Brake upgrade options for Z4M?

[Rattler]

I've tried a search but have not found any posts that cover what are the realistic brake upgrade options for the Z4M.

I've just bought aZ4MC and whilst there's a bit of life left in the disks and brakes, they'll need replacing soon.

So can anyone provide a high level view of what options and associated costs are available ?

Thanks
Tim

 

[mr wilks]

The standard M brakes are possibly the best ive ever come across on any car
Unless you plan some hard track use or serious power upgrade what are you looking to achieve by upgrading :?

 

[Beedub]

the stock brakes are excellent ! really good! unless you doing a monster power hike i wouldnt bother going anywhere else than stock but uprates lines , fluid and extra cooling.

 

[WLH]

the stock brakes are excellent ! really good! unless you doing a monster power hike i wouldnt bother going anywhere else than stock but uprates lines , fluid and extra cooling.

X2...

 

[Rattler]

Great, thanks for the fast responses, I will look at new OEM replacements. Approx prices for these? Thanks

 

[mr wilks]

Great, thanks for the fast responses, I will look at new OEM replacements. Approx prices for these? Thanks

Budget £800/£1000 all 4 corners OEM supplied & fitted

 

[Number5]

You could always add a parachute.... oke:

 

[Babw]

The standard M brakes are possibly the best ive ever come across on any car
Unless you plan some hard track use or serious power upgrade what are you looking to achieve by upgrading :?

I'd say any modern performance car has good braking power but M cars from the Z4M generation doesn't seem to have the modulation, fade free performance and the solid pedal feel that inspires confidence. The Z4M pedal is better than similar power Audi's but nowhere near other performance cars. I haven't driven the Z4M in enough anger yet to get the brakes to fade but the E46M used to do that often.

 

[Rattler]

I've not had a lot of driving time yet but did feel the brakes are a little "soft", these could perhaps be improved with bleeding etc...... And as I came from a SL55 which had very strong brakes, perhaps I need to defer any real judgement.

My question was really about needing to replace these sometime in the near future and what options (if any) are viable here. Based upon the feedback, the answer is stay OEM.
Thanks

 

[Mikey_Boy]

Now I'm going to throw a spanner in the works here - I don't think the standard OEM brakes are actually that good at all.... :fuelfire:

Trouble is, I have come from Porsches and their brakes are truly EXCELLENT, beautiful linear pedal modulation right up to the point of the ABS intervention and absolutely ZERO fade. My track car (another BMW) runs large aftermarket items everywhere with a pedal box and that's set up just how I want it so on many levels, I think I am spoilt..

I just can't get my head around a single pot caliper on huge disks doing the right job... oke:

HOWEVER, if you do a quick search on here you will find out a good few ways to make the standard brakes much better (braided hoses, uprated caliper bushes, better cooling and so on)

Me? I've gone for AP brakes all round. Expensive? Yep. But, I am aiming on using my car quite a bit on track so in the long run, I reckon it will be worth it.

Horses for courses!

Good luck whatever you decide... :driving:

 

[john-e89]

The stock discs need some abuse as well, they start to vibrate as though warped if nannied, I know this from experience. A good thrash with some heavy braking sorts it, OEM are excellent.

 

[Babw]

Now I'm going to throw a spanner in the works here - I don't think the standard OEM brakes are actually that good at all.... :fuelfire:

Trouble is, I have come from Porsches and their brakes are truly EXCELLENT, beautiful linear pedal modulation right up to the point of the ABS intervention and absolutely ZERO fade. My track car (another BMW) runs large aftermarket items everywhere with a pedal box and that's set up just how I want it so on many levels, I think I am spoilt..

I just can't get my head around a single pot caliper on huge disks doing the right job... oke:

HOWEVER, if you do a quick search on here you will find out a good few ways to make the standard brakes much better (braided hoses, uprated caliper bushes, better cooling and so on)

Me? I've gone for AP brakes all round. Expensive? Yep. But, I am aiming on using my car quite a bit on track so in the long run, I reckon it will be worth it.

Horses for courses!

Good luck whatever you decide... :driving:

I would have to agree with that. I didn't want to be so specific as maybe some Z4M owners are a little touchy with regards to Porsche (especially the Boxster) but the braking on Porsches is on another league but I have yet to feel the braking performance or feel of any car circa 100k (including Porsche) than my weekend toy a lowly Nissan. The pedal feel and modulation is near race car like, it's quite astonishing.

