[hevykevy420]

I have swapped the standard F30 335 calipers/rotors onto my 328. There seems to be no detailed info on the boards here on this mod or if anyone has actually completed it successfully.

Everything transfers over without issue EXCEPT the rear emergency brake unfortunately. The ebrake shoes, shoe adjusters, and shoe "ring carriers" are slightly larger on the 335 as the interior diameter of the friction area on 335 rotors is slightly larger (by 15mm?). I sourced the 335 adjusters/shoes/springs/ring carriers hoping it would be a direct swap. Unfortunately the rear wheel carriers (spindles) appear to be different between the 328/335 preventing an easy swap with the 335 ebrake parts. This is confusing, because there are two different part numbers for 328 wheel carriers on RealOem, one of which is shared by the 335. I cannot find a part number stamped on my carriers, so I cannot confirm what I have. My build is an earlier one (11/2011), I don't know if the carriers changed at some point to be the same as the 335 later in the production run. This may not make sense however if the 328 has retained the same size ebrake shoes throughout its production run...

The problem is the position of the ebrake cable and the lower shoe "stop" that is part of the wheel carrier. The cable where it routes through the spindle is too high to meet the adjuster and ebrake shoes where it needs to on the larger shoes. It just doesn't work with the 335 ebrake shoes. Right now I don't see a solution as modifying the 328 carrier seems like a lot of work and I really don't want to be cutting/drilling the carrier.

It should also be noted that the M-Performance brake package has different part numbers for the rear rotors for 328 vs 335. I am thinking that this is to provide for the different sized ebrake shoe sizes. Maybe someone who installed the kit on a 328 (has anyone?) could measure the inner diameter of the ebrake friction area on the rotor.

Unfortunately the only solutions that I see for the rear, none that are really ideal are:

1) Don't worry about not having an ebrake (auto trans only obviously) and don't park on hills. (Can you pass inspection?)

2) Keep your stock 328i rear brakes as is, only run the larger fronts. (Any brake balance issues? Proportioning?)

3) Swap 335 L&R rear wheel carriers (good luck finding some used, new they are $500+ each. A fair amount of labor pulling the drive axles/control arms, etc.

I'd still like to find out some info on why RealOem lists two numbers for the 328 rear carriers. If the part changed for later model production, some 328 folks here might be able to swap the 335 ebrake hardware without issue, but at this time, I have no idea.

RealOem 328i:

No. Description Supplement Qty From Up To Part Number
01 Wheel carrier, rear left 1 33326792521
01 Wheel carrier, rear left 1 33326792523
01 Wheel carrier, rear right 1 33326792522
01 Wheel carrier, rear right 1 33326792524


335i:

No. Description Supplement Qty From Up To Part Number
01 Wheel carrier, rear left 1 33326792523
01 Wheel carrier, rear right 1 33326792524

PS- WHY did BMW make different ebrake sizes for these cars??

[ronin951]

I can measure for you tonight. I'm with you on not swapping the carrier. My understanding is that there's a special procedure for hub R&R. I presume it has to do with the diff redesign, but I dunno. I've been told there is a $20k SST needed to do rear hubs on the 'new' body style cars (presumably he meant F*).

I'm interested to hear what you dig up on the part change. Ever since my brake install I've had rear end noise issues. Dealer narrowed it down to the rotors. I've recently started thinking it may be the ebrake.

BTW, I just did a parts cross reference. It appears that the X drives never got the 'old' carrier.

[hevykevy420]

Ronin, what brake set up are you currently running in your 328 in the rear? Do you have an x drive? If the x drive hub part # matches the 335 hub #, then x drive owners might be lucky enough to be able to do this mod, but I doubt it.

I think some pretty extensive work would be required on the 328 rear carriers to get them to accept an OEM 335 ebrake set up. In my opinion, it would make more sense to swap the carriers to 335 than go through all that trouble. I'm not sure the $800+ for new carriers from BMW is worth it either!

I don't see how I can figure out if there was a part change. I left a message with my dealer, but if you're an avg. joe calling about parts they don't care so much about helping you unfortunately, and 9 times out of 10 they are just looking at a screen and don't know anymore than I do about parts

I fear that the shared part number for the 328/335 carrier is an error or something in the parts databases. I bought the 335 supporting ring for the 335 ebrake shoes, which is a stamped piece of sheet metal that secures the shoes. It bolts inbetween the heat shield and the ebrake shoes, has 4 bolt locations, 2 are shared with the heat shield, and two bolt near the ebrake cable. This piece is a completely different shape than the 328 ring carrier, which would suggest a totally different hub/carrier/spindle design/part number.

