Brakes

E30 brake upgrade options in stages (increasing in performance and price).

First would be upgrading the pads as you get some easy extra torque and fade resistance (EBC Red, Mintex M1144/1155, Ferodo DS2500 or similar pads for fast road/light trackdays or EBC Yellow/Blue or similar for more serious track use) - of course all the OEM components need to be checked over at the this stage, including the cooling ducts. Fit fresh standard brake fluid and new standard discs (worn discs have less thermal mass and won't bed in properly with new pads). There is NO NEED to get drilled and/or grooved or funny coloured discs, unless you like the look...

Next would be increasing the resistance to the extra heat and pressure the pads can create by fitting stainless braided lines (like Earls/Goodrich etc) and upgrading the existing brake fluid (like ATE Superblue, or Castrol SRF for a road/trackday oriented car).

Next we move up to larger diameter discs, here are the approximate sizes possible in each wheel size:

14" - Very little room, 255mm normally (275mm in some motorsport allys).

15" - 280mm (300mm in some motorsport alloys). There may be a new 290-300mm 4-pot kit available next year specifically for the 15" BBS...

16" - 300mm (320mm in some motorsport alloys)

17" - 325mm (345mm in some motorsport alloys)

Ready made upgrades includes lightweight 4-pot kits and cheaper but heavier sliding caliper kits where the buyer sources second-hand calipers:

- The 300mm.de kit, this uses a 312mm re-drilled disc and brackets to suit a BMW sliding caliper.

- The WMS 280mm 4-pot kit, which is confirmed as fitting the 15" BBS and has custom 1.25" E30-specific pistons.

- The Wilwood 280mm and 310mm 4-pot kits which have 1.38" pistons.

- Other kits from mfrs including AP Racing, Brembo, Alcon, and Hi Spec.

Another option is to scour eBay and breakers yards for crashed cars that already have 4 pots or compatible sliding calipers fitted and make your own brackets. If you are prepared to look around to find parts,and are happy to fabricate calliper brackets, then a budget big brake set-up can be achieved for around 40% less than the equivalent off the shelf items.DIY kits have included:

- 302mm disks with 4 pot callipers can be made to fit under 16" wheels - Baddave's current setup which apparently works rather well.

- <<please update me>>

<<Please update me with M/C and Servo options for firming up the stock set-up>> E30 M3 master cylinder with stock servo E32 750i Master cylinder with stock servo (for those who have fitted calipers with a substantial increase in piston area)

Cars with E30 compatible discs

Audi TT with some drilling ??
Chrysler Voyager 302x28mm with redrilled holes(disk offset is near perfect)

E30 compatible Master Cylinders

<<Please update me>>

Bmw E30M3
Bmw E32 750i

Cars with 4pot calipers

Aston Martin(various)-DB7
Alfa Romeo GTV/166
Audi Possibly RS2,S8,RS8
BMW E38 730i, 735i
BMW E34 3.8L M5(very last ones)
BMW E31 840i,850i,850csi
Citroen C8 possibly (going by pad shape)
Ferrari (all newer models)
Fiat Coupe
Fiat Ulysee possibly(going by pad shape)
Ford Focus RS
Ford Puma(racing) fitted with Alcon 4pots as standard
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 3dr
Jaguar S type R
Lamborghini(all newer models)
Lancia Delta(integrale)
Lancia Phedra
Lotus Carlton (AP group C spec)
Range Rover(newer ones have Brembo's)
Mazda RX-7
Mercedes ( most of the higher spec AMG variants)
Mitsibishi 3000GT
Mitsibishi Lancer ( from Evo 4 onwards iirc)
Nissan 300ZX
Nissan Skyline (R33GTR/R34GTR)
Nissan 350Z
Peugeot 607(possibly)
Peugeot 807(possibly)
Peugeot 406 Coupe
Porsche 911/928/944/959/968/Boxster/Cayenne/Cayman
Renault Clio Sport(mid engined version)
MG MGF
Seat Cupra R (Ibiza,Leon)
Subaru Impeza STI
Toyota Hilux
Toyota Celica GT4
Toyota Supra
TVR ( certain newer models)
Volvo 740

Brakes

E30 brake upgrade options in stages (increasing in performance and price).

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