E46 M3 Brake Replacement Time

[zama]

So I have come across threads where people debate OEM vs Powerbrake, but who has actually used Powerbrake discs and pads on a E46 M3?

The price difference between the two is HUGE. Obviously OEM being the much more expensive option, by like R4500 more.

I need to replace mine and I also never track my car.. ever.

 

[AdiS]

Interested in this as well. The RS discs and Endless pads are far cheaper than OEM.

My main criticism of the OEM brakes is that the discs accumulate pad deposits so easily such that one or two mountain pass drives and you have brake shudder. You can scrub the discs clean with one or two high-speed hard brakes, but it's annoying to have to do this often.

I have heard that the PB potentially outlasts the OEM stuff. Interested in the comments of others...

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The price difference between the two is HUGE. Obviously OEM being the much more expensive option, by like R4500 more.

and now the price difference is even more compelling:

https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=82776

 

[zama]

Thanx AdiS for the link referring to the special. Indeed much more compelling!

I hope the other guys can chirp in this conversation, please gents, any feedback to make the decision a bit easier.

 

[that_guy_Ettiene]

Ive had PB on my Prodrive Scooby some years back.

Without a doubt the best brakes you can possibly buy, especially at the price.



Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[moranor@axis]

one thing to consider on the e46 M3 is OEM is a two piece floating design

the PB option downgrades to a one piece disk

 

[AdiS]

one thing to consider on the e46 M3 is OEM is a two piece floating design

the PB option downgrades to a one piece disk

I understand that to mean that the PBs are simply heavier?

 

[moranor@axis]

one thing to consider on the e46 M3 is OEM is a two piece floating design

the PB option downgrades to a one piece disk

I understand that to mean that the PBs are simply heavier?

the Idea behind having a Two piece rotor is the disk is allowed to expand with heat separate to the hub

this has two main effects

the disk does not distort because the hub that runs at a cooler temp is not part of it (a single piece disk will become slightly conical under the same heat)

the wheel bearings will also run a little cooler

 

[zama]

one thing to consider on the e46 M3 is OEM is a two piece floating design

the PB option downgrades to a one piece disk

Can you elaborate on downgrade ? As in worse performance than OEM ?

 

[moranor@axis]

one thing to consider on the e46 M3 is OEM is a two piece floating design

the PB option downgrades to a one piece disk

Can you elaborate on downgrade ? As in worse performance than OEM ?

difference comes in when the brakes have some heat in them this is when a Two piece is better than a 1 piece

all M3s have had Two piece rotors since the e36 this is one of the upgrades the M division puts on

 

[Kish2604]

one thing to consider on the e46 M3 is OEM is a two piece floating design

the PB option downgrades to a one piece disk

Can you elaborate on downgrade ? As in worse performance than OEM ?

difference comes in when the brakes have a lot of heat in them this is when a Two piece is better than a 1 piece

all M3s have had Two piece rotors since the e36 this is one of the upgrades the M division puts on

fixed as per my opinion...

Zama, you are not going to be in a worse of position with PB vs OEM, with the quality of the Endless pads actually surpassing oem by a few miles.

To put it into perspective, i have boiled the brake fluid on my car a few times but the "1 piece" aftermarket discs are still running straight and true. You will need to have Stig like driving abilities to need 2 piece discs vs 1...

 

[moranor@axis]

not saying you will die if you go with a 1 piece rotor just that OEM is better on this car

there are most definitely other ways offset the difference depending on application. Pads, guide bushes, fluid, SSlines will all make a difference in their own way just as Two piece disks bring their own improvement to the table

get OEM or Zimmerman disks if you can on the budget if not go PB disks with the pad of your choice

 

[Kish2604]

moranor@axis

Guide bushes

How did i forget about this? please do not ignore this! its worth its weight in gold...raise:

 

[AdiS]

Interesting comments all round. I think the value-for-money of the Powerbrake option is tough to ignore, especially since the OEMs seem to accumulate pad deposits so easily.

 

[Kish2604]

Its the lack of slotting that adds to this... i guess they wanted to keep noise to a minimum with the drilled set up.

 

[Peter@AEW]

https://blog.racetechnologies.com/2015/04/09/the-advantages-of-cross-drilled-and-slotted-discs/

 

[zama]

https://blog.racetechnologies.com/2015/04/09/the-advantages-of-cross-drilled-and-slotted-discs/

Some good information Peter