[hevykevy420]

[QUOTE=ronin951;16214269 BTW, I just did a parts cross reference. It appears that the X drives never got the 'old' carrier.[/QUOTE]

Yes, just looked and I think you're right. What is strange is the x drive shows the same part number as 328i for the smaller ebrake shoes BUT the larger 335i 185mm "supporting ring" for the shoes. I had to cut up the 185mm supporting ring to have a chance at getting it to fit my carriers. None of this makes sense as the smaller brake shoes just won't come together at the same point where they would need to, to work with the ebrake diameter on the 335 rotors... Pic below showing the size difference between 335/328 ebrake shoes.

Hopefully this mod at least works for x drive owners so we can split up some of these parts for sale!!!!!!

[hevykevy420]

Looks and works great...do I really need an ebrake?????

[therealm3]

Sounds like the issues folks had with e90 328's as well. The carrier was bigger for the 335 and so a direct swap of brakes wouldn't work without some modification. Interestingly the e91 (wagon) 328 used the same 335 carrier. I am guessing it has something to do with weight of the car or load on the drivetrain.

What about getting the m performance 328 rear rotors seeing they have the correct e brake diameter and then the correct swept area for the larger 335 m sport calipers? That would be cheaper and much easier than swapping the carriers.

[hevykevy420]

Originally Posted by therealm3

Sounds like the issues folks had with e90 328's as well. The carrier was bigger for the 335 and so a direct swap of brakes wouldn't work without some modification. Interestingly the e91 (wagon) 328 used the same 335 carrier. I am guessing it has something to do with weight of the car or load on the drivetrain.

I don't get it...the ebrake is meant to keep the car from rolling when stationary, and, I guess help you stop in a brake failure situation. The weight of the 335/328 has to be within a few hundred lbs. I would guess. You would think bmw would want to produce fewer parts, i.e., as many cross over parts between models to reduce costs. It may have more to do with the rotor size difference possibly. Well who knows, I'm not a german engineer

[hevykevy420]

Originally Posted by therealm3

What about getting the m performance 328 rear rotors seeing they have the correct e brake diameter and then the correct swept area for the larger 335 m sport calipers? That would be cheaper and much easier than swapping the carriers.

I'd have mismatched front rear/rear rotors then (drilled or slotted on rear, right?), but, I thought the M performance rear rotors are 345mm, and stock 335 rear rotors are 330mm? Don't the M performance also use dual pot rear calipers rather than the single pot two piece rear 335 calipers? I was assuming that the M-performance rotors only work with the Mperformance calipers also due to the larger size.

[therealm3]

Originally Posted by hevykevy420

I'd have mismatched front rear/rear rotors then (drilled or slotted on rear, right?), but, I thought the M performance rear rotors are 345mm, and stock 335 rear rotors are 330mm? Don't the M performance also use dual pot rear calipers rather than the single pot two piece rear 335 calipers? I was assuming that the M-performance rotors only work with the Mperformance calipers also due to the larger size.

Ah, ok, sorry. I thought you were using the M sport calipers from a 335. my idea won't work then. Unless you picked up a set of those calipers. probably still cheaper than swapping the carrier and bearings and what ever else misc stuff goes with it.

Originally Posted by hevykevy420

I don't get it...the ebrake is meant to keep the car from rolling when stationary, and, I guess help you stop in a brake failure situation. The weight of the 335/328 has to be within a few hundred lbs. I would guess. You would think bmw would want to produce fewer parts, i.e., as many cross over parts between models to reduce costs. It may have more to do with the rotor size difference possibly. Well who knows, I'm not a german engineer

Oh I meant a bigger carrier for a bigger bearing and the larger brakes. both due to the increased weight? I dunno either.

[hevykevy420]

Originally Posted by therealm3

Ah, ok, sorry. I thought you were using the M sport calipers from a 335. my idea won't work then. Unless you picked up a set of those calipers. probably still cheaper than swapping the carrier and bearings and what ever else misc stuff goes with it.




Oh I meant a bigger carrier for a bigger bearing and the larger brakes. both due to the increased weight? I dunno either.

I didn't think about the bearings, yeah, maybe its that.

Well, I am using rotors off a 335 M-sport, but it is my understanding that with the M sport package, you didn't get anything different regarding brakes. I have written down 340x30 as the front size, and 330x20 for the rear (not sure if that is correct).

