E30 325i Cabrio - improving brake performance

[JakeT]

I think the conflated outlier is spot on with it, new hoses won’t harm and rebuild calipers will help. It’s also worth clamping all of the flexible hoses and seeing if the pedal is firm too and that the master can build and hold pressure. It’s been a long time since I drove one, but as you say they can lock the front wheels easily.

Putting it in the rollers will help you understand where the issue is too. While a newer car me 1993 E36 has good feeling brakes and will activate ABS easily if you’re faced with a brown pants moment.

[rdjohn]

It has been on the rollers this morning. The Fronts locked, as expected. The Rears did nothing so new discs and pads are on the way.

I have asked him to check the hoses.

He thinks the hydraulics are OK, probably means no visible leaks

[JakeT]

Good to hear. If they haven’t been done I’d probably replace the hoses, I did them on my car and pedal feel improved, and I don’t have worries about a bubble appearing or any number of issues failed lines can cause.

[rdjohn]

I got the car back yesterday. The pedal feels a whole lot better. Initial retardation is good, but I have not yet been on a road sufficiently quiet to trigger the ABS.

I suspect all will be OK, before replacing all the hydraulic elements.

Thanks to everyone for your help but esspeciallyThe Conflated Outlier for his contribution

[d_a_n1979]

That's good to hear; hopefully it'll brake as required now...

Keep up posted as to how you get on when you do some further braking in anger

[rdjohn]

Just returned from a fortnight touring France.

The brakes are sufficient for the MoT, but do not inspire confidence. I think the hydraulics still need looking at as I cannot trigger the ABS with heavy pressure. Perhaps with other things that have been found it could be a vacuum / servo issue.

A number of other problems arose while over there. I took it to a Youngtimer garage that I used to use while living over there as the tick-over became erratic. They did not have the time to do, but diagnosed that it needs,

New tick-over valve
New inlet manifold to MF unit hose
New thermostat housing and thermostat
New hydro coupling for the fan.

Doe anyone know a classic BMW specialist in NW England? Most of the recommends here are for newer Mini and BMW specialists. Knowing where / how to obtain reliable parts is the hard bit, putting them on is relatively straightforward.

Thanks again, if anyone has good suggestions

[d_a_n1979]

rdjohn said:

Just returned from a fortnight touring France.

The brakes are sufficient for the MoT, but do not inspire confidence. I think the hydraulics still need looking at as I cannot trigger the ABS with heavy pressure. Perhaps with other things that have been found it could be a vacuum / servo issue.

A number of other problems arose while over there. I took it to a Youngtimer garage that I used to use while living over there as the tick-over became erratic. They did not have the time to do, but diagnosed that it needs,

New tick-over valve
New inlet manifold to MF unit hose
New thermostat housing and thermostat
New hydro coupling for the fan.

Doe anyone know a classic BMW specialist in NW England? Most of the recommends here are for newer Mini and BMW specialists. Knowing where / how to obtain reliable parts is the hard bit, putting them on is relatively straightforward.

Thanks again, if anyone has good suggestions

You'll find most parts you need on the likes of Autodoc etc; using RealOEM for part numbers

If you need genuine BMW parts; try the various BMW dealer sellers on eBay UK (ie. Douglas Park, Listers BMW etc) plus BMWs own eBay page and speak to the guys at Cotswolds BMW also who offer forum discounts

Where are you in the North West so folk can give recommendations for mechanics?

[JakeT]

Darren Wood are good and in Stockport, they should have little issue sorting out those jobs on your car. Annoying the ABS still can’t be triggered.

[rdjohn]

JakeT said:

Darren Wood are good and in Stockport, they should have little issue sorting out those jobs on your car. Annoying the ABS still can’t be triggered.

Thanks, I had spotted his webpage, which struck me as a more modern car specialist. I will give him a call.

[rdjohn]

d_a_n1979 said:

You'll find most parts you need on the likes of Autodoc etc; using RealOEM for part numbers

If you need genuine BMW parts; try the various BMW dealer sellers on eBay UK (ie. Douglas Park, Listers BMW etc) plus BMWs own eBay page and speak to the guys at Cotswolds BMW also who offer forum discounts

Where are you in the North West so folk can give recommendations for mechanics?

I live in Wilmslow

Autodoc seems to come up on every search that I make, but then they are always “currently out of stock”

Last time I visited the local dealership, we had most of the mechanics around the car saying “we never get to work on cars like this”

The official BMW seems only to have 4-parts for my car. It is easier to get stuff from Germany.

The car is only 34-years old, but no one seems really interested, The real money is in new cars

[williamp]

I find that surprising. The E30 have a strong following, and have for some time.

Have you tried the owners club? Or e30zone?

With the car being that old, a lot of the rubber hoses will be frail, brittle or splitting soon which means you'll be tracing problems for a while. Id be tempted to overhaul the whole engine bay. It might seem like overkill, but fresh hoses will help.

[d_a_n1979]

rdjohn said:

d_a_n1979 said:

You'll find most parts you need on the likes of Autodoc etc; using RealOEM for part numbers

If you need genuine BMW parts; try the various BMW dealer sellers on eBay UK (ie. Douglas Park, Listers BMW etc) plus BMWs own eBay page and speak to the guys at Cotswolds BMW also who offer forum discounts

Where are you in the North West so folk can give recommendations for mechanics?

I live in Wilmslow

Autodoc seems to come up on every search that I make, but then they are always “currently out of stock”

Last time I visited the local dealership, we had most of the mechanics around the car saying “we never get to work on cars like this”

The official BMW seems only to have 4-parts for my car. It is easier to get stuff from Germany.

The car is only 34-years old, but no one seems really interested, The real money is in new cars

I can highly recommend my pals that have Grinspeed here in Preston (well, Leyland); but not exactly on your doorstep

Both ex BMW M Sport and both know what they're doing...

But it is one of those where you'd need to source your parts to provide and then leave it with them until it's done etc

[Mark-insert old BMW]

I ran stock brakes on my 325i race car and the only upgrades were braided hoses, race fluid and Hawk blue pads. Braking was good and consistent. The Hawk pads are a road friendly compound and work well from cold. They don't squeal and the brake dust is minimal.