Z4 track car. is the traction control really off ??

[marmite monster]

Done a few track days now in the z4 coupe and I’m always getting a load more brake dust on the rear wheels than the front . I have brembo 4 pots on the front and braking performance is epic so no problems with feel, balance or power it’s just that I’m getting through a set of rear pads per track day . Is this normal ?


So my question is the traction control actually off ? Is this why I’m killing rear pads ? I noticed in liams race car build he’s done something to fully disable the system. I always thought that the long press of the button turned everting off.

Any help much appreciated.

 

[buzyg]

I can only speak for the ///M. When it's off it's off.

 

[Mr Tidy]

A few years ago an E86 3.0Si owner wanted to find out if it was really off in a damp field, and it really was!

 

[marmite monster]

A few years ago an E86 3.0Si owner wanted to find out if it was really off in a damp field, and it really was!

yep mine let’s me do all kinds of naughty things with the lsd installed . Just not sure it’s 100% off with the crazy rear brake pad consumption. It doesn’t feel like it’s on at all

 

[AndyBeech]

A few years ago an E86 3.0Si owner wanted to find out if it was really off in a damp field, and it really was!

yep mine let’s me do all kinds of naughty things with the lsd installed . Just not sure it’s 100% off with the crazy rear brake pad consumption. It doesn’t feel like it’s on at all

Good to see you out there today mate, shame only really saw you out at the end of the day when we were both pretty much finished!

As above, it's deffo off on the M. Though I was using M 'track mode' for a bit last year and my rears were finished off today but the fronts have plenty left which would account for using the TC, but they've still had a decent innings even with that, around 8 track days and usual driving. So something not right there with yours, have you had the calipers checked at all see if it's sticking? Unlikely but you never know!

 

[marmite monster]

A few years ago an E86 3.0Si owner wanted to find out if it was really off in a damp field, and it really was!

yep mine let’s me do all kinds of naughty things with the lsd installed . Just not sure it’s 100% off with the crazy rear brake pad consumption. It doesn’t feel like it’s on at all

Good to see you out there today mate, shame only really saw you out at the end of the day when we were both pretty much finished!

As above, it's deffo off on the M. Though I was using M 'track mode' for a bit last year and my rears were finished off today but the fronts have plenty left which would account for using the TC, but they've still had a decent innings even with that, around 8 track days and usual driving. So something not right there with yours, have you had the calipers checked at all see if it's sticking? Unlikely but you never know!

Hi mate yes what a good day, that was a great little battle at the end my car was a bit hot when we caught up.
Callipers are all good we changed pads at lunch and they moved back in perfectly. Also pad wear on both sides are perfectly even. Might be worth noting that the pads are just oem stock pads, was reluctant to put ds2500 in the rear incase it upset the balance or something

 

[brillomaster]

whenever i've done trackdays in a normal z4 3.0i, off is off. but even so, you have a major misbalance of braking performance between front and rear, if the fronts are fancy 4pots with uprated pads, and the rears are entirely stock, i'm not surprised you're getting through rears quickly - they just cant keep up. Also, standard OEM BMW pads are really really bad for brake dust normally.

Liams race car may have also had ABS disabled, but i wouldnt recommend that unless you're a pro.

put the matching pads in the rear. The car is already designed with the correct front/rear bias (ie the rears are already a slightly smaller disc) and so far you've only upgraded the fronts.

 

[marmite monster]

whenever i've done trackdays in a normal z4 3.0i, off is off. but even so, you have a major misbalance of braking performance between front and rear, if the fronts are fancy 4pots with uprated pads, and the rears are entirely stock, i'm not surprised you're getting through rears quickly - they just cant keep up. Also, standard OEM BMW pads are really really bad for brake dust normally.

Liams race car may have also had ABS disabled, but i wouldnt recommend that unless you're a pro.

put the matching pads in the rear. The car is already designed with the correct front/rear bias (ie the rears are already a slightly smaller disc) and so far you've only upgraded the fronts.

Yes I think this make total sense. Kind of realised it my self as as I was typing the reply above
I’ll get matching ds2500 rear pads and report back

 

[brillomaster]

Ps car looks mega. You running ns2r tyres? I loved my z4 around bedford, its my local track really. You been to donington yet?

Upgraded to a porsche now though 8)

 

[AndyBeech]

yep mine let’s me do all kinds of naughty things with the lsd installed . Just not sure it’s 100% off with the crazy rear brake pad consumption. It doesn’t feel like it’s on at all

Good to see you out there today mate, shame only really saw you out at the end of the day when we were both pretty much finished!

As above, it's deffo off on the M. Though I was using M 'track mode' for a bit last year and my rears were finished off today but the fronts have plenty left which would account for using the TC, but they've still had a decent innings even with that, around 8 track days and usual driving. So something not right there with yours, have you had the calipers checked at all see if it's sticking? Unlikely but you never know!

Hi mate yes what a good day, that was a great little battle at the end my car was a bit hot when we caught up.
Callipers are all good we changed pads at lunch and they moved back in perfectly. Also pad wear on both sides are perfectly even. Might be worth noting that the pads are just oem stock pads, was reluctant to put ds2500 in the rear incase it upset the balance or something

Yeah I honestly don't think there would much in it apart from the little extra grunt on the straight, certainly looked like you were going well!

Anyway, as above give the other pads a try for sure. I know a few of the M (M3 and Z4) guys run different pads in the stock rear with a front BBK to offset the difference. Have to say I'm tempted myself as I run RSL-29 all round and the rear can be a little unstable under heavy braking, might try something else next time so don't be afraid to experiment with something different