I just did a quick search and I think those M-performance rear calipers are around $400 each. With the rotors, probably over a grand. Theoretically that should work.

I fear we are at a dead end here, and I'll probably just put the stock 328 rear brakes back on, and call it a day. I can't see driving the car w/o an ebrake. I'd love to figure out how to successfully complete this, but I have a baby on the way in 3 weeks and just pretty much out of time.

So if you are a 328i owner, looking at this mod, you might as well just buy the front half of what the 335 guys are posting up in the classifieds.

[mosmmc]

thanks for all the info. i was about to buy the whole kit of someone .

[335i_4D]

So that's why the rear disk rotors aren't included with the BMW Perofrmance Big Brake kit.
When you order the rear rotors, they ask if you have a 335 or a 328.
Mostly, if I'm correct, to address this specific eBrake issue (smaller internal diameter for the included drum).

For your car, it'll be more expensive that way, but the MP BBK seems the way to go.
Still under 2500$ complete with disks (maybe less on ebay, but then you have to be sure you're getting the right rear rotors).

Or either try to find a donor 328i that had the M Sport calipers, and combine the front 335i brake with the rear 328 M Sport ones, then color match them.

[hevykevy420]

Originally Posted by mosmmc

thanks for all the info. i was about to buy the whole kit of someone .

If you're going to buy anything, just get the front calipers and rotors and dust shields, or just the calipers/shields if you want to use aftermarket drilled/slotted aftermarket rotors. You could still upgrade the front set up this way for low cost.

[hevykevy420]

Originally Posted by 335i_4D

So that's why the rear disk rotors aren't included with the BMW Perofrmance Big Brake kit.
When you order the rear rotors, they ask if you have a 335 or a 328.
Mostly, if I'm correct, to address this specific eBrake issue (smaller internal diameter for the included drum).

Probably, I think that makes logical sense. i've never laid hands or eyes on them so can't know for sure.

Originally Posted by 335i_4D

For your car, it'll be more expensive that way, but the MP BBK seems the way to go.

Still under 2500$ complete with disks (maybe less on ebay, but then you have to be sure you're getting the right rear rotors).

Its still too much coin for me, I would have bought a 335 if I really wanted to mod. Too bad this swap doesn't work, would be good for 335 guys to recoup some money spent on their brake upgrades, and a very big bang per buck upgrade for 328 guys, and all OEM parts to boot. Too good to be true I guess!

Originally Posted by 335i_4D

Or either try to find a donor 328i that had the M Sport calipers, and combine the front 335i brake with the rear 328 M Sport ones, then color match them.

The chance of those parts turning up used...There might be a better chance of snowfall here in TX the next 3 months

That would work, for sure, but I doubt the parts will turn up, and if they ever do, they likely won't be cheap. And I'll have to match the front rotors to avoid having solid discs up front, and drilled/slotted in the rear.

At this point I'm leaning towards just running the 335 brakes in the front, and swap back to the 328 in the rear. For now, the 335 will stay on the back until I get the motivation to swap everything

For those reading this/reasearching, we still don't know if this works for 328xi owners. The part number of the rear spindle for xi's suggests it might work.

I took a look at some of the RealOem numbers for rear drive axles/bearings, and I think those might need to be swapped if someone were to go the 335 rear carrier swap route on a 328i.

[therealm3]

Originally Posted by hevykevy420

I didn't think about the bearings, yeah, maybe its that.

Well, I am using rotors off a 335 M-sport, but it is my understanding that with the M sport package, you didn't get anything different regarding brakes. I have written down 340x30 as the front size, and 330x20 for the rear (not sure if that is correct).

Just wanted to add that as of 2014 model year production the 335 M sport brake kit ($650) comes with the same calipers as the M performance kit but painted blue and the same size 370mm and 345mm rotors but no slots or dimples. I just swapped some Porterfield R4S pads into mine and its fantastic.

[Echan330]

Originally Posted by hevykevy420

Probably, I think that makes logical sense. i've never laid hands or eyes on them so can't know for sure.

Its still too much coin for me, I would have bought a 335 if I really wanted to mod. Too bad this swap doesn't work, would be good for 335 guys to recoup some money spent on their brake upgrades, and a very big bang per buck upgrade for 328 guys, and all OEM parts to boot. Too good to be true I guess!

The chance of those parts turning up used...There might be a better chance of snowfall here in TX the next 3 months

That would work, for sure, but I doubt the parts will turn up, and if they ever do, they likely won't be cheap. And I'll have to match the front rotors to avoid having solid discs up front, and drilled/slotted in the rear.

