Z4M Coupe Performance Upgrades ??

[pokeybritches]

I got ~26 lbs front and almost 30 lbs rear. My Apex ARC-8's weighed in at their advertised weights (18 lbs front / 19 lbs rear).

Edit - those are for OEM Z4M weights. For CSL-style wheels, check out the Sportline CS16. I have them on my non-M.

 

[sam3]

Doesn't the CSL air box fit?? Awesome sound and more power looks like a work of art , get evolve to map the z4m also and Wow!!!!

 

[Beedub]

I got ~26 lbs front and almost 30 lbs rear. My Apex ARC-8's weighed in at their advertised weights (18 lbs front / 19 lbs rear).

Edit - those are for OEM Z4M weights. For CSL-style wheels, check out the Sportline CS16. I have them on my non-M.

thats pretty much what i got for the stock rims, i just double checked in the garage i got the rear at 29lbs however, the CSLs are quite abit lighter than the stock 18s, your ARcs are quite abit lighter again.... anyone wanting an o.e wheel, good weight, strong, and looks great.... the CSL is imo a fantastic choice, even though i havent used mine for a while i'll definitely keep them, got to be one of the most sellable mods out on this side of the pond.

 

[Herminator]

It should fit but it'll cost you a few grand for not a massive increase in power, I'd rather put that kind of money towards an ESS supercharger

 

[daz05]

I got ~26 lbs front and almost 30 lbs rear. My Apex ARC-8's weighed in at their advertised weights (18 lbs front / 19 lbs rear).

Edit - those are for OEM Z4M weights. For CSL-style wheels, check out the Sportline CS16. I have them on my non-M.

thats pretty much what i got for the stock rims, i just double checked in the garage i got the rear at 29lbs however, the CSLs are quite abit lighter than the stock 18s, your ARcs are quite abit lighter again.... anyone wanting an o.e wheel, good weight, strong, and looks great.... the CSL is imo a fantastic choice, even though i havent used mine for a while i'll definitely keep them, got to be one of the most sellable mods out on this side of the pond.

I can back this up also, the stock 18s are noticably heavier. They ride better though, that increase in tyre profile makes a big difference.

 

[Beedub]

I got ~26 lbs front and almost 30 lbs rear. My Apex ARC-8's weighed in at their advertised weights (18 lbs front / 19 lbs rear).

Edit - those are for OEM Z4M weights. For CSL-style wheels, check out the Sportline CS16. I have them on my non-M.

thats pretty much what i got for the stock rims, i just double checked in the garage i got the rear at 29lbs however, the CSLs are quite abit lighter than the stock 18s, your ARcs are quite abit lighter again.... anyone wanting an o.e wheel, good weight, strong, and looks great.... the CSL is imo a fantastic choice, even though i havent used mine for a while i'll definitely keep them, got to be one of the most sellable mods out on this side of the pond.

I can back this up also, the stock 18s are noticably heavier. They ride better though, that increase in tyre profile makes a big difference.

nice... thanks for the comfirmation on this..... ;-) as per my orginal claims, infact more so after double checking

 

[daz05]

After selling my wheels I almost felt like I had made a mistake running with them for so long. Strangely I don't rememember feeling that different when I changed them over originally. I guess I fell for the looks, style over substance.

Also the DSC with the worn old Contis now gives more slip before cuttting in before it would cut the fun almost immediately so it was turned off.

Anyway 18s FTW.

 

[toplad]

Probably the best performance upgrade are track tires, of course this isn't suitable for daily drivers in winter.
I noticed a massive difference going from crappy Verds to Cups on the CSL. I always fancied putting light weight 18's with track rubber and properly sorting out the suspension out on my Z4MC, but never got round to it. I would do that first before I messed with the engine or anything else.

 

[daz05]

I always fancied putting light weight 18's with track rubber and properly sorting out the suspension out on my Z4MC, but never got round to it. I would do that first before I messed with the engine or anything else.

Exactly the same advice I would pass onto any new owner about to start 'the journey'.

 

[flatout]

I always fancied putting light weight 18's with track rubber and properly sorting out the suspension out on my Z4MC, but never got round to it. I would do that first before I messed with the engine or anything else.

Exactly the same advice I would pass onto any new owner about to start 'the journey'.

