[spitpilot]

Has anyone done this mod...if so...some info please:
Do the two cars use same calipers?..If so, can you upgrade by just buying caliper carriers (to space calipers out to accomodate larger rotors from 335), rotor set of course, and maybe? larger dust shields?....I know this simple, ez and cost effective upgrade works on other cars (I did it to my 2008 VW Golf..went to GTI larger brakes...)...But from the E9X Bentley Manual..it looks like the rotors for the 335I are not only larger diameter, but also a bit thicker...which might indicate calipers must be different..or maybe not..that's the $$$ question!

[spitpilot]

No one's put 335 brake set up on a 328?????

[Hoog_23]

I did that to my golf too (err.. 1986).

I know that 335's are thicker than 330 brakes too.

[spitpilot]

Got busy with OEM parts catalog...the answer is "no ez cheap upgrade"...calipers, carriers, rotors, pads etc...all different...$$$!

[ModBargains.com]

The OEM 328i brakes are completely different from the 335i. Your going to have to change out the calipers, caliper carriers, brake lines, brake pads, rotors etc. This conversion is in no way cheap but is still definitely less expensive than going for a big brake kit. On the side note there are a lot of guys here on the forums who have upgraded BBKs and may be willing to sell their stock brake compoents for a steal.

- Alan

[BLU_GTR]

Originally Posted by **********s.com

The OEM 328i brakes are completely different from the 335i. Your going to have to change out the calipers, caliper carriers, brake lines, brake pads, rotors etc. This conversion is in no way cheap but is still definitely less expensive than going for a big brake kit. On the side note there are a lot of guys here on the forums who have upgraded BBKs and may be willing to sell their stock brake compoents for a steal.

- Alan

+1 for Alan

[I335]

Originally Posted by **********s.com

The OEM 328i brakes are completely different from the 335i. Your going to have to change out the calipers, caliper carriers, brake lines, brake pads, rotors etc. This conversion is in no way cheap but is still definitely less expensive than going for a big brake kit. On the side note there are a lot of guys here on the forums who have upgraded BBKs and may be willing to sell their stock brake compoents for a steal.

- Alan

Yep - that's the way to go, and I like your thinking. If you pull this off I think you'll really enjoy the 335 brakes. GL!

[spitpilot]

Originally Posted by **********s.com

The OEM 328i brakes are completely different from the 335i. Your going to have to change out the calipers, caliper carriers, brake lines, brake pads, rotors etc. This conversion is in no way cheap but is still definitely less expensive than going for a big brake kit. On the side note there are a lot of guys here on the forums who have upgraded BBKs and may be willing to sell their stock brake compoents for a steal.

- Alan

Yup...that's what I got out of my research...I did the buy from "upgrade owner" for my Rabbit..got brand new front brakes (calipers, carriers, rotors/pads) from a GTI owner who went BBK..for $400 delivered...don't suppose BMW parts will come that economical..but I'll start lookin in classfieds... thanks for the info!!!

[ah gon]

u will need 335i's caliper,rotor and pad.the front will fit all 3-series i think since i'm using the 335i front brake on my 325i now.but rear i can't say "not fit"...coz,if i mount the 335i's rear brake on.then i'll not have the ebrake since the rotor of 335 is bigger.i mean not just only the outside, even the inside is bigger.
but u still can use the brake just no ebrake.keep 2 wood block on your car in case parking at uphill or down hill.LOL

[XYR03]

Man I been searching for the answers for a long time and I have given up. Theres nothing that u can do that cost less than 4k. I heard that you can change it to Brembo 135i breaks, but not sure. Also if u go with BMW performance route they don't make it for the rear.

[The HACK]

Problem with upgrading to a 335i caliper on a 328i is the master cylinder is designed to drive a smaller piston area. Now all of a sudden you increase the piston size front and rear and you will end up with piss poor pedal feel.

ANY brake upgrade involving changing out calipers, you must consider the overall size of piston area or else suffer a soft or limp brake pedal.

[Navacellus]

I did it this spring to my 328xi Touring. Found a full set of 335i calipers, pads and rotors (with about 1K miles on them) that were removed for a BBK install. Picked them up for $350 delivered.

I used OEM catalog as well to verify fit etc. All parts bolted on with no issues. Front flex lines for the 335 were a bit longer than my 328 but I ran them for a while until i could get braided stainless installed. I made no adjustments to the e-brake...

