Front brake upgrades

[Ebt]

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]

There are a few options for the front brakes on the E85/E86 (non-M) Z4s:

• 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.

I personally went for the 3rd option as it worked out slightly cheaper and I could spec exactly what I wanted.

Here is my system at the fronts:

PXL_20210528_153926398 (1).jpg (265.63 KiB) Viewed 523 times

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

PXL_20210528_094804578.jpg (184.15 KiB) Viewed 523 times

[JamesClements]

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

PXL_20210528_094804578.jpg

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

[brillomaster]

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]

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?

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.

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

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/

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.

[JamesClements]

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

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/

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.

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 info

[Ebt]

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]

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

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/

[john-e89]

There is also Vagbremtechinic in the UK, the owner is a member here.

[kis]

Here is my system at the fronts:

• 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

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?

[TheDan]

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?

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:

• 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.

[Ebt]

There is also Vagbremtechinic in the UK, the owner is a member here.

Do you the user name of the owner

[Jakg]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/top ... 55842&i=59

[john-e89]

There is also Vagbremtechinic in the UK, the owner is a member here.

Do you the user name of the owner

No sorry I can’t remember his name. Nice chap, give them a call, I’m sure they’ll sort you out.

[john-e89]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/top ... 55842&i=59

Nice set up with the KW’s there Jak…