Our Top Recommended Big Brake Upgrade Kits For Your BMW E36 3-Series
Look through the HiSpec range for the E36 and the same pattern repeats almost every time: a kit for the standard E36 and a separate kit for the E36 M3, same disc, same caliper, same price. The only thing that changes between the two listings is the mounting bracket, because the M3 hub sits slightly differently to the standard car. It is worth knowing before you order, because picking the wrong one of the pair is an easy mistake to make and it is free to avoid.
The newest HiSpec kits push that further. The 335mm and 360mm Monster 6 2P listings are built to fit the E36 M3 and the E46 M3 on the same part, and for the first time on this car they offer a genuine disc thickness choice, 28mm or 32mm, at no extra cost. Tarox, by contrast, list exactly one kit for the whole E36 range, the 325mm Sport, and it is built specifically for the M3. If you are on a standard E36 wanting the complete-kit Tarox route, there is nothing to order here yet, and we say that plainly instead of padding the page with a kit that does not fit. The full E36 range is on the site if you want to see everything at once.
- HiSpec split nearly every kit between the standard E36 and the E36 M3 at the same price, so tell us the badge before ordering
- The newest 335mm and 360mm Monster 6 2P kits also fit the E46 M3, and give a 28mm or 32mm disc thickness choice at no extra cost, though only on the M3-badged listing
- Tarox list one kit for this car, the 325mm Sport, built for the M3 only
- Nothing here needs more than 18 inch wheels except the 380mm Mega Monster, the only kit on this page that asks for a 19 inch wheel
Two brands, two ways of building a brake kit
Both companies machine their own calipers from billet aluminium and build each kit for the specific car. The difference comes down to two things: what is in the box, and where the work is done.
Tarox
Made at the Tarox factory in northern Italy. Calipers CNC machined from European billet alloy and hand assembled, each one tested before dispatch. Every disc is heat treated, CNC faced and hand balanced to 0.05mm. The Sport kit arrives complete with vehicle-specific braided hoses and Corsa pads already fitted, and states full ABS and ESP compatibility on the E36 M3 kit.
HiSpec Motorsport
Machined in Dartford from 6082 T6 billet aluminium, calipers and pistons both. Every kit is made to order in up to 28 working days, with the calipers finished in your choice of black, red, blue, gold or silver. Pads and braided hoses are priced separately so you choose the compound for the way the car is used.
One external link worth bookmarking for Tarox: their wheel clearance template is the definitive check for spoke depth once you have the minimum diameter sorted.
The number that decides it: your wheel size
On the E36 the range runs from 16 inch at the smallest to 19 inch at the top, and only one kit on this page, the 380mm Mega Monster, needs the 19. Everything else clears 18 inch or smaller. HiSpec publish the wheel clearance for every kit direct from their own catalogue. The Tarox 325mm figure was looked up on tarox.co.uk against the E36 M3 listing, never read off our own product text.
| Kit | Disc | Smallest wheel |
|---|---|---|
| HiSpec 315mm Billet 4 (standard or M3) | 315mm | 16 inch |
| Tarox 325mm Sport (M3 only) | 325 x 26mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 4 (standard or M3) | 335mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 335/28mm Monster 6 2P (standard) | 335 x 28mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 335/28mm & 335/32mm Monster 6 2P (M3 and E46 M3) | 335 x 28 or 32mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 4 (standard or M3) | 360mm | 18 inch |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 6, old listing (standard or M3) | 360mm | 18 inch |
| HiSpec 360/28mm & 360/32mm Monster 6 2P (M3 and E46 M3) | 360 x 28 or 32mm | 18 inch |
| HiSpec 360mm Mega Monster (M3 only) | 360mm | 18 inch |
| HiSpec 380mm Mega Monster (M3 only) | 380mm | 19 inch |
HiSpec 315mm Billet 4: the 16 inch starting point
The entry point into the HiSpec range for the E36, and the smallest kit on this page. Four piston calipers machined from 6082 T6 billet aluminium with external boots to keep road grit off the seals, on a 315mm disc that clears a 16 inch wheel. HiSpec quote a disc range of 280mm to 325mm for the Billet 4 caliper, and 315mm is where they land the kit for this car.
Standard E36 and E36 M3 are two separate listings here, same price, same spec, the bracket is the only difference. It is the pattern that runs through most of this page. Tell us the badge when you order and we will make sure the right bracket goes in the box.
- £1,130.00 inc VAT, same price for the standard E36 and the E36 M3 listing
- Clears 16 inch wheels
- 4 piston Billet 4 caliper, 6082 T6 billet aluminium body and pistons
- Pads and hoses priced separately; five caliper colours
- Made to order in up to 28 working days in Dartford
HiSpec 335mm Monster 4: the 17 inch value move
Once the car is on 17 inch wheels the Monster 4 is the sensible next step up from the Billet 4. The Monster caliper carries a pad a third longer than the Billet 4’s, which gives more surface area and more grip on the disc. HiSpec quote a disc range of 310mm to 360mm for the Monster 4, and this kit lands at 335mm, clearing 17 inch.