Agreed not cheap but a stock BBK it is. Got over 3K miles on the setup to date. Running Hawk HPS all around which a decent setup for a DD and sufficient for the occasional auto-X IMO.

[mike-y]

Navacellus, did you swap the front brakes only, or both the front and rears?

also, just to confirm, you didn't need the hubs or caliper carriers from the 335i, the rotors and calipers just bolted on?

[Navacellus]

Originally Posted by mike-y

Navacellus, did you swap the front brakes only, or both the front and rears?

also, just to confirm, you didn't need the hubs or caliper carriers from the 335i, the rotors and calipers just bolted on?

I did all four corners. Calipers with carriers were required, no hubs.

I did an extensive comparison of 335i/335xi (Europe and USA) parts against my 328xiT (USA) using realoem.com. Started at the brake pedal and went all the way to the wheel... from my experience everything bolted on!

[spitpilot]

Originally Posted by Navacellus

I did all four corners. Calipers with carriers were required, no hubs.

I did an extensive comparison of 335i/335xi (Europe and USA) parts against my 328xiT (USA) using realoem.com. Started at the brake pedal and went all the way to the wheel... from my experience everything bolted on!

So no changes needed to dust shields etc?.."Just" calipers, rotors, carriers and brake lines from a 335I...boy if I could get all four wheel set for $400..I'd be doin that switch this weekend!!!

[Navacellus]

Originally Posted by spitpilot

So no changes needed to dust shields etc?.."Just" calipers, rotors, carriers and brake lines from a 335I...boy if I could get all four wheel set for $400..I'd be doin that switch this weekend!!!

Nope, not for me. Glad I could help, good luck with your parts search and mod!

[mike-y]

Originally Posted by The HACK

Problem with upgrading to a 335i caliper on a 328i is the master cylinder is designed to drive a smaller piston area. Now all of a sudden you increase the piston size front and rear and you will end up with piss poor pedal feel.

ANY brake upgrade involving changing out calipers, you must consider the overall size of piston area or else suffer a soft or limp brake pedal.

Actually, realoem lists the same part number for the master cylinder on all the E90s.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by mike-y

Actually, realoem lists the same part number for the master cylinder for all the E90s.

Well there you go. Perfect brake upgrade for the 328i if you can find the right 335i donor.

This could mean, potentially, that all you would need are the brake rotors and caliper carriers, despite the fact that the actual caliper part number is different. Food for thought.

[ah gon]

Originally Posted by spitpilot

So no changes needed to dust shields etc?.."Just" calipers, rotors, carriers and brake lines from a 335I...boy if I could get all four wheel set for $400..I'd be doin that switch this weekend!!!

330i,328xi,e93 328i all have the same size of 335i's e-brake.that's y they do need to change the knuckle,carrier,wheel bearing to fit.and may don't need the 335i's brake line and shield since i'm using the front 335i now.but The HACK is right!sometime i felt the brake pedal is weird when i did the full throttle then stop at once.the brake will more powerful than usual..."like i slowly push on the brake"

[Tallest]

+1 on this being price, as looked around for 330d brakes for my car and it's definitely an expensive upgrade. But sourcing 335 brakes from the BBK upgrades should be the best solution. HOpe you get it done.

[cuco]

Originally Posted by The HACK

Problem with upgrading to a 335i caliper on a 328i is the master cylinder is designed to drive a smaller piston area. Now all of a sudden you increase the piston size front and rear and you will end up with piss poor pedal feel.

ANY brake upgrade involving changing out calipers, you must consider the overall size of piston area or else suffer a soft or limp brake pedal.

Not necessarily since the stock master cylinder should have the capacity to push bigger or more caliper pistons per wheel. BBK's (i.e. Stoptech) do not include bigger master cylinders for a reason. If you increase the master cylinder size you would have more pressure than needed per caliper. The ratio between master cylinder size and caliper piston size is not linear so any increase in master cylinder size would multiply brake line pressure by a substantiable factor. Having said that, there should not be any difference in pedal feel.

[kiwi29]

So in order to do the 335i brake conversion you'll need rotors, pads, calipers and lines and possibly bigger dust shields. Now what about the ebrake part ? I've heard that you can chop some of the shoe and it'll fit? what exactly needs to be changed for the ebrake like officially? I need my ebrake even if the design is retarded for being a drum style system. If there was no absolute way I can use the ebrake or fab it to stop like stock, ill have to pass being as I'm 6mt .