand.
Calipers are massive but light, rotors are heavy. Aftermarket kits will have light two piece rotors for better acceleration (combined with light weight wheels).

For my need OE 335 was enough.
Be sure to put in the rear correctly. I put the bleed nipples down instead of up and couldn't get air out. You will need ABS pump activation via ODB tool to get final bits of tiny bubbles out.
Don't forget line wrench, normal wrench will strip the hard line nuts.

They have 20% off $100+ right now. Get the Bracketed ones. You need them and they are cheaper?
https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-...9_1022008_2362

https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-...8_1022008_5913

[feuer]

Originally Posted by eljay

Thanks.
The main attraction of the M3 calipers for me is that they are powder coated black from factory. But yes, finding the 335i brackets and
getting those coated and swapping the master cylinder is not all I want to get into right now. So used 335i calipers is what I'll search for and just paint them myself for now.

lol they aren’t powder coated from factory and that should not be determining factor when purchasing brakes. Also they aren’t compatible with 335i carriers. Soravia gave you good input. Go with that and paint yourself.

[eljay]

OK.
I am sticking with a stock 335i setup.
I was looking at various reman calipers, but a shop I trust has told me that they can be hit or miss. I guess it depends on who put those seals and bleeder valves together and whether they had a bad hair day. So, I'm torn between getting a used set and a reman set.

Plus I'm in Canada, so they are a lot more expensive here and shipping cost from RockAuto is quite high too and I won't have a proper core to return.

[Soravia]

It's sad that BMW doesn't offer rebuild kits.
I'm sure you can find Duralast brand rebuild even if not at AutoZone. Their front rotors in GT version comes fully painted for rust prevention to the hub.

Since you live in Canada, spray Liquid Film to brake line connection to prevent corrosion where salt and water can get into threads. I had to replace hard lines due to rust.
One eBay seller I got the rears from built them nicely.
Most mentioned core return on description but when I asked over message they replied that no core returns required and price with sold without core charge.

[eljay]

Originally Posted by Soravia

It's sad that BMW doesn't offer rebuild kits.
I'm sure you can find Duralast brand rebuild even if not at AutoZone. Their front rotors in GT version comes fully painted for rust prevention to the hub.

Since you live in Canada, spray Liquid Film to brake line connection to prevent corrosion where salt and water can get into threads. I had to replace hard lines due to rust.
One eBay seller I got the rears from built them nicely.
Most mentioned core return on description but when I asked over message they replied that no core returns required and price with sold without core charge.

Thanks! Good tips.

While I have the experts' attention: for a complete 4-caliper replacement how much brake fluid should I have ready?
For bleeding, 1L would be enough, but should I use 2L to make sure the bleeder reservoir does not run out?

[Soravia]

Originally Posted by eljay

Thanks! Good tips.

While I have the experts' attention: for a complete 4-caliper replacement how much brake fluid should I have ready?
For bleeding, 1L would be enough, but should I use 2L to make sure the bleeder reservoir does not run out?

Buy MANY liters of cheap brake fluid, Dot 4. Buy a $50 power bleeder from Amazon. You will need it during ABS bleed step.
Once all bubbles are gone, buy the Dot4 LV spec expensive fluid one liter and replace them.

I wasted so much from leaking lines and upside down calipers.

If everything was perfect you can bleed with 2 liters and replace with 1 low viscosity.
But don't expect things to be perfect

Get brake cleaner to spray off any spills on body paint and metal.