AMGDave

Oooo, nice. 345mm is huge! Wow. Interesting that the C32 setup is that much cheaper. I'll have to check. Last I knew, the R129 calipers were about $750/ea new (list), and they're extremely hard to locate used. I'm guessing that you installed new C32 calipers? How much did the whole setup end up costing you? Do you know the weight of the calipers or rotors?

For the R129 setup, you can get OE drilled rotors (they were part of the Silver Arrow option). That's what I'll be putting on my E500. You can get matching rears, too. The early R129 and the E500 have smaller 320x30 iron brakes. The late R129 are 334x32 and weigh the same as the 320's due to the aluminum rotor. The SL500/SL600 weighs about 1000lbs more than the V8 W124, so the bigger R129 brakes are a major upgrade for the W124, since they are stopping a car that's half-a-ton lighter. That should be more than adequate for any M119 power increase. Even the (Euro-only) W124 E60 AMG only had the 320x30 brakes! Bekkers sells the R129 kit for $2000 with all new parts, which is a little spendy, IMO.



Here's a photo of the R129 drilled brakes, 334x32, with silver calipers:

CharlestonN

Hey Coastline, where did you buy your rims?

I am running the Moven knock offs of those AMG 18's on my car, they look great but the rear rims do not have a deeper lip like the actualy AMGs and sit to far compared to the front imo and i don't want to put spacers on the car

I need to either re-dip or replace my rims soon anyway because all of them are starting to chip

bluecoupe

Dave - as always, thanks for the accurate information.

I think the C32's look great also. Nice work.

kiasu

Coastline. $ How much fully installed $ ?

E4///Turbo

Much Much Much cheaper than R129 SL brakes......
Here it is
R129 SL Caliper using 334X32 Rotors $736.00 New (painted Black or Silver depending on option list)
C32 Caliper using 345x32 Rotors $360.00 New (painted Silver)

R129 SL 334x32 rotor not drilled $120.00 each new
C32 345x32 rotor drilled $120.00 each new

R129 SL 334x32 pads $50-$100.00
C32 345X32 pads $50-$100.00

R129 sl brake pad wear sensor $same price $2.00
C32 brake pad wear sensor $same price $2.00 each

R129 SL brake hoses rubber $22 each front
Aftermarket Stainless steel brake hoses $26.00 each front

I work way to hard for my money to use it foolishly.I found used R129 Calipers 1999+ at $305.00 each and it took over 40 calls to find a place that had them and that is used coming from a rolled 65,000 mile 99 SL500

I decided to run 18 inch AMG 5 spoke for a few reasons first being that 1 would have had to use 2 mm spacers on the 17 inch monblock to clear the face of the caliper no thanks, second and more important between the rotor and inside of wheel there was less than 1.5 mm clearance seems that may affect the rotor cooling I could be wrong and third the 5 spoke AMG are easier to clean than the monblocks..18x9.5 on the rear with 265/35/zr18 my car is 1.5 inches lower than a US delivered W124 Cabriolet so I had to roll the right rear fender lip a bit with 4 people in the car it rubbed with 2 people there was no rubbing, on a stock height car i would run 275/35/18 and still might as I may go back to the stock springs 450Hp is bound to squat the back of the car.....

AMGDave

CoastLine's pricing information is accurate. I checked last night and came up with the same numbers. The R129 / 334mm kit is really only attractive if you can get the calipers used at a decent price, and/or you really want a bolt-on solution with no modifications (cutting/grinding, shimming, etc). For new parts, the C32 setup is quite a bit cheaper. I suspect performance would be similar but the C32 may have a little advantage if it has a larger brake pad for more swept area (I'm not sure). The 334mm does have a larger pad than the 300-320mm iron front brakes used on the 500E/SL500/SL600.

CoastLine, do you have any close-up photos of the mods you had to do to make the C32 calipers clear everything? You mentioned about 4 different areas that needed about 2mm trimming or shimming, I was just wondering what that looked like.

BTW - here's my infamous brake spreadsheet, showing the different part numbers, specs, weights, etc for all the factory brakes that fit the 124/201/129. If I could get the weights of the C32 parts I'll add that to my spreadsheet.

RBYCC

Dave

Great spread sheet...it's a real keeper

I went with the Zimmerman Cross Drilled rotors ( standard size ) and Textar pads.

