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jolls · ALPIN Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 585 Location: Borehamwood

Hi guys. I'm after some advice regarding new brake disc and pads for my E46 B3. I have just renewed the shocks and springs all round with original Alpina parts and I've decided to replace the discs/pads and handbrake shoes. I've had a quote from BMW as below.

Front pads £88.37
Rear pads £75.94

Front discs £149.81
Rear discs £131.83

Total £444.96.

I can get a Brembo set including handbrake shoes for £325 or an ATE set for £311.

Does anyone have any experience of the above or any other recommendations?

Thank you, jolls.

Edited to add a low dust pad would be good.
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B3 E46 no.265

ade and liz flint · ALPINA Joined: 02 Jul 2010 Posts: 7092

Use and used both Brembo and ATE. The latter are standard BMW parts bin items and found on many cars when new.

Horses for courses and all that. Low dust pads will possibly be noisier and the discs may wear quicker. It's a balance
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sat82 · A Joined: 27 Oct 2013 Posts: 58

Hi,

I put on Brembo discs and pads all round and am very pleased with them. Very hard wearing. Brembo coat their discs, so you don't get that horrible sitting rust after a few months from washing them.

Handbrake shoes I went for Pagid - they are fine. But if you can get Brembo, stick with them.

If you haven't already, invest in a new handbrake shoe fitting kit from BMW. The old springs that hold the shoes in place go very hard and you won't get the best from the shoes with stiff springs.

Lastly, remember not the tighten the handbrake too much, keep it as loose as possible, then after a month of usage get them re-adjusted so the handbrake locks at 5 clicks, not 3 - make sure they are adjusted from the shoes themselves and not the handbrake lever.

Regards
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Sat

B3 3.3 Saloon #540
Polo GTI

rc944 · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2018 1:50 pm Post subject:

the pads and discs should be bmw value line so speak to ed at cotswold hereford for a better price.
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octanejunkie · A Joined: 13 Aug 2018 Posts: 72 Location: Somerset

I like Textar stuff which was OE on a lot of cars. I've also had very good experience with Mintex parts. Fitted Mintex to my last E38. Great feel, minimal dust and they wear very evenly.
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ade and liz flint · ALPINA Joined: 02 Jul 2010 Posts: 7092

jolls · ALPIN Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 585 Location: Borehamwood

Gentlemen, thank you for all your replies and advice. There is certainly food for thought amongst your answers.

rc944 thanks for the recommendation. I like to try and keep the car serviced with BMW parts and had assumed the quote I received from Barons was for the Value Line. I'll contact Ed at Cotswold Hereford for a quotation.

Once again thank you all.
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B3 E46 no.265

Fast3000 · A Joined: 01 Feb 2014 Posts: 98

Jolls how do you find the suspension refresh? Is the difference night and day? Cheers
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2004 E46 Cabriolet B3S Techno Violet #156
2018 Kia Sportage (Makes BMW look expensive!)
2007 Z4M Coupe (Drivers car, Noise, Drama)

jolls · ALPIN Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 585 Location: Borehamwood

rc944 · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 1:02 pm Post subject:

Fast3000 · A Joined: 01 Feb 2014 Posts: 98

Thanks RC
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2004 E46 Cabriolet B3S Techno Violet #156
2018 Kia Sportage (Makes BMW look expensive!)
2007 Z4M Coupe (Drivers car, Noise, Drama)

ali · ALPINA Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 1995 Location: Edinburgh

jolls · ALPIN Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 585 Location: Borehamwood

Thank you all for the recommendations. I contacted BMW at Cotswold and they were cheaper then my local BMW dealer. However I went with the Brembo set and have to say I’m pleased with feel of the brakes and there seems to be less brake dust then the previous set up.

The suspension set up has made the car feel more “planted” to the road. I wouldn’t say a night and day difference but definitely a difference and an improvement. The car is on 90k miles so a renewal of the bushings front and back should improve the ride further.
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B3 E46 no.265