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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
- Jembo
- Lifer
- Posts: 6034
- Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:59 pm
- Location: 1066 Country
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
The brake bias on an E85 is fixed between front & rear, so the ABS won’t IMO sort it out.
Dry or wet in the summer I didn’t have any issue in my old 3.0, it was only during the colder months Isometines experiences this
Dry or wet in the summer I didn’t have any issue in my old 3.0, it was only during the colder months Isometines experiences this
Joined the dark side with a ///M Hell Bronze Sepang Coupe
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,
Lifer 54
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,
Lifer 54
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- Newbie
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- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2018 9:46 am
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
Z4 e85 2005. So far, in 25000 miles... new front trailing arm bushes. New discs and pads all round. New front struts. All expected. Then.... New front left calliper, Then.... new front right calliper and new front discs again.
Not expected. I am 58. I have had a lot if cars. Have never had to replace a calliper.
WTF!
SO IS THERE A NON BMW, Z4 BRAKING SOLUTION ?
Not expected. I am 58. I have had a lot if cars. Have never had to replace a calliper.
WTF!
SO IS THERE A NON BMW, Z4 BRAKING SOLUTION ?
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- Newbie
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- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2018 9:46 am
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
Oh yeah, independet dealer and AA Man say yeah... they are s**t cos the seals admit crud when you push the pistons back to fit the pads. My Saab 95 did 195,000 miles. You guessed it, never needed new Callipers.
- AndyBeech
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1632
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:25 pm
- Location: Reading / Bath
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
Why does it need replacing?
Chances are you can just rebuild it, Big Redd do kits, give them a shout, has to be cheaper than a new caliper!
Chances are you can just rebuild it, Big Redd do kits, give them a shout, has to be cheaper than a new caliper!
Z4MR - Gruppe M, Bilstein PSS10, CSL's + 18" CSL reps with semi's, RTAB Limiters, Powerflex’d, PF Camber Arms, K-Sport BBK / RSL-29, GC Camber Plates, Strut Brace, Exhaust valves, custom brake cooling, complete underside refresh!
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- Newbie
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How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
In fairness replacement recon calliper cleaned up with new seals as you describe, fitted, £135 ish.
The old calliper gets refurbished and goes round again. BUT....
Like I said....
WTF!
So does anyone have a reliable _roadworthy_ alternative, not necessarily BMW pattern, that can be fitted in place of this s**t calliper from BMW?
The old calliper gets refurbished and goes round again. BUT....
Like I said....
WTF!
So does anyone have a reliable _roadworthy_ alternative, not necessarily BMW pattern, that can be fitted in place of this s**t calliper from BMW?
- kis
- Lifer
- Posts: 4552
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2016 2:33 pm
- Location: Surrey / West Sussex Boarder
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
You can always go Porsche they do BMW adapters (for the carriers) and then you can have a proper big brake upgrade! Not sure about the rear! Have a look on this forum and on other e46 forums for Porsche brake upgrade
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG
BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71
BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71
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- Member
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- Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 10:12 pm
- Location: Thatcham, Berkshire
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
You have a 15 year old car and its a mechanical component. Depends on its environment its lived in, for its entire life , which could be wet or near the coast. Its not a biggie, regardless to what people say, a seal and piston kit isnt going to break the bank or be difficult to replace. The pistons normally get corrosion in the chroming and get stuck. The piston doesnt touch the caliper in precision , so there is no machining needed for that. It is sealed by the seal. So, remove the piston , remove the seal. Quick clean out of any crud , then fit the seal and slot the new piston back in. Some places may offer a stainless piston which depending on where you live could be worth fitting. Even a replacement new caliper , if you dont want to do that isnt much more and ten mins to fit. Then you have no frustrations for another 15 years
E86 In sapphire black
- Panta Rhei
- Member
- Posts: 288
- Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:48 pm
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
performance calipers from e82 e87 etc and e90 plug and play with csl rotors front and rears.
Dust brake cover for the rear from M3 e46 plus at the frond little cover bending - slightly.
Then new brake fluid lines ofc and front caliper adapters you can find on the net.
With not-bmw calipers you cannot attack brake pad sensor - here its plug and play.
Dust brake cover for the rear from M3 e46 plus at the frond little cover bending - slightly.
Then new brake fluid lines ofc and front caliper adapters you can find on the net.
With not-bmw calipers you cannot attack brake pad sensor - here its plug and play.
- CHIMV8
- Member
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- Jembo
- Lifer
- Posts: 6034
- Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:59 pm
- Location: 1066 Country
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
Don’t forget you’ll also need the carriers
Joined the dark side with a ///M Hell Bronze Sepang Coupe
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,
Lifer 54
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,
Lifer 54
- Panta Rhei
- Member
- Posts: 288
- Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:48 pm
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
To add to my previous post - you also need e46 330i brake shoe kit.
- Panta Rhei
- Member
- Posts: 288
- Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:48 pm
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
Anyone fitted 335 calipers to non-M e85/e86?
Like this guy: https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1345611
Like this guy: https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1345611
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- Member
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- Location: Cambs
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
You can always go RPI but lots of money for the ultimate solution!
Z4///MC
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- Member
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- Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 11:01 am
- Location: Christchurch New Zealand
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
Doing this atm. Five week lock down finished, so moving on. Z4M front discs paired with 335i calipers, for the rear OE race drilled discs but retaining the original calipers and handbrake pads. Using 335i sensors to the front with low dust pads (front and rear). Seeing that M logo has given me more ideasPanta Rhei wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2020 9:16 am nyone fitted 335 calipers to non-M e85/e86?
Like this guy: https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1345611
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Last edited by BTZ461 on Sun May 17, 2020 10:36 am, edited 2 times in total.
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- Member
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- Location: Christchurch New Zealand
How-to: Cheap brake upgrade
And I wouldn't say its exactly a cheap conversion. All the parts sourced out of Germany, off the top of my head, the front 4M discs were 115 euro each, the rear race discs 98 for the pair. The front calipers were about 90 euro for the pair, and the rears were about 50 euro, so about 450 euro. The courier cost to NZ was significant