Meds 3.0si Coupe - Rear brake upgrade in progress.

[Mr Tidy]

Did mine black
Yes, mine went dark rain cloud grey (because I had the metal paint left over from my garage door).

Well mine are red, to match the brake calipers. Done by a previous owner, but I like them that way!

Your car looks much better without the cloudy foglights.

 

[Meds]

Did mine black
Yes, mine went dark rain cloud grey (because I had the metal paint left over from my garage door).

Well mine are red, to match the brake calipers. Done by a previous owner, but I like them that way!

Your car looks much better without the cloudy foglights.

Yes, thankyou Sir Tidy.
The fog light delete does look quite sleek.
After I drilled holes in them, they actually looked pretty good and sparkly to be fair. I'm 50/50 at this point to keep them or put the fogs back in.

Regarding the painted crash bars.. I've just never been a fan. They seem to be poplular on cars that also wear 4D number plates, multiple M badges and those M coloured grills.
But.... there's obviously many exceptions to this broad generalisation and can look nice on a well done, classy car.

I finally ordered the custom brackets to fit the quite frankly, ridiculously huge front calipers. That's everything on the shopping list sorted.
They're coming from Germany, so a few weeks ai guess.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Definitely a cleaner look to the front without the foglights. To be fair I've always thought the pre-facelift front looked better too.



I think the red bars look good with the red calipers but I don't have 4D plates - although I do have some M badges. :lol:

 

[1536Z4]

(because I had the metal paint left over from my garage door

Lucky you didnt find some of the wifes used nail polish lying about

 

[Meds]

I think the red bars look good with the red calipers but I don't have 4D plates - although I do have some M badges. :lol:

You're very much allowed badges.

 

[True-Blue]

These bad boys are nearing install I'm waiting on the custom calliper brackets, then I can get busy.


They'll look epic behind the dark grey 261m wheels.
They're the Brembo 6 pot BMW Performance option on the E9x 3 and E8x 1 series that I kept from my previous install. Also the standard offering on the 135i coupe before they moved to 4 pots.
A very popular upgrade with the E46 M3 guys.

I picked them up years ago from a guy who had them on his track Mini. Prior to that they used on 2x 130i track cars, so, needless to say, they were wrecked. A full strip down, 2 stuck/corroded pistons, 12 new pistons and seals, a professional refurb, new decals and also a helicoil thread install.
I have an emotional attachment to these.

Very nice indeed

 

[Meds]

The leaky oil cooler gasket was addressed today.

My lord, it was a mess under there. The engine only has 77k, but based on the gunk, this has been leaking for a while.
It's unkown at this point if the filter housing gasket needs doing, too. All the gunk seemed to blend into 1 big mess so I'll assess in a few months now it's a bit cleaner under there.

I wasnt expecting quite so much coolant and oil to escape, despite me removing the filter and allowing all the oil to drain back.
My efforts of a large old rag and carboard over the auxilary belt were futile and loads of oil dripped onto the belt and pulleys beneath.
I'll get the belt replaced next week while she's in for the front BBK.

 

[Meds]

The BBK is finally on and working well.
These look fantastic under the grey wheels. I've yet to properly drive them but initial impressions are good so far.



A new auxilary belt, tensioner and idle pully have been installed, too. Nice.
Whilst my mechanic was under there, he was able to do a full check and reported no leaks from the new cooler gasket, the existing filter housing gaskets, vanos seals, head gasket, rocker cover and sump gasket. Sweeeeet.

 

[R17SKO]

The BBK is finally on and working well.
These look fantastic under the grey wheels. I've yet to properly drive them but initial impressions are good so far.

They look stunning James!!



A new auxilary belt, tensioner and idle pully have been installed, too. Nice.
Whilst my mechanic was under there, he was able to do a full check and reported no leaks from the new cooler gasket, the existing filter housing gaskets, vanos seals, head gasket, rocker cover and sump gasket. Sweeeeet.

 

[1536Z4]

The BBK is finally on and working well.

Very nice . Good to know everything else is ok too .

 

[Meds]

Very nice . Good to know everything else is ok too .

Yes, there was so much old oil and grime under there.
But he's cleaned up what he could get to, and reported no leaks from anywhere else.

I'm suspecting the oil filter housing gasket to give up soon enough, though. If the cooler gasket has, the filter gasket must be due soon.

 

[Matt Scarbro]

The BBK is finally on and working well.
These look fantastic under the grey wheels. I've yet to properly drive them but initial impressions are good so far.



A new auxilary belt, tensioner and idle pully have been installed, too. Nice.
Whilst my mechanic was under there, he was able to do a full check and reported no leaks from the new cooler gasket, the existing filter housing gaskets, vanos seals, head gasket, rocker cover and sump gasket. Sweeeeet.

That wheel and brake combination is superb!

Appreciate that they’re from the same car too (I think).

What discs have you used?

 

[Meds]

That wheel and brake combination is superb!

Appreciate that they’re from the same car too (I think).

What discs have you used?

They're from the same era. But from the 135i Coupe. Style 261.
Discs are Z4M / M3 CSL.

 

[bigwinn]

Have you used the brakes in anger yet? Much difference to the standard set up?

And how difficult was the install- just an adapter needed I assume?

 

[Meds]

Have you used the brakes in anger yet? Much difference to the standard set up?

And how difficult was the install- just an adapter needed I assume?

I took it out for a short run earlier..
Feel is great but I wont really be able to tell much difference from stock as I dont track the car or, drive it hard on the brakes anyway.
No doubt on track, they'll be great at keeping cool as the surface area and disc cooling is huge over to factory fit setup.

I do have a slightly longer pedal, though.
It's not bad by any means but it's an observation. It actually makes modulatation easier.
It's either a bias adjustment as the rears are still stock, I need to bleed them a 2nd time, or it's just how they are.

These particular brakes were used on 2 track cars, when I got them they were wrecked.
They needed new pistons, seals, a thread repair, and then a full strip and paint refurbish.

Fitment on the 3.0si requires:
Brackets:
https://epytec.de/bmw-performance-bremsanlage-e46-z4-e85-bremssattel-adapter-vorderachse-tuning-adapter-110
Longer hoses:
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/brembo/7550355
CSL / Z4M Discs:
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/ate/957792

I had to bench grind the pads down by 3/4 of a MM to get them to fit with the 28mm CSL rotors. Others have not needed to do this, though.
My Brembo pads are 17mm, other pad options are 16mm.

 

[Meds]

I'm still unsure of the fog delete.

 

[jock156]

I prefer the delete

 

[bigwinn]

I'm still unsure of the fog delete.

I know what you mean I was 50/50

 

[enuff_zed]

I'm still unsure of the fog delete.

I know what you mean I was 50/50

Who ever uses front fogs though?
If you like the look with extra lights at the front you could open up the fogs and fit an LED DRL strip instead

 

[Mr Tidy]

The front end looks much cleaner with the blanks instead of misty foglights!

I'm pretty sure in the 5+ years I had my 3.0Sis I never used them anyway, apart from when I was trying to dry them out. :lol: