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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

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MrPT
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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by MrPT » Fri May 05, 2017 10:00 am

kis wrote: Fri May 05, 2017 8:22 am If it was a M3 CSL (which is 340mm or something) then this would probably be more "worth" it in terms of performance gains, provided everything fits. Wasn't too sure which is why I never pursed it myself. 330 is tried and tested...
The CSL brakes are immense (for road use, anyway), but I found that my si had better feel. You could really lean into them, whereas the Z4M brakes put you through the window at the the merest prod!
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by kis » Fri May 05, 2017 10:46 am

MrPT wrote: Fri May 05, 2017 9:43 am
cj10jeeper wrote: Fri May 05, 2017 8:54 am The whole purpose of this thread is for a cheap, easy direct swap and bolt on conversion.
Once you start to mix and match, add pads that don't fit, ///M parts it'sa different topic altogether.
Fair point. I did think that "bolt on" 2 piece floating rotors and >5kg less unsprung mass for ~£200 was pretty good value, but yes - not cheap compared to the other options in this thread.

Point is probably moot now. Doing a little more digging, I think they were actually these OE option for the 3-series. And those definitely aren't cheap!
Bolt on? I'm sure that the calipers need to be turned slightly by a few mm so that it can fit.
MrPT wrote: Fri May 05, 2017 10:00 am
kis wrote: Fri May 05, 2017 8:22 am If it was a M3 CSL (which is 340mm or something) then this would probably be more "worth" it in terms of performance gains, provided everything fits. Wasn't too sure which is why I never pursed it myself. 330 is tried and tested...
The CSL brakes are immense (for road use, anyway), but I found that my si had better feel. You could really lean into them, whereas the Z4M brakes put you through the window at the the merest prod!
I was kind of thinking that too, braking overkill. Then the fact that the whole brake system would be "front end heavy". Didn't want to mess up the ratio disproportionately.

Running a 3.0 means you're at 294mm on the back already so can't upgrade without a host of other issues (slightly different story if you're a 2.0). So keeping the set up as originally, 330 equipment which bolts straight on. The rears I'm leaving as standard.
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

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by 03z4 » Fri May 26, 2017 8:31 pm

I'm having trouble confirming the following fit...

I have 2003 z4 2.5

I bought 330i front and rear calipers and carriers and based on the first post in this thread I don't see any issues but someone posted that the stock parking brake cable won't work with the 330 rear caliper...can anyone confirm?

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by Ducklakeview » Sat May 27, 2017 10:00 am

The rears will not fit.

Mike

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by kis » Sat May 27, 2017 2:10 pm

Not sure it's the cable, it might be the parking brake shoes or something. In any case the rears are not a bolt on like Mike said. Front is bolt on...
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

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by cj10jeeper » Sat May 27, 2017 6:09 pm

Going back some time, but think the inside of the disks have a different size and offset so as posted above parking brake doesn't fit
Jaguar F-Type 3.0 Supercharged V6 S, Stratus Grey, LSD, Active Exhaust, CF wheels, Performance brakes, Sports seats and mods ongoing
Gone but not forgotten Z4 3.0i SE Roadster ///M front, Red ///M leather seats, Aero sills

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by oalloyd1 » Sun May 28, 2017 9:22 am

Hi guys,

Will the rear E46 330 rear brake set-up bolt directly on to my 2003 E85 3.0?

Cheers,

o

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by 03z4 » Wed May 31, 2017 1:55 am

Literally my question a few posts up...I'm hoping I can some how combine the 330 rear and e85 rear to get a fully function 4 corner 330 brake swap with functional parking brake...will understand more when I can get the new setup next to the stock one.

oalloyd1 wrote: Sun May 28, 2017 9:22 am Hi guys,

Will the rear E46 330 rear brake set-up bolt directly on to my 2003 E85 3.0?

Cheers,

o

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by kis » Wed May 31, 2017 5:26 pm

If you read the thread you should know what the issue is. Can't remember myself, all I know is there is an issue with the handbrake.

Oalloyd1 I know you're building a track car... if you don't need the handbrake I'm sure you can make the rest work easily.

If you need a handbrake as most people do it's too much work, for a too smaller result.
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

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by 03z4 » Wed May 31, 2017 7:51 pm

I read the whole thread and that's what created the issue...first post claims the 330 is bolt on front and rear but does not mention the hand brake issue...further on its mentioned so I wanted to verify.

Can the 3.0si rear 294mm brake bolt up on a 2.5 z4 and have a working hand brake?

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by kis » Thu Jun 01, 2017 9:29 pm

I'm sure 3.0i or 3.0si is a bolt on. Both are 294 vented. I assume handbrake would also work (in this case), but as I have a 3 I've not really looked into it.
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

03z4
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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by 03z4 » Fri Jun 02, 2017 12:26 pm

I'll have to find out because I don't want to have such a dramatic bias between front and rear (stepping up to 325mm front and leaving stock 280 rear)

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by Ducklakeview » Fri Jun 02, 2017 12:51 pm

3.0 si brakes are 325mm front. Bolting 330 brakes into the front of a 3.0 gives the same setup all round as the 3.0si.

Mike

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by oalloyd1 » Fri Jun 02, 2017 1:06 pm

Cheers guys!

Think i'll avoid the rear one's then and stick to racing pads as I need a handbrake!

o :)

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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade

Post by cj10jeeper » Fri Jun 02, 2017 1:36 pm

If it reassures you I cannot recall anyone who had swapped the rears unless going for some much higher cost big brake conversion set up. Bremno or otherwise

Why 'racing pads' are you tracking it?
Jaguar F-Type 3.0 Supercharged V6 S, Stratus Grey, LSD, Active Exhaust, CF wheels, Performance brakes, Sports seats and mods ongoing
Gone but not forgotten Z4 3.0i SE Roadster ///M front, Red ///M leather seats, Aero sills

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