330i front brakes on Z4?

[v8z4]

This was posted in another thread:

The easiest upgrade for your fronts are to get some e46 330 front calipers (and disks) which come stock on the facelift 3.0 si Which will look noticeably bigger then your current brakes, and are a direct swap.

What I want to know/confirm is that any 330 front caliper and rotor will mount to the Z4.

I see the following
calipers:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-BMW-E46...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a2c9fdd5f&vxp=mtr
and rotors:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E46-Fro...Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ab8b52e73&vxp=mtr
on ebay and want to know if they will work.

I already have the M3 rear brakes (from when I did my M3 rear end swap), and the CSL/Porsche brakes are going to be a ways off (post engine swap). So it would be nice to pick up a little more braking capacity from the front without having to dump $2K on the CSL/Porsche setup right now.

 

[Machine monkey]

I have no idea can't see why not? Probably / maybe have to change the carrier as well?

What engine is in yours? I am looking at making a bigger brake kit with another member. I can keep you posted but the idea is to change fom 2 pot clippers to 4 pot and then bigger discs as well. Should be a reasonably cheap mod?!?!?

 

[v8z4]

I have the 2.5i/5 speed combo (for now :evil: ).

Long term I'm going to go with the CSL rotors in front, with Porsche 996 radial calipers front and rear. The CSL rotors are really the most expensive part of the project (things are near $400 each). I already have the M3 rotors in the rear so I'd just need brackets (which area already out there) for the calipers in the rear.

Certainly keep me in the loop on your project. I'm not "dead set" on the 996 setup. If something better comes along, I'm all in for that.

 

[Machine monkey]

I doubt it will be better! But a hole lot cheaper reconditioned callipers brackets and bigger rotors. Hopefully for a bargain price!!

 

[v8z4]

I doubt it will be better! But a hole lot cheaper reconditioned callipers brackets and bigger rotors. Hopefully for a bargain price!!

Well, there are many types of "better." One of which is not costing a boat load. :wink:

What caliper are you thinking of using?
Are you just trying to upgrade the fronts only (or all 4 corners)?
What rotors are you thinking of using?

As I understand it, the Porsche Boxster calipers are supposed to be dirt cheap (I have seen them as low as $75 each on ebay). BMW does not seem to have a good option for 4 or 6 piston calipers (I know they make one but they are more expensive than the 996 calipers). GM and Dodge have some good sized 4 (and 6) piston calipers out there.

 

[bfigved]

I'm doing something similar with my z4, but i'm taking the 300mm front brakes from a 328i e46. I found out about this upgrade reading this thread:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=8399

From the thread

325mm vented front brakes

This is a great upgrade for all Z4: you'll have the same front brakes as the 3.0si so I'll recommend upgrading the rear to 294mm. You will need 17" to clear the calipers.
You'll need the whole front caliper assembly from one of the following car:

E46 330i All
Z4 3.0si (Roadster & Coupe)

If you wanna be a perfectionist: the protection plate behind the 325mm rotor is bigger than what the 300mm or 286mm have (these two setups have the same cover). The rotors should fit with no particular issue as the cover does not interfere with the rotor. The problem with replacing this covers is that the wheel hub has be removed (you need a 46mm socket and an impact wrench) make it impractical if you are sourcing the parts from a junkyard. My friend Ed has been able to fit 325mm on a 323i Touring (originally equipped with 286mm as some Z4s) and had no issue. You can see some pix of his setup here.

Don't want to derail the thread, but I just wanted to post some pictures of my reconditioned caliper carriers.

This is the condition they were in when i bought them from a local junk yard

This is after sand blasting

After 3 layers of zink primer

(they are going to be painted with a heat resistant paint when I get the rotors and pads)

So if you have access to a sand/glass blasting machine, I would recommend you have a look at you local junkyard for the whole front caliper assembly. Big money to be saved

Regards
Bjørn

 

[Jembo]

I'm doing something similar with my z4, but i'm taking the 300mm front brakes from a 328i e46. I found out about this upgrade reading this thread:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=8399

From the thread

325mm vented front brakes

This is a great upgrade for all Z4: you'll have the same front brakes as the 3.0si so I'll recommend upgrading the rear to 294mm. You will need 17" to clear the calipers.
You'll need the whole front caliper assembly from one of the following car:

E46 330i All
Z4 3.0si (Roadster & Coupe)

If you wanna be a perfectionist: the protection plate behind the 325mm rotor is bigger than what the 300mm or 286mm have (these two setups have the same cover). The rotors should fit with no particular issue as the cover does not interfere with the rotor. The problem with replacing this covers is that the wheel hub has be removed (you need a 46mm socket and an impact wrench) make it impractical if you are sourcing the parts from a junkyard. My friend Ed has been able to fit 325mm on a 323i Touring (originally equipped with 286mm as some Z4s) and had no issue. You can see some pix of his setup here.

It's a very nice upgrade & did this when I had a sticking caliper - breaking requires much less effort to kill off speed, though on cold icy roads the front wheel ABS sometimes cuts in a little early under heavy breaking as the front / rear force distribution balance is affected.

 

[v8z4]

I'm doing something similar with my z4, but i'm taking the 300mm front brakes from a 328i e46. I found out about this upgrade reading this thread:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=8399

Bjørn

Yeah that's where I got my info from too. That's an excellent thread!

What did the 300mm 328i rotors/calipers cost you? I take it the rears are stock? What made you choose that option over the 325mm 330i rotors/calipers?

 

[bfigved]

Yeah that's where I got my info from too. That's an excellent thread!

What did the 300mm 328i rotors/calipers cost you? I take it the rears are stock? What made you choose that option over the 325mm 330i rotors/calipers?

I paid around 200$ for the 2nd hand calipers/carriers. I'm buying new 300mm GS Performance rotors from a local dealer for 250$ (think they are rebadged EBC rotors) and EBC YellowStuff pads front and back for 340$ Now, this may look quite expensive but here in Norway everything is insanely pricy :thumbsdown: (but average income quite high, so it balances out in the end ) The rears are stock, but I'm replacing the pads and rotor with new ones. I choose to go for the 300mm upgrade because I have a set of original 16" rims that I'm going to put Toyo Proxes R888 tires on. (for future track days)

Regards
Bjørn

 

[cj10jeeper]

Back to op post and to confirm that either 330 diesel or petrol E46 carriers, calipers and disks are the correct front end upgrade to the Z4. I have them on a 3.0 and they are a straight swap.

 

[v8z4]

Back to op post and to confirm that either 330 diesel or petrol E46 carriers, calipers and disks are the correct front end upgrade to the Z4. I have them on a 3.0 and they are a straight swap.

Did you notice a big improvement?

 

[cj10jeeper]

Massive improvement. Had to re adjust to brake less hard. Side effect is that in open rims the large disks and in my case slotted disks look way better

 

[v8z4]

Sounds like a good deal then. I just need to find someone parting out a 330i local (if possible).

 

[sam1832]

X5 or x3 3.0 disel or petrol calipers and carriers are the same as the 330 and will fit the z4

Got mine for £60 on ebay delivered

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