Estimate for the cost of these mods?

[Blacklines]

Hi Guys,

Just a quick question.

How much should I expect to pay for:

CSL wheels and decent tyres.
Nice rumbly exhaust - not too loud though.
Big fat brakes/discs/pads/braided lines.
Strut brace?

And where would you recommend?

Thanks

Ben

 

[sixspeed]

Having done most of these mods...

£1800-2000 for the CSL wheels and tyres (depending on what tyres you decide on)..

£800-1200 for an exhaust (cat-back), either off the shelf (Supersprint, Eisenmann etc) or custom.

£1500-2000 for the brakes and lines.

£200-250 for the strut brace.



You can get the wheels from somewhere like Simpson Motorsport or Thorney Motorsport, or your BMW dealer (if you can get hold of E46 CSL VIN).

I'd recommend the custom Hayward & Scott system I had made, but it would probably class as "too loud" for most tastes. I heard an Eisenmann (on Peppernick's Roadster) and it was fairly quiet for my tastes. Supersprint would probably be my choice. The "loop" system in their rear cans gives quite a deep, but subtle increase in sound.

Brakes - for me it would be AP's. About £1650 I think +VAT and fitting, from the same places as abovel

Strut brace is about £220 for the OEM one from your BMW dealer.

 

[Blacklines]

Brilliant thanks.

Do you happen to know if the CSL CF airbox will fit the Z4?

You car looks the absolute bizz BTW.

 

[sixspeed]

Thanks. It's slowly coming together!

As for the CSL intake. It may do, but I don't know anyone that has tried, and I imagine it won't be a simple bolt-on. Also, I know the CSL has a completely different intake system (no MAF for one), and don't know how the CF airbox will integrate with our setup.

I went for a Gruppe-M on mine. It makes a nice noise - very CSL like. Can recommend it

 

[Curtis]

Hi Ben.

Do you have an "M"?

I may have missed it in previous posts but if you don't, the CSL rims won't fit. Different hubs, offsets etc.

If you do decide to go ahead with any of these mods then Simpson Motorsport ar definately the guys to talk to. They've done it all many times before. They do have an annoying habit of pursuading you to part with more and mor cash though! :wink:

 

[Blacklines]

Thanks again Curtis.

I have spoken to Anthony Mott at Simpson and we are close to doing a deal however I understand Milltek are soon releasing an Exhaust for the Z4M and I like their kit.

Simpson offer the Supersprint exhaust - what is your opinion of that? My inended use will be 95% spirited road driving (including 200 laps or so of the Ring) and 3 or 4 trackdays a year.

 

[Curtis]

Anthony's a great guy, he tends to deal with the BMW side of things more than Julian, I'm going over there tomorrow to pick up some parts I ordered and do a bit of work funnily enough. I spend a couple of days a week at Simpsons. Long story!

Thre's no doubt about it, the SS system is superb. Well made, good sound etc but it is quite expensive. I don't have much experience of Milltec so I can't really comment. I had to get a longlife system made for my car because nobody makes off the shelf aftermarket parts for Alpina's unfortunately.

Did Anthony talk to you about replacing bushes and fitting a limiter kit? It's definately worth thinking about if your planning to do some serious driving and a set of good coilovers when properly set up makes a huge difference.

 

[Blacklines]

Yes Anthony did mention the limiter kit - that will be going on.

So far the list is:

Strut brace (fitted today).
CSL Wheels (ASAP).
AP brakes front and rear.
RS29 pads.
Either Milltek or Supersprint exhaust.
Nitron Suspension.

 

[Curtis]

It's worth fitting adjustable front strut top mounts while your at it. Relatively cheap and it gives you more parameters to play around with such as castor. I use quite a lot of castor, it gives me better self centring and a greater camber angle when cornering without the need to retain that angle when in a straight line. Best of both worlds really, higher cornering grip as well as the best surface contact for braking on the straight. It also helps with straight line stability, stops it wandering so much.

 

[tehdarkstar]

I'd recommend the custom Hayward & Scott system I had made, but it would probably class as "too loud" for most tastes. I heard an Eisenmann (on Peppernick's Roadster) and it was fairly quiet for my tastes. Supersprint would probably be my choice. The "loop" system in their rear cans gives quite a deep, but subtle increase in sound.

I had the noise levels of my car measured at 82dB yesterday @ Castle Combe. Considering that some tracks now enforce a noise level of 87~89dB, it doesn't leave a lot of room for louder exhausts in the M, does it?

 

[Curtis]

Lucky you! I went to Hullavington and failed noise testing with 105db@4500rpm. They sent me to Merlin Motorsport at Castle Combe to see if they could make some additional silencers. They couldn't do it quickly because I have oval tips. While I was there I noticed there was a track day on so I asked the scrutineer to noise test mine. He made it 105 with a peak of 107db. He then explained that db readings do not work on a linear scale and 103db is actually double 100db! I had a custom exhaust fitted a month ago and straight away I said it was way too loud. Its due to go back for a remake this Tuesday so fingers crossed! Shame I didn't know you were there.

Forgot to say, my standard Alpina system was 90db @ 4500rpm.