Brakes- it would be nice to have some!

G

gazjacko

Member
When I bought the Z4 I did notice through the cool '108' wheels something that resembled a caliper (but smaller) and as I've got more used to the car it is invariably the lack of realy decent braking that causes me to back off.
My previous car was a bit heavier (Volvo V70) and putting out 330 BHP clearly needed good anchors. However even I found the standard discs/calipers with braided lines and Ferodo DS2500 pads worked well (even from cold) and could pull you up from speeds that required the removal of a shed load of kinetic energy (big mass bigger speed!!!).
so the question is what works for the Z and what doesn't?
 
My first comment is that the standard brakes on a Zed are actually excellent, just less assisted than most saloons, so seem to need more effort.

You don't say waht model you have but the best value for money upgrade is to swap standard front brakes to E46 330 calipers, carriers and rotors on the front. Add decent pads and disks and you'll stop on a dime at little cost. Needs 18" rims which you have already

Beyong that get your wallet out for big brake conversions
 
Have done the 330 upgrade and not been overly impressed, and that's coming from the 2.5 setup - I think I was expecting too much of a difference. It is better, but not greatly. However, the bigger disks look nice! For callipers other than a BBK I would probably stick with the 3.0 setup.

What I would change, braided hoses - improved feel / response. If you are going to be pressing on / late braking, then better pads and fluid also - with my original setup fade was the big issue. Pretty much what you've mentioned.

On the hoses - I would avoid HEL - they work well, but the fittings for the Z4 aren't quite right, took some fiddling to get them on.
 
Do BMW do a warranty acceptable brake caliper/drilled disc upgrade... Maybe like a competition M3 type (red I think)?
Just wondering, would be nice, and in 326M alloys are so open it's begging for beautiful calipers.
 
braingirl, official BMW ones may be available as performance upgrades, although so far haven't really heard anyone complain about the performance on the E89. Have a look on the BMW web site and see if they're an option, if they are, time to sweet talk the chaps a Park Lane into doing a deal :wink:

ADD: Was curious... just had a quick look, the only Performance option listed by BMW for the E89 is the "BMW Performance double spoke 313 – set of complete wheels".
 
PawnSacrifice said:
Have done the 330 upgrade and not been overly impressed, and that's coming from the 2.5 setup - I think I was expecting too much of a difference. It is better, but not greatly. However, the bigger disks look nice! For callipers other than a BBK I would probably stick with the 3.0 setup.

What I would change, braided hoses - improved feel / response. If you are going to be pressing on / late braking, then better pads and fluid also - with my original setup fade was the big issue. Pretty much what you've mentioned.

On the hoses - I would avoid HEL - they work well, but the fittings for the Z4 aren't quite right, took some fiddling to get them on.
Click to expand...

Suprised you don't see that much difference. I guess that's set againt level of expectation. I found with the bigger set up, better grooved rotors and decent pads the cars stopping a significant amount quicker. More iportantly since the pad surface area, disc size and mechanical leverage are all greater the heat dissipation and effort required are improved.

As SR mentions this is the 3.0i set up so BMW thought it worth the effort.
 
Yes, the physics of it all, friction area, leverage, etc was the reason I was so keen to go for the upgrade, and there is a difference but it seems to me to be very much an incremental step rather than a wow upgrade. Very much expectations. Even had the callipers pressure tested a little while ago to make sure they were okay - a pressure test I think, forget now. Often wonder if I'd thought this whether I'd have gone the extra at the time for a BBK?

The hoses have made an improvement, am going to experiment with different pads next.

One thing is for certain, the bigger Ultimax disks look the business 8)
 
I'm thinking that I'll upgrade Fluid/Pads/Discs/Hoses at the next service and see what that brings to the party. As I said earlier I was mightily impressed with the DS2500 Ferodo pads I've had in the past as they work really well from cold and I'm assuming the Z4 will not generate the heat very quickly as there isn't much weight behind it.
When it comes to the grooved drilled or plain discs I have dabbled with all and found plain discs to be cheaper and no worse than some of the flash ones. I did have a set of grooved fitted to one car which sounded like a Spitfire performing a low level pass when in use, I guess they'd sound like a Messerschmitt if fitted to the German version!!!! :D
 
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