BMW 3 Series Brake Discs: Specs, Fitment & Wear Symptoms

A genuinely important clarification: what's commonly called "warped discs" is almost always uneven pad deposits, since cast iron is genuinely hard to warp — plus an alarming account of fast-fit chains repeatedly replacing discs under warranty, suspected of using the cheapest parts.

Generation covered: this guide is for the seventh-generation 3 Series (G20 platform, 2019–present), with particular focus on 2019–2023 registered examples now old enough for parts to be a common search. The previous F30 generation (2012–2019) uses different part numbers throughout — check your logbook or VIN if you're unsure which generation you have.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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The Part That Pads Depend On

On the BMW 3 Series, discs and pads don't wear independently — neglect one and the other degrades faster too, which is exactly why what starts as a routine pad change frequently turns into a disc replacement as well.

Before you buy: disc size and design vary by trim, engine size and whether your car has the standard or "sport" brake package. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — front discs (aftermarket) Bosch 0 986 479 F57 / Zimmermann 150.2951.20

Accuracy note: Covers the BMW 3 Series (G20 2019 on) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Front brake discs are sold by diameter and thickness, and most models have two or three disc sizes depending on engine, brake size and trim — a 278 mm disc will not fit a car built with 300 mm brakes, so the caliper carrier and the disc must match. The references below are UK aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, labelled by brand with diameter x thickness in mm; genuine numbers are shown only where a listing quotes one. Measure the old disc or check the brake size against your VIN before ordering, replace discs in pairs with new pads, and scrap any disc at or below its minimum thickness.

Front brake discs (aftermarket)	Zimmermann 150.2951.20 (330 x 24 mm, vented, 5 holes, Coat Z coated, high-carbon, min 22.4 mm); febi 173011 (330 x 24 mm, vented, 5 holes, coated, high-carbon, min 22.4 mm); Bosch 0 986 479 F57 (348 x 30 mm, two-piece vented, 5 holes, coated, high-carbon, min 28.4 mm); Zimmermann 150.2956.20 (348 x 30 mm, vented, 5 holes, Coat Z coated, high-carbon, min 28.4 mm); Zimmermann 150.2956.52 (348 x 30 mm, vented, 5 holes, Sport Coat Z coated, high-carbon, drilled, min 28.4 mm); ATE 24.0136-0133.2 / 24.0136-0132.2 (348 x 36 mm, two-piece vented, 5 holes, coated, high-carbon, min 34.4 mm, left / right pair); Zimmermann 150.2936.20 / 150.2937.20 (348 x 36 mm, vented, 5 holes, Coat Z coated, high-carbon, min 34.4 mm, left / right pair)
Disc sizes & variants	Two front diameters, 330 mm and 348 mm, but three distinct discs. The 330 x 24 mm disc is the standard fitment on the 318i, 320i, 318d and 320d; the 348 x 30 mm disc is the M Sport brake fitment on cars such as the 330i, 330d and 330e; the 348 x 36 mm disc is the M340i / M340d fitment and is handed, so left and right part numbers differ.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in catalogue listings — order genuine discs against your VIN
Fitment notes	Minimum thickness is 22.4 mm on the 330 mm disc, 28.4 mm on the 348 x 30 mm disc and 34.4 mm on the 348 x 36 mm disc. The 348 x 36 mm discs must be bought as a left and right pair (ATE 24.0136-0133.2 left with 24.0136-0132.2 right; Zimmermann 150.2936.20 left with 150.2937.20 right; febi 171454 left with 171456 right). No Brembo, TRW or Ferodo front discs are listed for this generation.

As with brake pads, check your build sheet for the "S2NHA" M Sport Brake or "S3M2A" Red M Sport Brake option codes before ordering rotors, since the two brake packages use genuinely different diameters that aren't interchangeable.

BMW 3 Series Brake Discs: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: BMW 330i Front Brake Rotor & Pad Replacement DIY (2019-Present BMW G20 330i, 330e, G22 430i, xDrive)

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G20 pads and rotors, front

BMW 3 Series Brake Discs reference plate

BMW 3 Series Brake Discs: What They Do

Brake discs provide the surface the brake pads clamp against to slow the car, converting momentum into heat through friction. Larger, sportier trims of the 3 Series typically use bigger discs than standard versions to handle the additional heat generated by more aggressive braking.

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A Genuinely Important, Honest Clarification Worth Knowing — BMW 3 Series Brake Discs

If a vibration under braking has been diagnosed as warped discs, this is genuinely worth knowing: what's commonly described as "warped discs" is, in reality, almost always caused by uneven deposits of pad material building up on the disc surface, since cast iron itself is genuinely difficult to warp under normal driving conditions. This distinction matters because simply fitting new discs repeatedly, without addressing the underlying cause of uneven deposits, won't necessarily resolve a recurring vibration.

A genuinely alarming, honest account worth knowing: documented cases describe fast-fit chains replacing "warping" discs under warranty multiple times within less than a year, with owners suspecting the cheapest available parts were being used each time — worth getting a second, independent opinion if the same fault keeps recurring.

It's also genuinely worth knowing a useful fix worth trying: thoroughly cleaning the mating surfaces between the wheel hub and the disc, or better still fitting new hubs entirely, has been documented resolving this kind of persistent vibration.

BMW 3 Series Brake Discs: Wear Symptoms, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Brake Discs Guide for warning signs to watch for, confirming fitment against your VIN, and choosing a reliable aftermarket disc.

More BMW Brake Discs

The same part, covered across other BMW models.