 

[mmm-five]

I haven't driven the Z4M in enough anger yet to get the brakes to fade but the E46M used to do that often.

They're not the same brakes as an e46 M3 though - they're the brakes from an M3 CSL

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed when I swapped my e34 M5 for the Z4MC as the calipers were so puny compared to the 4-pot floaters on the M5 :thumbsdown:

Have done a few track days and 'Ring trips over the last 6 years, and it's only now that I've done my suspension that I'm starting to feel that the standard calipers don't take much abuse - although I'm sure those that were following me on the National meet will testify that I don't tend to use the brakes much oke:

 

[AndyBeech]

Some of the M3 guys have done a Boxster brake conversion, not particularly cheap but will give good results so told.

Apart from that standard stuff is pretty good, depends what your doing. OEM discs are fine, maybe go for braided brake hoses, updated brake fluid, ATE Super Blue is good, have it in mine, or whatever it's called now. You might want to consider a different pad as well. I've got Performance Friction Z rated on mine, a good fast road pad and would probably work well on a few novice type track days. Not much more than OEM pads either.

 

[Mikey_Boy]

Babw - are you talking about the GTR?? I hear very very good things about these! 8)

 

[Argenta]

I have to agree, coming from a 350hp Fiat Coupe even they were better (std 4pot Brembos, however with expensive pads). Suppose the 1495kg weight of the Z4MC doesn't help..

I'd start with better pads anyway - Ferodo, Carbotech, Performance Friction etc.. And new fluid. And opening up the front inlets? (If not done before)

 

[simonlpearce]

I also don't think much of the OEM brake setup. Though i am convinced with a decent set of pads, some braided hoses and some 5.1 and they could be plenty up to the job. The genuine pads that are in at the moment go off after just a short amount of pushing on.

 

[abar121]

Now I'm going to throw a spanner in the works here - I don't think the standard OEM brakes are actually that good at all.... :fuelfire:

Trouble is, I have come from Porsches and their brakes are truly EXCELLENT, beautiful linear pedal modulation right up to the point of the ABS intervention and absolutely ZERO fade. My track car (another BMW) runs large aftermarket items everywhere with a pedal box and that's set up just how I want it so on many levels, I think I am spoilt..

I just can't get my head around a single pot caliper on huge disks doing the right job... oke:

HOWEVER, if you do a quick search on here you will find out a good few ways to make the standard brakes much better (braided hoses, uprated caliper bushes, better cooling and so on)

Me? I've gone for AP brakes all round. Expensive? Yep. But, I am aiming on using my car quite a bit on track so in the long run, I reckon it will be worth it.

Horses for courses!

Good luck whatever you decide... :driving:

That's the problem! I also came from Porsches and was used to zero brake fade, consistent and properly weighted pedals, easy h&t etc. But they are probably the only mainstream manufacturer (possibly including Lotus), that supply track capable brakes out of the box. At least for their sports cars!

Drive through the rumbling and groaning, the brakes on the zed do hold up reasonably well on track though. There are plenty of caged E46 M3s out there going well on PF discs and pads in stock (smaller diameter ) E46 M3 sizes. I spoke to the owner of two at Bedford, they were running fade free all day.

 

[exdos]

Brakes are only as good as your tyres, so make sure your tyres, particularly the fronts, have enough tread.

IMHO, the stopping power of the OEM brakes is excellent and to improve them for repeated hard applications (track use) you need to increase the "duty cycle". If brake fade is the result of the brake fluid boiling, then upgrade to DOT 5.1 fluid.

Other cheap brake upgrades for the Z4M are, Yellowstuff pads, braided hoses, solid brake bushings and auxiliary cooling.

 

[mmm-five]

I've only 'tweaked' my brakes so far, inasmuch as I've got SuperBlue (or whatever it's called now) and BlueStuff pads.

Braided (silicon covered) hoses, BlueStuff, Orangestuff or one of the new Pagid endurance pads are to come when I finally get my Alcon calipers.

Should then cope much better with my heavier/later braking that the new suspension is allowing

Although I've got a feeling that a clutch/flywheel replacement will come to bite me soon - as I don't know how they've lasted as long as they have.