Big brakes are not always the answer unless you have the rubber to match !!!

Ed A.

AMGDave

That is VERY true!!! The best brakes in the world will do nothing but keep the ABS very busy if you can't grip the road. Sticky tires are a big part of the equation. Bigger brakes will reduce fade, and improve overall stopping power, assuming you have the traction available to use the extra stopping power.

BTW - looks like I will have an R129 front 334mm brake kit available for sale in about a week. Email me if interested. Also fits any R129, and can be made to work on W201's as well.

ZorroAMG

Oh come on now Chris, keep the jealousy in check..

PS Acting doesn't pay for the cars yet....real estate does...for now....


Coastline, that's a GREAT price for the upgrade!! Hmmmmm......

MediumKahuna

Thanks a lot for the info - good stuff to know
I was just thinking of what brakes to put on my wagon.
I have the 5 spokes too... or are they 6

Don M

This is great info Coastline!

rlee02135

the C32 rotors are 13.6"

BTW, i may have a complete set for sale...PM me

Saprissa

Great C32 brake upgrade CoastLine !!!
Can't wait to see your Almandine Red E220 at the Rose Bowl Meet.

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com

https://mbworld.org/forums/events-gatherings/189522-spring-rose-bowl-meet-saturday-may-12th.html

AMGDave

Update: I now have a 334mm (13.15-inch) Brembo big brake kit available for sale. It's 100% bolt-on for all R129 and V8-powered W124's, can fit all 124's and 201's with a LCA swap or knuckle/hub swap. Email me for details. I'll be posting it in the classifieds within a week or so, I need to take some photos first.

CDP

Post pictures and PM me your price please.

CDP

Looks like I'll be joining the C32 Brake Swap Crew!

rooney2006

i'm so jealous. I want to do the whole meet thing.

AMGDave

Finally got some pics of my 334mm Brembos for sale - see below. The used rotors shown are included if you want them. New cross-drilled 334mm rotors are available as well. These are a bolt-on (ZERO mods) for any R129, or M119/M104-powered W124 (E320, 400E, 500E).

I also have a pair of R129 knuckles for sale, the R129 knuckles are needed to install the 334's on a W201, or M103-powered W124:

AMGDave

I did some poking around the WIS, it looks like the C32 brakes are 345mm x 30mm, not 32 or 34mm thick. So, I suspect the weight of the rotor may be almost the same compared to the R129 setup... the C32 has slightly larger diameter, and slightly less thickness. I would like to get some exact weights if possible though. I got a set of new drilled Silver Arrow rotors for my E500 brake upgrade, I'll have to post photos of those... I'll also put them on my refrigerant scale and get some precise weights.

BTW, correcting a typo from my earlier post, #26 (since the forum won't let me edit it)... the 334mm (and 345mm) setups have aluminum calipers, not aluminum rotors. Both have 1-piece cast-iron rotors. Sorry for any confusion...

AMGDave

Forgot to post an update - the 334's I had for sale were sold a long time ago. Also, I have updated my brake spreadsheet with some info on the braket setups for 6 & 8 piston AMG fronts used on the E55 and C63, and also the rear 4-piston AMG rears. And, some photos of various stuff too. All that is posted in this directory:

http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_brakes/

BTW, since I last posted on this thread, I've learned that the master cylinder may need to be upgraded, depending on what your current MC is, and what size brakes you're installing. Ditto if you have a 6-cyl W124 with a single-diaphragm booster... those can benefit from the V8's dual-diaphragm booster. I am planning on installing a 500E booster+MC on my '87 (with 300 fronts & 278 rears, from an early 500E) to improve the pedal feel a bit, and reduce pedal effort.

Saijin_Naib

I love you One day, I want to do the r129 brakes on my 300ce, so I can autocross it and have a fun go of it.

ZedStyle

I'm wondering how i'm going to do new OEM pads and maybe rotors, and you guys are 3 levels beyond that....! good stuff, you need to be posting more pics!

CDP

I can post more pictures of my C32 set up if you want Zed.

appatula

yeah post some detailed pics of the areas that needed modification and spacers ect. This could easily be turned into a how-to guide for everyone! Me likeyyy

CDP

Not really any detailed pictures as to how I did it. I didn't need to mod anything nor use spacers.