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An E46 M3 is a car worth investing in for the way it drives. This EBC Apollo BBK045 upgrades the front with six-piston calipers and 355 mm fully floating discs, giving you a firmer, more responsive pedal and hardware designed to cope with repeated braking heat. Choose a road caliper finish or the dedicated Race competition configuration to suit your plans.
Kit reference: BBK045. Exact SKUs for every available configuration are listed below.
The caliper body is reinforced across its bridge to resist flex under pressure, while the floating friction ring can expand independently of the disc bell as it heats up. Those details matter when you want clear feedback and a front brake assembly that can be maintained over time. The value is in how the system works, as well as how the new calipers look behind your wheels.
The road calipers are designed, manufactured and assembled in the UK from heat-treated, low-pressure cast aluminium. Their two-piece bodies use grade 12.9 bridge bolts, with hard-anodised aluminium pistons, stainless-steel bleed nipples and wear plates. The material and construction put substance behind the appearance of the upgrade.
External dust boots keep road dirt and debris away from the pistons, with high-temperature EPDM fluid seals behind them. A hard-anodised body gives corrosion protection beneath the high-temperature colour coating, while the single pad-retention bolt allows quick pad changes when servicing is due.
This BBK045 offer uses 355 mm front discs and 6-piston calipers. Match the vehicle and original brake details below, then check the exact wheel-clearance template before selecting the caliper configuration.
Black, Blue, Red and Yellow are the painted road-caliper choices, with external dust boots and aluminium pistons. Choose the finish you want to see behind your wheels without changing the kit specification for that version.
Race competition is a different hardware and pad specification: hard-anodised calipers, stainless-steel castellated pistons and RP-X race pads. It is intended for dedicated track and race use, rather than chosen as another paint colour.
With the painted road configurations you receive:
The Race competition front brake assembly combines Apollo competition calipers, fully floating two-piece discs to the selected specification and RP-X race pads.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Kit reference | BBK045; individual SKUs are listed in the option table |
| Supplied front discs | Version 1 - 355 mm, 6 piston |
| Disc construction | Fully floating, two-piece front discs |
| Front caliper piston count | 6 per caliper, according to the selected kit specification |
| Road caliper body | Heat-treated low-pressure cast aluminium; two-piece construction with grade 12.9 bridge bolts |
| Road caliper pistons | Hard-anodised aluminium with serrated/castellated noses |
| Road caliper seals | External dust boots and high-temperature EPDM fluid seals |
| Road caliper factory pressure test | 2,500 psi factory pressure test |
| Road caliper finish | Hard-anodised body with high-temperature colour coating; Black, Blue, Red or Yellow |
| Road caliper manufacture | Designed, manufactured and assembled in the UK |
| Road-kit brake lines | Stainless-steel braided brake lines |
| Road-kit fluid | 1 litre BF307+ Super DOT 4 |
| Road-kit mounting parts | Vehicle-specific brackets and fitting hardware |
| Race competition calipers | Hard-anodised finish with stainless-steel castellated pistons |
| Race competition pads | RP-X race compound |
| Race competition use | Dedicated track and race use |
| Wheel clearance | Check the exact kit template against the actual wheel, including spoke clearance |
| SKU | Kit specification | Caliper configuration |
|---|---|---|
| BBK045BLK-1 | Version 1 - 355 mm, 6 piston | Black |
| BBK045BLU-1 | Version 1 - 355 mm, 6 piston | Blue |
| BBK045R-1FR | Version 1 - 355 mm, 6 piston | Race competition |
| BBK045RED-1 | Version 1 - 355 mm, 6 piston | Red |
| BBK045YEL-1 | Version 1 - 355 mm, 6 piston | Yellow |
Match your vehicle, engine, year and any brake-package notes in the table. Disc measurements in this fitment table describe the original brakes; the new kit dimensions are listed under Technical specifications and in the SKU table.
| Vehicle | Engine / model specification | Years | Fitting notes / original brake details |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW M3 (E46) | 3.2 Petrol · 343 bhp | 2000-2007 | Original front caliper: ATE |
Have the kit fitted by a qualified brake specialist. The installation needs clean, sound mounting surfaces, the correct hardware and torques, proper bleeding, and clearance checks through steering and suspension movement. Dust-shield removal or modification can be part of fitting; keep any vehicle-specific instructions in the application table with the job.
The road kit is designed around the original master cylinder and rear brakes. If you have changed the master cylinder or rear brake arrangement separately, have your installer check compatibility and brake balance before ordering.
Follow the fitting instructions and the bedding procedure for the supplied pad compound before demanding full performance. When rear components are supplied, fit them as part of the intended brake upgrade. Inspect pad and disc condition regularly, especially during circuit use, and keep the hydraulic system in good condition.
It also changes the caliper and pad specification: hard-anodised competition calipers, stainless-steel castellated pistons and RP-X race pads. The painted road calipers use the road piston and dust-boot arrangement in the road-caliper section.
Use the template for the exact kit version, printed at 100% scale, against the actual wheel. Wheel diameter alone does not establish spoke or caliper clearance. Send us your kit choice and wheel details if you need help arranging the check.
The friction ring can expand independently of its mounting bell as it heats up. That reduces thermal stress during repeated braking and is one of the engineering differences behind a fully floating two-piece kit.
You choose hard-anodised competition calipers, stainless-steel castellated pistons and RP-X race pads for dedicated circuit use. The painted road calipers use aluminium pistons and external dust boots. Use the exact SKU table to keep the chosen disc size and caliper configuration together.
A big brake conversion includes new front calipers as well as the discs and pads. The reinforced Apollo calipers and fully floating two-piece discs change the front brake assembly itself, with the matching kit specification and fitting requirements shown above.
Want help choosing the right BBK045 configuration? Talk to us about your vehicle, wheels and how you use it, and we can help you choose the right brake upgrade.
Image shown is generic and may not reflect actual parts.
For UK customers, prices include VAT, customs and delivery unless checkout states otherwise. For customers outside the UK, local customs and taxes remain your responsibility, and shipping is shown at checkout. If a shipping option is not available, email us and we will prepare a tailored quote.
Many of the products we sell are made to order, imported or custom built, so a lead time may apply. If you need a part urgently, contact us before ordering and we will confirm the expected delivery timeframe and process.
Model year, engine, drivetrain, hardware and existing modifications can all change what fits. Check the applications and supplier notes above, or send us your exact vehicle and setup before ordering.
Send us your vehicle, year, current setup and any fitting date, event, trip or deadline before ordering. We will help check fitment, product choice and timing.
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