Brakes - Track Days

I've been doing a lot of research:

I want the BMW as I miss having an LSD when it's wet, it will hold it's value better than a Boxster S and it's reliable. I also like sitting in them, seem more glove like.

I want this car because it has chavvy body work (which I like), PASM, Bose and Porsche Sports Exhaust - although the back box looks standard and the boots need a hoover but that won't take long. It's the M97 engine with 98K that worries me. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/boxster-987-05-12/porsche-boxster-987-24v-s-sport-edition--pasm-chrono-bose-nav/5205240?v=b

But I think I should get this car because after all my research I can only find one person who has seen a engine problem with a gen 2 car which seems different to the old problems as it was all six cylinders when normally bank 2 fails first. The high mileage put's it in my price bracket, but as long as it's in good condition I've never let mileage bother me. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201601109956358?sort=default&page=3&price-from=14000&make=porsche&postcode=IP4%202GE&price-to=15000&search-target=usedcars&radius=1500&model=boxster_987&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&logcode=p

But knowing me, I will probably end up in the "understeery" 340 something BHP BMW with an LSD because I can powerslide it when it rains :) I will choose this weekend.
 
I wouldn't think it would be detrimental in any way. If anything the wider track should make it more stable.

You will experience wheel rub though... I have 12.5mm all around and I had some wheel rub in the front.
 
Thank you, there is a Z4M I'm interested in with wheel spacers to accommodate Porsche 986 Boxster brakes. I was worried about a different scrub radius affecting steering feel.
 
I drove the blue Z4M with yellow porsche brakes on auto trader Saturday, it felt good to me so I did a deal. I should have the car on Saturday :)
 
gaffer1986 said:
I drove the blue Z4M with yellow porsche brakes on auto trader Saturday, it felt good to me so I did a deal. I should have the car on Saturday :)
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8) Well done sir, you made the right choice.
 
I think you're right, trouble is, I want a Porsche for handling and a Z4M for fun. But I decided that as I'm coming from a VX220 - a car that handles well - I may as well have a change and get a car that is mental. It sounds amazing.

I may sell and get the Porsche next year, or even go back to a VX220/Elise, I'll see how I feel.
 
Well, I find that the Z4M is a car that needs time to worm its way in your heart. If I had it for just one year I wouldn't think as highly of it as I do now.

Compared to a Boxster the Z4M should seem much less rounded in its handling from what I gather from the press as I've never driven one, more undesteery at first but with a lairy rear-end on corner exit. Most of these flaws (or features!) can be cured by adjusting your technique accordingly. I definitely think that the BMW needs practice and work to get the best out of it.
 
Handling is subjective I know but I find the handling of the Z4M really very good. With only minimal set up changes (Eibach springs and slightly increased negative front camber in my case) it will deliver mild understeer and both lift off and power oversteer as requested. Following Toms car for many laps on Saturday I can see that his responds in the same way with the same modifications. On a few occasions Toms car was struggling to make every apex, but this was soon sorted by a little trail braking. Just saying this as i don't want you to think that you've bought an ill handling but fun car, but as ga41 mentions you might need a bit of time to get the best from it? You'll love it on track, let us know when you book something. :)
 
bit of a thread resurrection here, but how are Z4s with rear brake pad wear?

One of the reasons I'm considering swapping my 328i for a Z4 3.0 is because it uses the same size brakes, and I know I can get EBC bluestuffs, as a few have done earlier in the thread.

however, while my 328i can do 5 200mile trackdays on a front set of bluestuffs, the rears were all done in just two - does the Z4 have any rear brake cooling or anything to extend the life of rear pads, or is it just me? (or indeed the tracks - Bedford is very hard on brakes)

if a Z4 gets through rear pads as quickly as my 328i does, then i'll just run bluestuffs on the front, and then cheap pads on the rear, and change them every trackday, but really I'd like a set of rear pads to last as long as the fronts do, especially considering the fronts are the ones doing most of the work!
 
Maybe some excessive traction control action? It uses the rear brakes not only to stop oversteer but also loss of traction due to a heavy right foot! That said from I don't know how it is on 3.0's but on my M there isn't any brake cooling in the rear like ducts or whatever.
 
brillomaster said:
bit of a thread resurrection here, but how are Z4s with rear brake pad wear?

One of the reasons I'm considering swapping my 328i for a Z4 3.0 is because it uses the same size brakes, and I know I can get EBC bluestuffs, as a few have done earlier in the thread.

however, while my 328i can do 5 200mile trackdays on a front set of bluestuffs, the rears were all done in just two - does the Z4 have any rear brake cooling or anything to extend the life of rear pads, or is it just me? (or indeed the tracks - Bedford is very hard on brakes)

if a Z4 gets through rear pads as quickly as my 328i does, then i'll just run bluestuffs on the front, and then cheap pads on the rear, and change them every trackday, but really I'd like a set of rear pads to last as long as the fronts do, especially considering the fronts are the ones doing most of the work!
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All my RWD cars have been heavier on the front pads than the rears...by a ratio of about 3:1.

It's always the inner nsf pad that wears the quickest, so that's the only front one I ever check.
 
hmmm ok, perhaps my current problem is a sticking caliper or something else meaning I wear through rears quickly. when I buy a z4 i'll give the brakes a thorough check over, and hopefully a set of rear bluestuffs will last as long if not longer than the fronts.
 
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