E46 M3 brakes - approx cost?

Tetsujin

Tetsujin

Tetsujin

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Hi there,

Anyone have any recent experience with replacing brakes on an e46 M3 and the costs involved (assuming i need discs and pads all round)? Mine's due a service, and I reckon they'll want to change them. I know I killed the brakes with some minor track action a while back and they've started to feel a bit rubbish, plus when last it was in for an oil change the service guy mentioned they were looking close to the line.

The car's still under warranty, does this affect whether I can get some non-BMW parts on there instead? And are there better options for similar cost (whatever approx cost is?) or should I stick to BMW ones?

Thanks!
 
You sure your brakes are covered under warranty?
I would get some 2 piece performance friction discs and pads if your looking at a track day or 2.they are £278 each for the discs and £145 for the pads.not 100% sure on the price of standard discs but they are £175 each on the e36 m3 evo which are smaller than the e46 ones so the performance friction ones won't be much more expensive.
What you mean by the brakes don't feel good?the vibrate or lack bite?if they vibrate it could be a wheel bearing I'd wishbone bush rather than the disc.if they lack bite it's likely the pads are glazed
 
I don't think he meant he wanted to get the brakes replaced under warranty, more would non OEM parts affect warranty?
 
Brakes are very rarely covered under warranty - As they are a wear and tear item.

I would stick to original BMW - They are quality parts.... But if you're gonna do track days, then you should go for a performance pad.

Something like Ferredo DS2500 / DS3000.
 
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passed this thread onto a friend who has a M3. This is what he said.

Best to stick with standard equipment as you know it is the right quality to pull up the speed if you need to in a hurry. The costs will be reasonably high - I can't really guess but somewhere around £800 for all 4 corners sounds about right. Chances are he has just killed the pads, he might be able to get away without replacing the discs. That is about all you can say unfortunately!

RW
Click to expand...

hope it helps
 
ruffneck said:
passed this thread onto a friend who has a M3.
hope it helps
Click to expand...

just to add to my post, this is the brake setup he has on his m3

Front:
Ap 6 pot callipers
358mm discs on alloy bells

Rear:
Ap 4 pot callipers
Std size discs but AP replacement items

approx 2.9ks worth without fitting
 
I was under the impression the stock setup on the M3 is gash, even more so with OEM pads?

This is going on the CSL setup which is better than the M3 but still poor in standard trim, perhaps Tom can confirm?
 
£1,100 then, that's the sort of number I was fearing. Ah well!

Also, yeah, I wasn't expecting to get them done on warranty, hehe... well, not pads anyway, discs I was unsure about, seeing as they're supposed to last longer.

Thanks for the help charps
 
Tbh i doubt the disk are fubar...probably just a change of pads would cure it ...I dont think some light track work would kill a set of disks .

Persil
 
Persil said:
Tbh i doubt the disk are fubar...probably just a change of pads would cure it ...I dont think some light track work would kill a set of disks .

Persil
Click to expand...

Yeah, it was only 21 mins 50 secs of track work, as it goes. Altho I did cane it up and down both sides of the Stelvio pass too...

Hrm, on a slightly different angle, if BMW tell me the discs are rusty or not in best condition, can they easily be like, ground down or something or refurbed to remove the rusting? Them looking a bit rusty was what the service guy said at the last oil change, see
 
Tetsujin said:
Yeah, it was only 21 mins 50 secs of track work, as it goes. Altho I did cane it up and down both sides of the Stelvio pass too...

Hrm, on a slightly different angle, if BMW tell me the discs are rusty or not in best condition, can they easily be like, ground down or something or refurbed to remove the rusting? Them looking a bit rusty was what the service guy said at the last oil change, see
Click to expand...

Telling you your discs are rusty is almost certainly an excuse for them to replace them.

They only need replacing if below minimum thickness (which needs to be measured, not felt and thus concluded that they are 'near the limit mate' by a mechanic), if they're cracked, warped or damaged otherwise.
 
danza said:
Telling you your discs are rusty is almost certainly an excuse for them to replace them.

They only need replacing if below minimum thickness (which needs to be measured, not felt and thus concluded that they are 'near the limit mate' by a mechanic), if they're cracked, warped or damaged otherwise.
Click to expand...

Excellent. Thanks OG
 
Firestar_3x said:
I was under the impression the stock setup on the M3 is gash, even more so with OEM pads?

This is going on the CSL setup which is better than the M3 but still poor in standard trim, perhaps Tom can confirm?
Click to expand...

I also read this re M3 brakes being the only slight let-down, though they seemed ok on that 21 minutes and 50 seconds.

Also, rust on a disc? That tends to happen when there is air near.

Anyway, I say upgrade as you drive like a rabid goose.
 
Many M3 discs were changed under warranty due to wharping when the M3 first came out. The brakes are not great when used hard for prolonged periods in most peoples hands and many people have had disk issues.
 
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