Help with brakes on 3.0i Z4 please!
Discussion
Hi all,
the brakes on my Z4 are coming up for replacement - the intention always was to put a big brake kit on from Brembo or the like as i use it for road and track days, but unfortunately as with all things financial i'm not really able to afford the 2K pounds to do this now.
Does anyone have any experience of uprating the brakes - even just pads and discs - i'd be really grateful for some advice!
Cheers!
the brakes on my Z4 are coming up for replacement - the intention always was to put a big brake kit on from Brembo or the like as i use it for road and track days, but unfortunately as with all things financial i'm not really able to afford the 2K pounds to do this now.
Does anyone have any experience of uprating the brakes - even just pads and discs - i'd be really grateful for some advice!
Cheers!
bar_steward said:
Hi all,
the brakes on my Z4 are coming up for replacement - the intention always was to put a big brake kit on from Brembo or the like as i use it for road and track days, but unfortunately as with all things financial i'm not really able to afford the 2K pounds to do this now.
Does anyone have any experience of uprating the brakes - even just pads and discs - i'd be really grateful for some advice!
Cheers!
You can always get a set of used CSL brakes - not quite a brembo 4-pot, but will be an excellent improvement over the standard stuff. No idea what they cost, the CSL discs are £350 inc VAT from the main stealer... the brakes on my Z4 are coming up for replacement - the intention always was to put a big brake kit on from Brembo or the like as i use it for road and track days, but unfortunately as with all things financial i'm not really able to afford the 2K pounds to do this now.
Does anyone have any experience of uprating the brakes - even just pads and discs - i'd be really grateful for some advice!
Cheers!
I luckily found someone parting out of a car with AP Big Brakes on and got a very cheap swap. Bargain of the century!
Before that I was running with a few different discs and pads. Best of these in my opinion were Brembo cast iron grooved discs from GSF and Pagid RS29 pads. Superb on track and reasonably priced at the time. Z3 and Z4 fronts are the same as the E36/46's too I believe, so lots of choice.
I have to say though, on my last track day, that the AP's are 'other worldly' good by comparison. I'd guess they'd maybe be worth half to one second per corner into the big braking areas (Croft has 3 for me, turn 1, Tower and Sunny In). Whatever the subjective feel, my (wife's) Z3 spanked an E63 M6 and quite a few track day specials running slicks or trackday tyres. BTW, yes, they were trying, just being 'decent' drivers by allowing a 'quicker car over a lap' through by lifting on the straights - a great rule that the BMW Car Club Trackday organisers enforce.
EBC Greenstuff were a complete disaster IMHO, so I'd avoid at all costs.
Apologies if this sounds a little boastful, not meant to, but I had a brilliant day and loved every minute of it, even though it was weeks ago!
Hope the OP finds something suitable.
Before that I was running with a few different discs and pads. Best of these in my opinion were Brembo cast iron grooved discs from GSF and Pagid RS29 pads. Superb on track and reasonably priced at the time. Z3 and Z4 fronts are the same as the E36/46's too I believe, so lots of choice.
I have to say though, on my last track day, that the AP's are 'other worldly' good by comparison. I'd guess they'd maybe be worth half to one second per corner into the big braking areas (Croft has 3 for me, turn 1, Tower and Sunny In). Whatever the subjective feel, my (wife's) Z3 spanked an E63 M6 and quite a few track day specials running slicks or trackday tyres. BTW, yes, they were trying, just being 'decent' drivers by allowing a 'quicker car over a lap' through by lifting on the straights - a great rule that the BMW Car Club Trackday organisers enforce.
EBC Greenstuff were a complete disaster IMHO, so I'd avoid at all costs.
Apologies if this sounds a little boastful, not meant to, but I had a brilliant day and loved every minute of it, even though it was weeks ago!
Hope the OP finds something suitable.
dan101smith said:
I'm another advocate of Pagid RS29s - awesome pads for track work, if not ideal for road use (down to noise rather than performance).
Also remember to uprate the fluid, and probably hoses too while you're there.
I rate the RS29s highly as well and SRF fluid.Also remember to uprate the fluid, and probably hoses too while you're there.
Don't know if you can still get them for the E36 328 though - anyone?
Interesting... clearly improvements are significant if you can afford the big kits but unfortunately that kind of cash isn't burning a holes in pants right now!
Was going to change the fluid and hoses although that sounds like a definite thing to do now. Will look into the Pagid pads although it’s a daily driver not a track special so this might sway me if they’re too noisy.
Thanks for the advice! Can always trust the PH’ers…
Was going to change the fluid and hoses although that sounds like a definite thing to do now. Will look into the Pagid pads although it’s a daily driver not a track special so this might sway me if they’re too noisy.
Thanks for the advice! Can always trust the PH’ers…
Bar Steward, I'm in the same situation as you with a Z4 3.0 needing new discs and pads. I want good road results with an occasional track day. I also would like a better looking set up as with 18" rims, the brakes are very much on show. I was wondering about the EBC turbo groove with 'red' pads, I was wondering if any PH'ers have used this mix. The Brembo set up HAS to be the one, but far too much dosh at this stage...LOL.
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