3.0i Brake Upgrades

[cj10jeeper]

Bigger brakes might not always be better.

If you need bigger wheels, that adds weight, and worse ride.

If they are heavier it's more mass to slow down too, and less good wheel control due to more unsprung mass.


Personally I think the ones on the 3.0i are pretty good. I've never come close to wanting more yet. I guess if you are really heating them up then bigger ones will make sense (because in this case the upgrade is small impact on weight etc)... but purely in an emergency stop situation, the tyres are the limiting factor from most normal road speeds! (when the setup is already very good, which it is)

Dave

I take the point about unsrpung weight but here we're talking about better brakes not necessarily bigger and within the same wheel. OP's post was about better disks and pads. I happen to have bigger disks and calipers but I'll bet the weigh difference is ounces.

That aside BMW must feel they are needed for 2 reasons 1) the 3.0 has bigger brakes than the 2.5 and so on and at facelift time they enlarged them on the Si to 330's which is what the upgrade does and I don't believe all this is just for brochures and cosmetics.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

I take the point about unsrpung weight but here we're talking about better brakes not necessarily bigger and within the same wheel. OP's post was about better disks and pads. I happen to have bigger disks and calipers but I'll bet the weigh difference is ounces.

That aside BMW must feel they are needed for 2 reasons 1) the 3.0 has bigger brakes than the 2.5 and so on and at facelift time they enlarged them on the Si to 330's which is what the upgrade does and I don't believe all this is just for brochures and cosmetics.

I flippin' hope so - this weekend I have a date with some wire brushes and slightly corroded calipers!

Back to OP...
Diego, can you let us know what you opt for - going to be shopping myself before in the next couple of months! Also if you managed to get a good deal... where please?

Suspect I will stick with EBC as that's what I know from biking. Likely the Ultimax and some coloured stuffs.

 

[Mr Whippy]

Bigger brakes might not always be better.

If you need bigger wheels, that adds weight, and worse ride.

If they are heavier it's more mass to slow down too, and less good wheel control due to more unsprung mass.


Personally I think the ones on the 3.0i are pretty good. I've never come close to wanting more yet. I guess if you are really heating them up then bigger ones will make sense (because in this case the upgrade is small impact on weight etc)... but purely in an emergency stop situation, the tyres are the limiting factor from most normal road speeds! (when the setup is already very good, which it is)

Dave

I take the point about unsrpung weight but here we're talking about better brakes not necessarily bigger and within the same wheel. OP's post was about better disks and pads. I happen to have bigger disks and calipers but I'll bet the weigh difference is ounces.

That aside BMW must feel they are needed for 2 reasons 1) the 3.0 has bigger brakes than the 2.5 and so on and at facelift time they enlarged them on the Si to 330's which is what the upgrade does and I don't believe all this is just for brochures and cosmetics.

Isn't it just the 3.0Si (now with another 30bhp, bit more weight, and shorter gearing) that got the bigger brakes?

Not saying don't upgrade, but it might not ALWAYS be better, and I don't think there is a need if the standard ones are not limiting you.

I may well upgrade in the future, a test drive of a 3.0i with upgraded ones may well make me feel they are worth doing (for everything but power aside, the feel and weighting etc may be nicer)... but just upgrading because you can without a good reason just seems like silliness.
Will also make the next owners life a pain when they order new discs and pads haha!

Dave

 

[Bobbydm]

Not sure if this interests anyone and I know nothing about the quality, but I stumbled across this site today...

http://www.ksport.co.uk/order.asp?id=114&loc=2

Some quite serious brake upgrades!

 

[mmm-five]

Never heard of K-Sport before, bu those prices are amazing.

Pity they don't know how to spell COUPE - or is there a special Mini edition of the Z4 called the COOPER?