E46 M3 Discs, pads and rear coil spring

[Ollyd]

Looking for some expert advice from all you nice people if that’s OK.

Just got a call from the BMW dealer to say that my 2005 E46 M3 needs new discs and pads all round and a new set of rear coil springs. No great surprise as the back end has been unsettled recently and the brakes have been getting progressively worse too.

So first off, how hard are discs and pads to replace on an M3? I am no mechanic but have done discs and pads before on simpler cars. What with dealer prices (about 1200 notes) and me feeling the pinch a bit from the recent downturn I was hoping not to have to spend that much if possible.

Also, given that I am going to have to bite the bullet and get these bits replaced, what are the alternative parts options to look at? Are the standard discs and pads reasonable value or are there better options for the same or perhaps less cash? Lastly I am definitely interested in tightening up the rear end handling so some decent after market springs might well be worth a shot - any suggestions here?

Thanks in advance!

[dan101smith]

Discs and pads are an easy job that you can do in a couple of hours. Go for some uprated pads (DS2500s?) rather than OEM, but may as well stick with OEM discs.

I take it your rear springs have snapped? Swapping them out should be simple, just get a spring compressor to make it easier.

No point uprating just the rear springs, and if you're just using it on the road, no real need to uprate them at all.

If afterwards the rear end is still feeling loose, check the RTABs.

[sjj84]

Discs and pads are the same as on any car, no more complicated. You might need a pad wear sensor though, unless yours hasn't worn and you can get it off without breaking it. They're only about £8 anyway.
Rear springs are simple aswell, no need for spring compressors, takes literally 10 minutes a side at most.

[gizlaroc]

I have just done the rear brakes and springs.

I am not a mechanic at all, never do anything other than hi-fi and nav installs etc., but thought I would have a bash.

I paid £320 including vat for the rear discs, pads, sensor and rear springs.

It took me an hour to do the brakes and springs, well it took me 45 minutes to do the first side and then 25 minutes for the second so just over an hour.

Springs were dead easy, I just used a long bar to push the axle down to get the new one in, took the bolt out that was holding the anti roll bar on to make it easier, but apart from that it was dead easy.

[Ollyd]

Thanks for the replies Guys,

Might actually pluck up the courage to have a go at this based on your collective feedback.

Price wise what am I looking at for the parts? (ie front and rear discs / pads, sensors and rear springs). I have found a full set of official BMW M3 discs and pads for about £670 and springs seem to be about £70 a pair. Does this sound about right or are there further savings to be made?

Incidentally Kwikfit quoted me £520 for discs and pads (fitted) and £60 for the springs (also fitted) but they will only fit their own Kwikfit branded stuff. Not a name snob or anything but not sure Kwikfit gear on an M3 is the right way to go. Of course if it all basically the same spec than maybe its worth some consideration. Any opinions on this?

[gizlaroc]

http://www.mtorque.co.uk/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php...

[gizlaroc]

There is no way you should be putting kwik-fit brakes on your car!!!!!


This was from the link on mtorque...


Toby at www.bmminiparts.com has givien me a price on Brake Pads, Discs and Sensors all round, that I think, you are going to find competitive to say the least :


FRONT:

Pads 34112282995 Retail £84.64 to you £65.18+vat

Discs 34112282801/802 Retail £138.26 to you £106.46x2+vat

Sensor 34356751311 Retail £12.70 to you £9.78+vat

REAR:

Pads 34216761248 Retail £56.84 to you £43.77+vat

Discs 34212282303/304 Retail £92.54 to you £71.26x2+vat

Sensor 34352229780 Retail £13.39 to you £10.31+vat


£556 Inc Vat (£484 ex Vat) + £12 to £35 for shipping in mainland UK.

[Ollyd]

That sounds a bit more like it! Thanks for the helpful link.

[mat205125]

If they are charging you any more than 2 hours to complete all of the work, then you are being ripped off IMO.

I had front discs and pads changed by my Indy, with genuine parts, for a little over £400. You'll get a better price through an Indy, however for this work a massive percentage of the price of the job is the materials rather than the labour content

[Schermerhorn]

Go to GSF or Eurocarparts for discs and pads.

Should take no more than an hour to change.

From experience, springs from those places aren't nearly as good as the OEM stuff the dealers supply.

[gizlaroc]

Make sure the dealer asks for your vin when ordering the springs as well.

There are loads of different ones available depending on options. May be worth trying to see what is on the car now, different colours paint marks for the different stiffness'.

[taffyracer]

DS2500 pads are absolute ste, most use them to bed in discs and they're the freebies with AP kits, use standard pads or use something decent like RS29's. Discs and pads are straightforward or get an indy to do, no more than 1-2hrs work

[dan101smith]

RS29s aren't really road pads though, eh.

[taffyracer]

But they work from cold, better than any pad I have tried, which is why I have used them on my old M3 race car, my old GT3 race car, old E46 M3, old Z4M, current E92 M3 and also my current Caterham, if you look close there is a pattern emergin......they're 100% fine on the road but are also superb on track, not many pads can do that

[dan101smith]

I'm also using them on a third car, and yes they work from cold and stop the car well, but they also squeal like a motherfker and cover the wheels in fairly abrasive dust.

Which you'll gladly live with on a race/track car, but for a normal road car might be deemed excessive.