At this point I'm leaning towards just running the 335 brakes in the front, and swap back to the 328 in the rear. For now, the 335 will stay on the back until I get the motivation to swap everything

For those reading this/reasearching, we still don't know if this works for 328xi owners. The part number of the rear spindle for xi's suggests it might work.

I took a look at some of the RealOem numbers for rear drive axles/bearings, and I think those might need to be swapped if someone were to go the 335 rear carrier swap route on a 328i.

Bringing this back from the dead. Wondering if anyone has found a work around for the 328i e-brake not working with the 330x20 335i rear rotor? Wondering if there are any rotors from other Bmw vehicles we can use with the 335i sliding calliper and will work with the 328 e-brake. Would say a z4 35i rear rotor work?
Of course this is assuming a lighter vehicle may also use the same size e-brake as the 328i.

Or perhaps would anyone know the inner diameter of the 328i 300x20 rear rotor vs the 330x20 335 rear rotor. Thanks.

[MSportTune2]

I have successfully installed the 335i stock MSport rear brakes on my ride. What my workshop did was to measure the inner diameter of the existing rear rotors and then made a metal ring to force fit into the 335i rear inner rotors to have the inner diameter similar to my car and used back all the stock handbrake of existing car.

Works like a charm. When you need to change rotors, remove the ring and then forced it back in again to new rotors.

However, I finally took the plunge after using for 1+yrs to change to a M Performance rear 2 pot so my current setup is 340mm 4 pot front and 345mm 2pot rear. The braking improved a lot over the 4pot front/single pot rear setup especially after coding.

Hope this helps.

[Echan330]

Originally Posted by MSportTune2

I have successfully installed the 335i stock MSport rear brakes on my ride. What my workshop did was to measure the inner diameter of the existing rear rotors and then made a metal ring to force fit into the 335i rear inner rotors to have the inner diameter similar to my car and used back all the stock handbrake of existing car.

Works like a charm. When you need to change rotors, remove the ring and then forced it back in again to new rotors.

However, I finally took the plunge after using for 1+yrs to change to a M Performance rear 2 pot so my current setup is 340mm 4 pot front and 345mm 2pot rear. The braking improved a lot over the 4pot front/single pot rear setup especially after coding.

Hope this helps.

Thanks. Much appreciated. I will see if I can find shop to do the same.

[bou707]

Originally Posted by MSportTune2

I have successfully installed the 335i stock MSport rear brakes on my ride. What my workshop did was to measure the inner diameter of the existing rear rotors and then made a metal ring to force fit into the 335i rear inner rotors to have the inner diameter similar to my car and used back all the stock handbrake of existing car.

Works like a charm. When you need to change rotors, remove the ring and then forced it back in again to new rotors.

However, I finally took the plunge after using for 1+yrs to change to a M Performance rear 2 pot so my current setup is 340mm 4 pot front and 345mm 2pot rear. The braking improved a lot over the 4pot front/single pot rear setup especially after coding.

Hope this helps.

What was the coding?

[MSportTune2]

Originally Posted by bou707

What was the coding?

DSC retrofit encoding was done a week after I installed the rear MP brakes. The difference is better braking and better pedal feel.

[MSportTune2]

Originally Posted by Echan330

Thanks. Much appreciated. I will see if I can find shop to do the same.

No problem. Hope you are successful in resolving this. I learnt through the hard way as I bought the full 335i rear like dust shield, protec plate, drum pads etc and they did not fit and local dealer did not allow returns. Making the ring and labor wasn't cheap. All in I spent around same price as M Performance full brake kit to make the 335i brakes work on my ride as I also resprayed the calipers.
The 335i front brakes was a direct bolt on and I just bought the 335i dust shield and ssbh.

[Echan330]

Originally Posted by MSportTune2

I have successfully installed the 335i stock MSport rear brakes on my ride. What my workshop did was to measure the inner diameter of the existing rear rotors and then made a metal ring to force fit into the 335i rear inner rotors to have the inner diameter similar to my car and used back all the stock handbrake of existing car.

Works like a charm. When you need to change rotors, remove the ring and then forced it back in again to new rotors.

However, I finally took the plunge after using for 1+yrs to change to a M Performance rear 2 pot so my current setup is 340mm 4 pot front and 345mm 2pot rear. The braking improved a lot over the 4pot front/single pot rear setup especially after coding.

Hope this helps.

Just wondering if you still remember how the stock 335 brakes felt when compared to the stock 328i brakes? Thanks.