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Front brake upgrades
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- Newbie
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Front brake upgrades
Hi has any one upgraded the front brake calipers on the e85 mine is on a 55 plate and looking to see what people have done as can not find any think thanks
- TheDan
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- Location: Warwick, UK
Front brake upgrades
There are a few options for the front brakes on the E85/E86 (non-M) Z4s:
Here is my system at the fronts:
I went for the following:
- Keep/refurb calipers and upgrade pads and discs.
- Buy an "off the shelf" BBK such as K-Sport, Stoptech, VMaxx.
- Create a custom system by buying some upgraded calipers (4 pot Brembos are a common upgrade) and some adapter brackets.
Here is my system at the fronts:
I went for the following:
- Brembo 4 pot calipers from a Megane 3 RS
- Adapter brackets to fit these calipers to the Z4
- MTEC grooved vented coated discs (325mm)
- HEL braided brake lines
- Carbotech XP8 pads
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- Member
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Front brake upgrades
Where did you get the brackets just out of interest? - Been considering something like this for mine. I have upgraded discs and pads at the moment OP which is definitely an improvement over stock
Cheers
James
2006 Sapphire Black E86 3.0si | 108's, ZHP, Stubby, Eibach Springs
2007 Carbon Black E85 2.5i | 19" NAD alloys, Pilot Sport 4S, strut brace, Stubby, ZHP, Brembo 4 pots, Greenstuff pads, Alcantara retrim, roof motor in boot
2022 BMW G80 320D Touring
2007 Carbon Black E85 2.5i | 19" NAD alloys, Pilot Sport 4S, strut brace, Stubby, ZHP, Brembo 4 pots, Greenstuff pads, Alcantara retrim, roof motor in boot
2022 BMW G80 320D Touring
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- Senior Member
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Front brake upgrades
its probably worth asking, what are you trying to achieve? are you actually after better braking performance (say for track work) or just something that looks better behind the wheel spokes?
- TheDan
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- Location: Warwick, UK
Front brake upgrades
Good shout. I just assumed anyone asking for front brake upgrades is wanting better braking. It never occurs to me people are after aesthetic brake upgrades.brillomaster wrote: ↑Wed Jul 21, 2021 3:37 pm its probably worth asking, what are you trying to achieve? are you actually after better braking performance (say for track work) or just something that looks better behind the wheel spokes?
I actually got the calipers, brackets and bolts from this Polish company and is the same system Liam22 currently uses.JamesClements wrote: ↑Wed Jul 21, 2021 3:36 pm Where did you get the brackets just out of interest? - Been considering something like this for mine. I have upgraded discs and pads at the moment OP which is definitely an improvement over stock
https://k-system.pro/en/product/bmw-e36 ... rs-325x25/
If I'd known someone who works in a machine shop or a decent machine shop near me I'd have bought the calipers separately, measured everything up, CADed up a design for the brackets and got them fabricated. But this was only slightly more expensive.
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Front brake upgrades
Thanks, I think the price is pretty reasonable might looking into getting a some brackets made up, there's quite a few machine shops near us we use at work, cheers for the infoTheDan wrote: ↑Wed Jul 21, 2021 3:53 pmI actually got the calipers, brackets and bolts from this Polish company and is the same system Liam22 currently uses.JamesClements wrote: ↑Wed Jul 21, 2021 3:36 pm Where did you get the brackets just out of interest? - Been considering something like this for mine. I have upgraded discs and pads at the moment OP which is definitely an improvement over stock
https://k-system.pro/en/product/bmw-e36 ... rs-325x25/
If I'd known someone who works in a machine shop or a decent machine shop near me I'd have bought the calipers separately, measured everything up, CADed up a design for the brackets and got them fabricated. But this was only slightly more expensive.
2006 Sapphire Black E86 3.0si | 108's, ZHP, Stubby, Eibach Springs
2007 Carbon Black E85 2.5i | 19" NAD alloys, Pilot Sport 4S, strut brace, Stubby, ZHP, Brembo 4 pots, Greenstuff pads, Alcantara retrim, roof motor in boot
2022 BMW G80 320D Touring
2007 Carbon Black E85 2.5i | 19" NAD alloys, Pilot Sport 4S, strut brace, Stubby, ZHP, Brembo 4 pots, Greenstuff pads, Alcantara retrim, roof motor in boot
2022 BMW G80 320D Touring
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- Newbie
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Front brake upgrades
Hi thank you the Dan I will looking to do the same as you the 3rd option where did you get the bracket for the calipers mate
- TheDan
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- Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2020 1:58 pm
- Location: Warwick, UK
Front brake upgrades
I actually got the calipers, brackets and bolts from this Polish company and is the same system Liam22 currently uses.
https://k-system.pro/en/product/bmw-e36 ... rs-325x25/
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- Lifer
- Posts: 11079
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2015 10:27 pm
Front brake upgrades
There is also Vagbremtechinic in the UK, the owner is a member here.
M roady...OEM CSL’s, strut brace, Remus back boxes, ZHP
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
G29
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
G29
- kis
- Lifer
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- Location: Surrey / West Sussex Boarder
Front brake upgrades
I notice on the site you've referenced, that the cost Megane and Clio callipers are the same. Did you take a look into the pros and cons between the two? I'd imagine the Megane pads will be more expensive than the Clio? But do they offer better performance? i.e. why did you go for the Megane's in the end?
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG
BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71
BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71
- TheDan
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- Location: Warwick, UK
Front brake upgrades
There wasn't a huge amount in it to be honest, but in the end there were 2 main reasons I went for the Megane over the Clio:kis wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:37 am I notice on the site you've referenced, that the cost Megane and Clio callipers are the same. Did you take a look into the pros and cons between the two? I'd imagine the Megane pads will be more expensive than the Clio? But do they offer better performance? i.e. why did you go for the Megane's in the end?
- The Megane 3 RS is heavier and has a slightly larger pad size. So braking performance will be slightly better than that of the Clio 3 RS.
- Liam22 has been using the Megane 3 RS system in races, therefore I knew someone who has had experience with these "in anger" so was pretty confident they would suit my needs.
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- Jakg
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- Lifer
- Posts: 11079
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2015 10:27 pm
Front brake upgrades
No sorry I can’t remember his name. Nice chap, give them a call, I’m sure they’ll sort you out.
M roady...OEM CSL’s, strut brace, Remus back boxes, ZHP
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
G29
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
G29
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- Lifer
- Posts: 11079
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2015 10:27 pm
Front brake upgrades
Nice set up with the KW’s there Jak…
M roady...OEM CSL’s, strut brace, Remus back boxes, ZHP
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
G29
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
G29