[rallybull]

The M Perf brakes look nice but can't lead myself to believe that dropping over two grands on something that is mostly cosmetic is worth it.
So are there any cheaper (but safe) after market options around $1000?

Would need big colored brakes in front and rear and drilled discs.

I see there is a decent aftermarket for drilled discs for E9x, but none for F30.

Plus the stoptech and brembo kits for F30 are extremely expensive and totally out of question (>$6000 for front and rear)

I considered G2 paint but then the rear brakes are puny and no fun coloring them up.

[JN1]

If you are just upgrading for looks (which I won't comment on)...

I would just powder coat the calipers you have and upgrade rotors to slotted/crossdrilled. As for the rears, I'm sure theres a way to find rears similar to the M Perf ones (which are just OEM grade Brembo). I'm willing to bet theres a way to find rear calipers, which Ive been considering since it would be the same as getting M Perf without the color which I don't care about.

[momo3605]

plastidip the calipers! I can't comment on whether that's safe or not. But definitely a way to improve the look for under $100

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by rallybull

The M Perf brakes look nice but can't lead myself to believe that dropping over two grands on something that is mostly cosmetic is worth it.
So are there any cheaper (but safe) after market options around $1000?

Would need big colored brakes in front and rear and drilled discs.

I see there is a decent aftermarket for drilled discs for E9x, but none for F30.

Plus the stoptech and brembo kits for F30 are extremely expensive and totally out of question (>$6000 for front and rear)

I considered G2 paint but then the rear brakes are puny and no fun coloring them up.

Not really! You can probably find slotted/cross-drilled rotors, but the moment you consider upgrading calipers (...and probably buying fabricated brackets, etc.), the cost savings go out the window. Your cheapest cost of entry will be the M-Performance brakes. If you don't want to pony up for them then leave your brakes alone. You'll only cheapen the look of your car.

I've seen used M-Performance brakes on the forum for $1700-ish, and new kits without the rear rotors for about the same price. That's an fair price for these brakes.

[Bowser330]

What about those Canadian/European msport blue calipers that aren't offered in the US? Much cheaper than the full on m performance brake packages.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Bowser330

What about those Canadian/European msport blue calipers that aren't offered in the US? Much cheaper than the full on m performance brake packages.

Cheaper, but not by much. The only difference between the kits are the rotors. The calipers are the same, as is the rotor size; they just aren't slotted/cross-drilled/dimpled. I agree though.....The OP should find somebody selling the calipers on the forum. That's the ticket!

P.S. The blue brakes are available here in the U.S. too. I've seen a few F30's with them.

[Bowser330]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Cheaper, but not by much. The only difference between the kits are the rotors. The calipers are the same, as is the rotor size; they just aren't slotted/cross-drilled/dimpled. I agree though.....The OP should find somebody selling the calipers on the forum. That's the ticket!

Holy smokes! I shamefully didn't really check the price before commenting (fail), I had no idea they were close in price...I just assumed they were cheaper...

If only these brackets were available for the F30!!!!! 150$ for two front brackets only...
http://www.rallyroad.net/content/e36...e-kit-brackets

680$ for full set of four Z06 sized calipers
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2006-2014-C6...c68373&vxp=mtr

[m2michael23]

if you know somebody willing to do the paint job for you cheap, the next thing is to get some slotted or drilled rotor to complete the look.

if i am in your position i'd save more then get mperf brakes.

hopefully by next thanksgiving i can put on my brembo. lol

[rallybull]

One strategy could be to:
1. Get a used 335i front brake and rotor and fit that in the rear wheel. So essentially your 335 would have identical brakes and discs in the front and rear.
2. Paint the calipers using G2 or powercoat them.

By now you have nice colored big brakes in fronts and rears.

3. Wait for stoptech or other aftermarket to release drilled discs for F3x, just like they have for E9x. This should cost about $100-$130 per disc.

Total damage about $1000

Only thing is I'm not too sure how safe would step #1 be.

[lab_rat]

Originally Posted by rallybull

One strategy could be to:
1. Get a used 335i front brake and rotor and fit that in the rear wheel. So essentially your 335 would have identical brakes and discs in the front and rear.
2. Paint the calipers using G2 or powercoat them.

By now you have nice colored big brakes in fronts and rears.

3. Wait for stoptech or other aftermarket to release drilled discs for F3x, just like they have for E9x. This should cost about $100-$130 per disc.

Total damage about $1000

Only thing is I'm not too sure how safe would step #1 be.

