EBC Slotted Brake Upgrade

I upgraded all the 335i's brakes to EBC USR series slotted discs and EBC Ultimax pads, read on to see why I chose this set up over standard, and why I avoided drilled discs.



After owning the car for a couple of weeks, I'd noticed a slight wobble in the steering under light braking. I assumed it was a slightly warped disc, as they looked a bit worse for wear anyway.

Not wanting to just replace the standard discs like for like, I started researching the best option for my budget. EBC seemed to be a name that kept popping up on the forums. Scanning through their catalogue whittled it down to just a few of options;

• OE quality replacement (which I'd already ruled out),
• slotted,
• slotted and dimpled.

As well as just looking good, I wanted the discs to provide better stopping performance. This video by Jason Fenske, owner of the Engineering Explained channel on youtube, explains which discs are best based on your requirements.

For me, slotted discs came out on top.

EBC's USR series come completely covered in a black anti corrosion coating. This wears away on the braking surface but remains everywhere else, supposedly lasting 10 years. Along with the discs, I ordered EBC brake pads and wear sensors.

Here then, is my final shopping list:

• EBC Slotted / Vented Discs (Front) - USR1512 
• Size: 348x30mm
• OEM BMW P/N: 34116855000
• EBC Slotted / Vented Discs (Rear) - USR1361
• Size: 336x22mm
• OEM BMW P/N: 34216855004
• Ultimax 2 Pads (Front) - DPX2006
• OEM BMW P/N: 34116794917
• Ultimax 2 Pads (Rear) - DP1588
• OEM BMW P/N: 34216775678
• EBC Wear Sensor (Front) - EFA097
• OEM BMW P/N: 34356789440
• EBC Wear Sensor (Rear) - EFA061
• OEM BMW P/N: 34356789445

Total price? An eye watering £473.14 (which included a 15% discount).

My order arrived in two, incredibly heavy, EBC branded cardboard shipping boxes, protecting the retail packaged parts within.

Overalls donned, car in the garage and trusty side kick (Dad) eager to press on, we got started.

Surprisingly, the calipers came away without losing too many knuckles to the inevitable seized bolt. 

Using a bit of old wire, we hung the caliper from the suspension, out of harms way and not putting any stress on the brake lines.

As with any job, removing parts gives you an opportunity to clean them up. The carriers, guide pins and hub all got a wire brushing and general de-gunking.

Seeing the old and new next to each other gave a flavour of the visual impact the discs would make to the car.

The last thing to replace on this corner was the wear sensor (there's one per axle on the E92 335i). On the rear, it's hidden up behind the wheel arch lining. Curiously, the EBC sensor is quite a bit different to the one that was already fitted.

Wheel arch bolted back in place, I could start rebuilding the brake. EBC supply there own anti squeak paste for the back of the pads, which is a nice touch. I smeared a bit on and seated the pads securely in the caliper. Once the caliper was back on the carrier I could attach the other end of the wear sensor.

For the finishing touch, I resprayed all the spring clips in Hammerite High Heat matt black paint, just to freshen them up. Alternatively, if you wanted to purchase a new set the parts numbers are as follows:

• Front spring clip: 34116757253
• Rear spring clip: 34216753675

The final result? A vast improvement visually, although initially subtle, when you see a standard setup vs a slotted one, there is no comparison. The wobbling is now cured and they perform brilliantly. Despite the cost, I'd definitely replace them like for like rather than go back to OEM.

Before and After

One of the fronts after some wear

Let me know what you think in the comments below, do you recommend a different brand? Have you gone with drilled and had problems with cracking?