Same badge split as the 315mm kit: one listing for the standard E36, one for the M3, identical price and identical parts apart from the bracket. For most E36s on 17s this is where Garreth would start the conversation, it is a real step over the Billet 4 without moving into six piston territory.
- £1,740.00 inc VAT, same price for the standard E36 and the E36 M3 listing
- Clears 17 inch wheels
- 4 piston Monster caliper, pad a third longer than the Billet 4
- High temperature EPDM seals and stainless steel wear plates
- Pads and hoses priced separately; five caliper colours
Tarox 325mm Sport: the only Tarox kit for the E36
There is exactly one Tarox listing for this car, and it is built for the M3. The B32 six piston caliper sits on a 325mm two piece disc, 26mm thick, balanced to 0.05mm, with Corsa pads pre-installed and braided hoses in the box. Tarox state full ABS and ESP compatibility, and the kit clears 17 inch wheels.
We are saying this plainly instead of padding the page: if your E36 is not an M3, Tarox currently have nothing listed for it here. Ring us on 0115 9893488 if that is your car, we will check with Tarox whether a standard-badge kit is coming, and in the meantime the HiSpec range above and below this section covers both badges at every disc size.
- £2,128.20 inc VAT, complete with Corsa pads and braided hoses fitted
- Clears 17 inch wheels
- 325 x 26mm two piece disc, balanced to 0.05mm
- Six piston B32 billet caliper, hand assembled in Italy
- Built for the E36 M3 only, no standard-badge listing exists yet
HiSpec 335mm Monster 6 2P: six pistons, with a disc thickness choice
The newest kit in the HiSpec range for this car, and the one worth reading closely. Six piston Monster 6 caliper on a 335mm two piece disc, 28mm thick, built as a direct bolt-on for the standard E36 or, on the M3-badged listing, for both the E36 M3 and the E46 M3. Both versions clear 17 inch wheels and sit at the same £1,671.90 inc VAT, noticeably below the old-style 335mm Monster 6 listings still on the site at £1,773.00. Use the new listings, we have flagged the old ones to be retired.
The M3-badged version has one thing the standard listing does not: a 32mm disc option at the same price as the 28mm. If your E36 M3 or E46 M3 sees track days, the thicker disc is worth having for no extra cost. The standard E36 listing does not currently offer the 32mm option, only the 28mm, so that particular upgrade is M3-only for now.
- £1,671.90 inc VAT, standard E36 (28mm) or E36 & E46 M3 (28mm) listing, same price
- M3-badged 32mm disc option also £1,671.90, no extra cost over the 28mm
- Clears 17 inch wheels
- 6 piston Monster 6 caliper, high temperature EPDM seals, stainless wear plates
- Older 335mm Monster 6 listings still live at £1,773.00, use the new 2P kits instead
HiSpec 380mm Mega Monster: the flagship, and the cheaper of the two
The biggest kit HiSpec list for the E36, M3 badge only. The Mega Monster is a six piston caliper with a pad 70% larger than the Monster 6’s, built for discs from 335mm to 400mm, and on this car it lands at 380mm, clearing a 19 inch wheel. It is the only kit on this page that asks for anything bigger than 18s.
Here is the odd one: the 380mm kit is priced at £2,159.69 inc VAT, and the 360mm Mega Monster one size down is £2,196.85, more money for a smaller disc. We are not going to quietly point you at the dearer kit because it sounds like the safer middle option. If the wheels can take a 19 inch fitment, the 380mm is the better buy on this page at a lower price than the 360mm.
- £2,159.69 inc VAT, cheaper than the 360mm Mega Monster at £2,196.85
- Clears 19 inch wheels, the only kit here that needs them
- 6 piston Mega Monster caliper, pad 70% larger than the Monster 6
- 380mm two piece disc
- E36 M3 only, no standard-badge listing
More options at 18 inches
Between the 17 inch Monster 6 and the 19 inch Mega Monster sit three more 360mm options. The Monster 4 is the cheapest way to a 360mm disc at £1,635.00 inc VAT, standard or M3 badge, same price either way. The Monster 6 2P at 360/28mm is £1,854.30 and, like the 335mm version, is M3 and E46 M3 only for now. If your E36 is not an M3 and you want a 360mm Monster 6, the only current listing is the old-style kit at £1,863.00, because the new 2P range has not been extended to the standard badge at this diameter yet.
