Recommendations for BMW E87 116d brakes

[beanbag]

I'd like to improve the brakes in my BMW 116d (E87 LCI).

I don't want to go as far as changing the calipers (yet - looked at BMW Performance brakes but they're a little much in terms of budget at the moment), however I'd like to find out what I can do to improve the performance.

I currently need to change the front discs and pads so now is a great time to make any change.

I've looks around but I'm simply not sure what to choose. For example, would drilled / grooved discs make enough of a different and are MTec brakes any good?

Also what pads would be recommended with the same wear as OEM pads (or better).

Finally, I've been told adding Goodridge hoses would make a massive difference......really? I have Goodridge hoses on my MTB Hope brakes but my car brakes are driven by a servo so does it really make that much of a difference?

Anyway, recommendations would be appreciated.

[C.A.R.]

Better pads - that is all.

They can't be that bad - a 116 is quite 'pedestrian' so the brakes are likely more than adequate. If you want more bite, just see if there are any updated pads on the market.

Updated discs and hoses are money that could be better spent elsewhere, like into a fund for an exciting car!

[beanbag]

C.A.R. said:

Better pads - that is all.

They can't be that bad - a 116 is quite 'pedestrian' so the brakes are likely more than adequate. If you want more bite, just see if there are any updated pads on the market.

Updated discs and hoses are money that could be better spent elsewhere, like into a fund for an exciting car!

I agree it's not the fastest BMW around but it's hardly pedestrian. It'll happily cruise at 200km/h (125mph), so brakes are a good choice for me. Plus I commute 600 miles per week and I can manage one tank of fuel at 64mpg so I've no plans to change my car just yet.

However, back to the brakes....do pads make such a big difference? I've had to hit the anchors very hard on occasion. (Spanish drivers have an uncanny ability to jump into your lane without a second glance).

Also since I have to replace the discs, what are the recommended choices?

[vescaegg]

Just get any normal disks. OEM are prob not too bad cost wise and more than adequate; the 116 is rather, um, lethargic...

You happily cruise at your cars officially rated maximum speed?

Edited by vescaegg on Saturday 25th October 23:39

[BritishRacinGrin]

I don't understand why you'd feel the need to upgrade the brakes on such a car. Have you ever managed to over heat them? Fade them? In what way do you hope to improve them?

[Matt UK]

BritishRacinGrin said:

In what way do you hope to improve them?

My question also. Ultimate stopping power? Long lasting? Less fade over repeated use?

Understanding this will help give better advice.

[Rich1973]

Are they bigger calipers on a more powerful version? If so, that would be the easiest way to give you more stopping power.

[beanbag]

While I appreciate some are trying to help, it's a bit st how an equal number of you feel the need to dismiss a car simply because it doesn't have 300+ bhp. That wasn't the question so why bring it up?

If the type of driving is relevant, I live on the side of a mountain so I drive along very winding, downhill, fast roads which is a lot of fun and you don't need 300+ bhp to enjoy that. Even coming up is also a challenge too as rightly mentioned, I don't have heaps of power so I have to manage my revs and gear changes much better and in doing so I've kept up with significantly more powerful cars.

However, as I'm heading down hills, the amount of braking I do can be quite heavy so I find my brakes (when compared to a 330i I've driven are quite "limp", so I figured if I could improve what I have without replacing the calipers, that would be rather nice.

So....I was simply asking if there are better discs and pads that I can fit to my car instead of the standard OEM versions so long as they last the same amount of time.

Any advice on this is greatly appreciated.

[16v stretch]

Yes there is.

There's a fair few performance pad manufacturers.

Once you reach a certain level you'll be offsetting your cold braking performance though. I.e. Ebc red stuff pads.

Easiest would be to pick up some oe calipers and carriers from perhaps a 130 or 330.

[beanbag]

Rich1973 said:

Are they bigger calipers on a more powerful version? If so, that would be the easiest way to give you more stopping power.

Yes, I think they gave the 116d pretty crap brakes. I think even the 118d discs are bigger but I'm not sure if the caliper is any different.

16v stretch said:

Yes there is.

There's a fair few performance pad manufacturers.

Once you reach a certain level you'll be offsetting your cold braking performance though. I.e. Ebc red stuff pads.

Easiest would be to pick up some oe calipers and carriers from perhaps a 130 or 330.

This has been mentioned on a few forums however they are identical to the BMW performance calipers and discs which is quite extreme IMHO! I did consider them but they sell for about €1200 new and about €800 and I don't really want to pay quite that much.

Budget for parts on all this shouldn't really exceed €400.

[vtecyo]

Put some fast road pads in if you must, not EBC though as they're ste. OEM discs are fine.

I'd probably go down the "OEM upgrade" route. I.E fit some from a better model. No idea how cross compatible BMW stuff is though.

I wouldn't throw any money at a 116d though. Why bother?

Edited by vtecyo on Monday 27th October 09:39

[BritishRacinGrin]

beanbag said:

However, as I'm heading down hills, the amount of braking I do can be quite heavy so I find my brakes (when compared to a 330i I've driven are quite "limp", so I figured if I could improve what I have without replacing the calipers, that would be rather nice.

Several people here are trying to avoid you wasting your time and money. Sorry if it's not what you want to hear. It's not 'st' though, it's valid stuff- and nobody is going to be able to advise you without a better description of what the actual issue is.

So far we have that the brakes feel 'limp' compared to a 330i. That's quite vague.

Some physics. If the brakes are able to lock up the tyres or activate the ABS in all conditions, upgrading your brakes will do nothing to reduce your stopping distances.

I strongly suspect that OEM 116d brakes in decent condition can do this just fine. It's a modern car with heavily assisted brakes.

Can you upgrade them? Well yeah, sure- Is there any point? debatable.

How old is the car and when was the brake fluid last replaced?