You should try forgestar wheels - they are very light abd give an unsprung total weight saving of 12-15kg lighter than oem z or Csl wheels. When I got mine they were no suppliers in the UK. Mstyle in Essex do have an account with manufacturer so can source for just shy of £2k I went for a 10j on the rear to allow running wider wheels just case I charged her and needed more grip- would imagine 9 of 9.5j would be even lighter...

 

[DONDP]

I always fancied putting light weight 18's with track rubber and properly sorting out the suspension out on my Z4MC, but never got round to it. I would do that first before I messed with the engine or anything else.

Exactly the same advice I would pass onto any new owner about to start 'the journey'.

Tyre choice is absolutely important, but before any wheel upgrades/changes the very first mod should be to the brakes, as this is the weakest point on the car imo.

 

[ga41]

But better tires = better braking!

 

[DONDP]

But better tires = better braking!

Yep as i said absolutely agree tyres are first. Next on the list before anything else though is brakes. Assuming we are talking hardware upgrades only and excluding things like driver training.

It doesn't have to be a BBK, as first a step braided hoses and better pads can work for fast road applications.

Better tyres = better braking = more heat = quicker demise of the oem brake setup.

The alternative would be to try Exdos' brake ducting tip to remove heat out of the equation above....

 

[ga41]

My bad, i thought you meant brakes before everything else. You would overcome the stock braking abilities quicker with serious track spec tires i agree but anything below semi-slicks shouldn't give that much more trouble i think.

That said with AD08's in stock sizes (stock wheels) and Endless RF650, braided brake lines, stock discs and Stoptech Street Performance pads (fast road pads basically) i got a lot of brake fade on track even after a single 20min session... I do concede that my driving could have been a big factor in this though!

With same tires but Stoptech big brake kit, same pad compound but worse fluid (ATE Super Blue) i could go through 3 x 20min sessions with about 45min break between with no discernible difference in braking.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I use EBC Bluestuff (marketed as race only pads as they exceed the OEM performance by >15% so technically fall outside the legal specification for road use of aftermarket pads) with ATE Superblue fluid and otherwise stock brakes. I have zero fade with hard track use and no overheating problems (accepting the UK temperature is somewhat lower than that in the Mediterranean).
For me the greater problem is with understeer. I have markedly reduced this by a combination of better tyres (PS2s vs Contis on OEM 18" wheels), Eibachs, an OEM strut brace, 15mm spacers on the front, and pulling the camber pins to increase negative camber to the maximum obtainable without camber plates. When I'm back from Oz, I'll be assessing the benefit of fitting thicker antiroll bars before I'll consider spending thousands on aftermarket suspension.
Oh, and a given a choice of either driving training or a supercharger, I know where my money would go :evil: although I won't deny that driver training would probably improve my driving

 

[DONDP]

I tried quite a few different pads in the oem callipers before just taking the plunge with the AP racing BBK.

The best setup I had out of the oem stuff was with Carbone Lorraine rc5+ pads. They were awesome, but rattled like buggery as had no retaining clips so not great on the road.

Have got the Pagid RS29 pads in the APs and its an amazing setup. Not cheap but worth every penny imo...

 

[ga41]

Just bought a set of RS29's as well. Will install in a couple of weeks. Hoping they dont squeal during daily driving... :?

 

[daz05]

I always fancied putting light weight 18's with track rubber and properly sorting out the suspension out on my Z4MC, but never got round to it. I would do that first before I messed with the engine or anything else.

Exactly the same advice I would pass onto any new owner about to start 'the journey'.

Tyre choice is absolutely important, but before any wheel upgrades/changes the very first mod should be to the brakes, as this is the weakest point on the car imo.

Brakes first if doing track work, suspension first for the road use. :driving:

 

[DONDP]

Just bought a set of RS29's as well. Will install in a couple of weeks. Hoping they dont squeal during daily driving... :?

I get the odd squeal but nothing that bad at all. Whats worse is the dust they kick out even after a short journey I get the urge to have to clean it off...

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Brakes first if doing track work, suspension first for the road use. :driving:

My suspension mods have made my car very twitchy on poor quality roads... I'd say tyres and suspension first for the track and different suspension mods first for the road :wink: