Brake upgrade suggestions

[Rossm09]

The Z4M has gone in for her inspection 2 today at a main dealer, luckily I work for the franchise that owns the dealership so get great hourly rates and parts costs!

I knew the brakes needed doing both discs and pads and intended to upgrade them in a few months, not doing track days ... well yet and it’s a weekend toy so not heavy use.
They have obviously pointed it out and I can get new front OE discs and pads, sensors and new rear pads for £600 fitted but I was intending on looking into some updated callipers, certainly for the front for both increased performance and for also the uplift aesthetically, what calipers upgrades are recommended ? Obviously thinking of options which leave me using the standard discs so I can get done now and not waste money upgrading at a later date, if worth while ?

 

[Beedub]

id just paint the stockers, not bad brakes for fast road with the right changes.

 

[Rossm09]

Cheers beedub decided this the best route, as can’t justify 4-5k on APs or Brembos when there are far more important things I want to do yet.
I’m guessing braided hoses, better brake fluid and pads are what your suggesting, any particular pads beat rated with OE discs for fast road use?

 

[Babw]

I had the Porsche calipers on OEM discs and now the APs. Porsche Brembo we’re a noticeable upgrade on the OEM setup for fast road with respect to brake pedal feel and feedback.

 

[Beedub]

Cheers beedub decided this the best route, as can’t justify 4-5k on APs or Brembos when there are far more important things I want to do yet.
I’m guessing braided hoses, better brake fluid and pads are what your suggesting, any particular pads beat rated with OE discs for fast road use?

yes pads, fluid, braided lines and youll be shocked how good these can be..... look at pagid fast road pads... mintex, theis loads... i think some have had a good results with EBCs new line as well.

i have AP and your talking 5k and a huge wait..... they are amazing but... overkill unless tracking regularly or you have a big power build imo.

 

[Anonymous]

How about..

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-403369-ecs-bmw-performance-6-piston-front-big-brake-kit/

https://performancem.co.uk/bmw/3-series/e46-1998-to-2003/ecs-tuning-6-piston-front-big-brake-kit-325x25-e46/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqrzRoq6u8QIV0O5RCh0VyQZEEAQYBiABEgIcsvD_BwE

 

[Rossm09]

Anyone come across this before?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/K-SYSTEM-pro-BMW-E46-M3-Z4M-BREMBO-4-POT-345x28-M3-CSL-CONVERSION-KIT-/174761655017?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

 

[Anonymous]

Anyone come across this before?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/K-SYSTEM-pro-BMW-E46-M3-Z4M-BREMBO-4-POT-345x28-M3-CSL-CONVERSION-KIT-/174761655017?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

Looks cost effective..no support for pad wear sensor it seems..

 

[Mister T]

Good alternative to the Porsche calipers https://www.vagbremtechnic.com/choose-car/bmw/z4-m-e85-e86/

 

[Rossm09]

Thanks for all your input, funny enough I came across the vagbremtechnic thread and their website just before it was mentioned, looks like best route for what I want

 

[Simon 3.2M]

I put these on mine with matching rears, made for a nice improvement with better pedal feel.

 

[Nictrix]

I put these on mine with matching rears, made for a nice improvement with better pedal feel.

2400139F-85F5-4D90-8433-8276231D448B.jpeg
79B60366-9B18-4767-9A5B-98F42A98CCA0.jpeg
5C6D6AC5-95A2-40FF-8B29-A6B09BFDDA0F.jpeg
2E6E6AB8-F5D0-4C09-8646-7D1EB6B816DD.jpeg
4E1DA596-6837-4321-B704-ADDA3865E3EE.jpeg

I wonder what the reason is for the different designed pistons in the caliper

 

[MichaelK]

Those bmw performance calipers were actually quite a good price at one point. I imagine they've zoomed up in price by now though, if available still.
Do they need modification to fit on the z4m I.e different brackets?

 

[Anonymous]

Those bmw performance calipers were actually quite a good price at one point. I imagine they've zoomed up in price by now though, if available still.
Do they need modification to fit on the z4m I.e different brackets?

One of the links I posted was for the E45m..so plug n play..

I use a slight variation on my E89..

 

[Anonymous]

I put these on mine with matching rears, made for a nice improvement with better pedal feel.

2400139F-85F5-4D90-8433-8276231D448B.jpeg
79B60366-9B18-4767-9A5B-98F42A98CCA0.jpeg
5C6D6AC5-95A2-40FF-8B29-A6B09BFDDA0F.jpeg
2E6E6AB8-F5D0-4C09-8646-7D1EB6B816DD.jpeg
4E1DA596-6837-4321-B704-ADDA3865E3EE.jpeg

I wonder what the reason is for the different designed pistons in the caliper

Apparently to apply different pad pressures along a long thin pad ..some say for gas pressures..others say heat spread..

 

[RedUn]

I put these on mine with matching rears, made for a nice improvement with better pedal feel.

2400139F-85F5-4D90-8433-8276231D448B.jpeg
79B60366-9B18-4767-9A5B-98F42A98CCA0.jpeg
5C6D6AC5-95A2-40FF-8B29-A6B09BFDDA0F.jpeg
2E6E6AB8-F5D0-4C09-8646-7D1EB6B816DD.jpeg
4E1DA596-6837-4321-B704-ADDA3865E3EE.jpeg

I wonder what the reason is for the different designed pistons in the caliper

Apparently to apply different pad pressures along a long thin pad ..some say for gas pressures..others say heat spread..

I always understood it to be for modulation...it does look like there's some design elements for heat on them calipers though!

 

[Mister T]

Be good to hear a review on the VagBrem kit if you go for it.

I've got a spare set on V8 Vantage calipers sat in the garage and have been thinking about fitting them to the Z...

 

[barryb97]

pbbrakes.com has some cost effective alternatives also.

 

[RvsBmw]

yes pads, fluid, braided lines and youll be shocked how good these can be..... look at pagid fast road pads... mintex, theis loads... i think some have had a good results with EBCs new line as well.

Do the pagid make noise or just like oem quiet?