I'd guess probably not too safe

With a larger caliper on the rear (if it did fit), there would be an increased amount of braking proportion towards the rear wheels....this would lead to the ABS/DSC/DTC/etc going 'haywire' in an attempt to keep the rear wheels from locking up.

I'd venture to say the ABS/DSC/DTC would NOT be successful in most instances from wheel lockup in that scenario of a 'brake upgrade'.

It'd be fun to watch, though.

[Jordan_Inc]

Don't plastidip your calipers.
With all that heat going on, they might actually stick to the caliper and won't peel off and that's a nightmare.

[Presario]

Honestly the best and cheapest option is to just get a used set of M perf brakes and sell your 335 brakes. Hopefully it'll only cost you like 1200-1300 net. You don't have to paint your calipers or run aftermarket rotors and pads and worry about resale value of your car later. Since it's an OEM part, people will welcome the upgrade for the most part.

[Camnyc]

So now what is the difference in the fronts of the 335i msport brakes and the mperformance aside from the drilled/slotted rotors?

[Presario]

Originally Posted by Camnyc

So now what is the difference in the fronts of the 335i msport brakes and the mperformance aside from the drilled/slotted rotors?

More aggressive pads and painted calipers. The 335i caliper itself is the same.

[Camnyc]

So why spend the 1700 on essentially a drilled/slotted front rotor and a bigger rear caliper.?

Rear brakes do little to nothing to stop these cars.

[rallybull]

The cost of the M Perf Brakes (MPB) is $2200 + shipping. Then add the labor worth $500 to $700 from BMW service center. The cost turns out to be pretty close to $3000.

I don't understand why most people would want to sell their MPB after investing so much in them, unless there is some issue with the brakes. I have seen only 2 ads for used MPBs in this forum since the launch of the MPB for F30.

Based on the difficulty of selling the stock brakes I think one would be lucky to get $400 out of that.

So you are looking at about $2500 net, which is HUGE given that you are not getting practically any added stopping power.

[Presario]

I guess to me it's still the most affordable complete package with matching calipers. Like you mentioned brembo or stoptech setups are $6k plus. In addition, you get warranty on the brakes as well as new pads as part of the covered maintenance which is obviously a big plus.

The M Perf brakes do increase braking power. If you kept everything the same, an increase in rotor size increases stopping power (more torque with increase in rotor diameter). Add to that more fade resistance with more aggressive pads, you'll def see an increase in brake performance. I'm of course comparing it to the stock 335 brakes with 340x30 front and 330x20 rear rotors.

[M-terkait]

What if you got Msport Brakes , i think it won't worth it.

[btbossman]

M perf or bust!

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Camnyc

So why spend the 1700 on essentially a drilled/slotted front rotor and a bigger rear caliper.?

Rear brakes do little to nothing to stop these cars.

If we're going to go down this road, then the question should truly be....."Why do ANYTHING to our cars in the first place"? Modifying isn't about saving money; it's not financially prudent behavior. Modifying is about personalization without any return besides emotional. The OEM M-Sport brakes work just fine, but so does the stock 300 HP......and the OEM M-Sport suspension.....and.....and.....and!

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by rallybull

The cost of the M Perf Brakes (MPB) is $2200 + shipping. Then add the labor worth $500 to $700 from BMW service center. The cost turns out to be pretty close to $3000.

I don't understand why most people would want to sell their MPB after investing so much in them, unless there is some issue with the brakes. I have seen only 2 ads for used MPBs in this forum since the launch of the MPB for F30.

Based on the difficulty of selling the stock brakes I think one would be lucky to get $400 out of that.

So you are looking at about $2500 net, which is HUGE given that you are not getting practically any added stopping power.

Who pays retail for ANYTHING these days? Nobody pays $2200 for M-Performance brakes unless they are a bumbling internet noob (..or they purchased these when they first became available, so they paid the premium). I believe that there were 3 or 4 ads for M Performance brakes when I was looking for mine, but there are plenty on Ebay. I paid $2700 for my brakes (..installed) and the M Performance exhaust (..which I flipped for $700). Again, see my post above. NOBODY mods to save money. NOBODY! Besides the regular track junkie, nobody needs to do anything to their cars. People spend $4k on an exhaust just for noise...........JUST for noise.

[metrickid]

Adam Rotors quoted me $500 for slotted/dimpled rotors f/r. That in combination with just painted calipers (DIY) would make it look much better.