What is actually in each box
The headline prices sit further apart than the finished builds do once you spec them level. Add pads and braided hoses to the HiSpec side and the gap with the Tarox kit narrows. Compare finished builds, not the headline numbers.
| In the box | HiSpec | Tarox |
|---|---|---|
| Calipers | Billet 4, Monster 4/6 or Mega Monster, 6082 T6 billet aluminium | B32 6pot, billet alloy, hand assembled in Italy |
| Discs | Two piece floating, with mounting bells | Two piece floating, balanced to 0.05mm |
| Brackets and hardware | Included | Included |
| Braided hoses | Priced separately | Included |
| Pads | Priced separately, your choice of compound | Corsa pads, fitted |
| Caliper finish | Black, red, blue, gold or silver | Black, red, blue, green or gold anodised |
| Built in | Dartford, UK, up to 28 working days | Northern Italy |
Every kit on this page compared
| Kit | Disc | Caliper | Smallest wheel | Pads and hoses | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HiSpec 315mm Billet 4 (std or M3) | 315mm | 4 piston | 16in | Extra | £1,130.00 |
| Tarox 325mm Sport (M3 only) | 325 x 26mm | 6 piston | 17in | Included | £2,128.20 |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 4 (std or M3) | 335mm | 4 piston | 17in | Extra | £1,740.00 |
| HiSpec 335/28mm Monster 6 2P (std) | 335 x 28mm | 6 piston | 17in | Extra | £1,671.90 |
| HiSpec 335/28mm Monster 6 2P (M3 & E46 M3) | 335 x 28mm | 6 piston | 17in | Extra | £1,671.90 |
| HiSpec 335/32mm Monster 6 2P (M3 & E46 M3) | 335 x 32mm | 6 piston | 17in | Extra | £1,671.90 |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 4 (std or M3) | 360mm | 4 piston | 18in | Extra | £1,635.00 |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 6, old listing (std or M3) | 360mm | 6 piston | 18in | Extra | £1,863.00 |
| HiSpec 360/28mm Monster 6 2P (M3 & E46 M3) | 360 x 28mm | 6 piston | 18in | Extra | £1,854.30 |
| HiSpec 360/32mm Monster 6 2P (M3 & E46 M3) | 360 x 32mm | 6 piston | 18in | Extra | £1,854.30 |
| HiSpec 360mm Mega Monster (M3 only) | 360mm | 6 piston | 18in | Extra | £2,196.85 |
| HiSpec 380mm Mega Monster (M3 only) | 380mm | 6 piston | 19in | Extra | £2,159.69 |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 16 August 2026. The 380mm Mega Monster is genuinely cheaper than the 360mm above it, that is not a typo, we have double checked it against the store.
Common questions
Does the same brake kit really fit both the standard E36 and the M3?
The disc and caliper are identical between the two listings at every size HiSpec offer. The only difference is the mounting bracket, because the M3 hub is not quite the same as the standard car's. HiSpec sell them as two separate part numbers so the right bracket ships in the box, but the brake hardware itself is the same kit either way.
Which Tarox kit fits my E36 if it is not an M3?
None currently. Tarox list one kit for this car, the 325mm Sport, and it is built for the M3 only. If your E36 is a standard car, ring us on 0115 9893488 and we will check with Tarox whether a standard-badge kit is planned. In the meantime the HiSpec range covers both badges at every disc size on this page.
What is the difference between the 28mm and 32mm Monster 6 discs?
Thickness. Both are 335mm or 360mm two piece floating discs on the same Monster 6 caliper, and both clear the same wheel size, so the choice is about heat capacity, not clearance. A thicker disc handles repeated heavy braking better, which is why we would point a track-day M3 at the 32mm. The 32mm option currently only exists on the M3-badged listing, at the same price as the 28mm.
Do the HiSpec kits that mention the E46 M3 really fit an E36 too?
Yes. The newest 335mm and 360mm Monster 6 2P listings are built to bolt on to the E36 M3 and the E46 M3 on the same part number. It is a genuinely different generation of 3 Series sharing the same front brake kit, useful to know if you run more than one M3.
Why is the 380mm Mega Monster cheaper than the 360mm Mega Monster?
We asked ourselves the same question. The 380mm kit is £2,159.69 inc VAT against £2,196.85 for the 360mm, a bigger disc for less money. We have checked this twice against the store and it is not a data error on our side, it is simply how HiSpec have priced the pair. If your wheels clear 19 inch, the 380mm is the better buy on this page.
What we would actually fit
On 16 inch wheels the 315mm Billet 4 is the obvious start, and it is the same price whichever badge you order. Move up to 17s and Garreth’s money goes on the 335mm Monster 6 2P over the older Monster 4: six pistons, a genuine thickness choice on the M3 listing, and it now undercuts the old-style Monster 6 kit it replaces.
If you want the complete Tarox package and your car is an M3, the 325mm Sport is a strong kit with everything fitted. If it is not an M3, that road is not open yet and we will say so instead of selling you the wrong listing. For the biggest disc on the page, the 380mm Mega Monster is both the largest kit here and, oddly, the cheaper of the two Mega Monster sizes, so on 19 inch wheels it is the one we would fit.
Ring us on 0115 9893488 with the badge, the current wheel size and what the car does at weekends. Confirming standard versus M3 is a thirty second question, and checking spoke clearance on a specific wheel is Cameron’s side of the business. Most calls like this are done inside five minutes.