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BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 3:23 pm
by charas
Hi guys.I have just registered today in this forum and besides i have read lots of the posts,i haven't find the answer i am looking for.Is any one have done it and does work, brakes update or conversion if you prefere on an E30 with 15" wheels?I don't want to change my rims size.My car is 420hp and the brakes i have now from a 325i donner simply don't stop the car.I don't want anything funcy because i am on a tight budget so any suggestions that have work well are welcome.I use the car on the street but also on trackdays and drift.[/url]
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 3:28 pm
by RichIS
do a search for wms on here they do a bolt on kit for most 15" wheels. or theres the e38 brembo setup
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 3:53 pm
by bumpygt
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 4:02 pm
by Grrrmachine
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:18 pm
by charas
Thank you guys.This was a big help althouth i prefere with the money spend on the wms kit to have all 4 wheels brakes upgrade and not just the front.Thank you any way.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:28 pm
by Kedge
WMS do a rear kit as well but the costs do mount up.
There's not really anyother options i am aware of that fit under 15" wheels. The motorsport section might be your best bet for this kind of information, but i dare say most will say you just need uprated discs and pads and make sure everything is woring 100%.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:34 pm
by fuzzy
420bhp....standard 325 brakes....a tight budget....good luck....

Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:52 am
by TouringTash
rebuilding the front of your car will cost more than a set of WMS in each corner.
Didn't anyone ever tell you that the first thing to do to make a car go faster is to upgrade the brakes?
A turbo should be down the list of priorities. Legs, chest, thumbs and even life come before a turbo.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:16 am
by fowler
can't belive the brakes have not been done... if 420bhp was the case this would have been through a wall on first attempt of stopping i know

Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:28 am
by TouringTash
fowler wrote:can't belive the brakes have not been done... if 420bhp was the case this would have been through a wall on first attempt of stopping i know

now thats the funniest thing I have heard all weekend.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:14 am
by Ajsingh
Any pics of this beast then??
Welcome to the zone !!!

Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:17 am
by Kieran_n22
I'm going to do an RX-7 calliper upgrade with Corrado G60 discs. Nobody talks about it on the E30 Zone even though it's on the Wiki, maybe because the callipers are hard to find. I had to buy mine from eBay USA. There's threads of the conversion on E30 Tech and here's a link for what you need.
https://sites.google.com/site/e30brakesolutions/
When I looked up last time it looked like you had to fit 3mm spacers for the standard BBS.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:43 pm
by keri-WMS
280mm 4 pot front / 15" BBS:
290mm 2 pot rear / 15" BBS:
We are also looking at a 290mm front kit with alloy bells to go under the 15" BBS....if there is enough demand.

Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:51 pm
by TouringTash
keri-WMS wrote:
We are also looking at a 290mm front kit with alloy bells to go under the 15" BBS....if there is enough demand.

It'll be spring before I have the folding to sort all 4 corners so could be up for a set of these. I've still got to work out the cost for it all as I'll be doing a full upgrade once and once only. So I'll pester you for an all in price on all the bits, pads, lines etc in the new year once the 290mm looks a go'er.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:59 pm
by ross_jsy
charas wrote:
Hi guys.I have just registered today in this forum and besides i have read lots of the posts,i haven't find the answer i am looking for.Is any one have done it and does work, brakes update or conversion if you prefere on an E30 with 15" wheels?I don't want to change my rims size.My car is 420hp and the brakes i have now from a 325i donner simply don't stop the car.I don't want anything funcy because i am on a tight budget so any suggestions that have work well are welcome.I use the car on the street but also on trackdays and drift.[/url]
Welcome and all but time to be a bit blunt...are you stupid?
For that sort of power I wouldn't entertain any less than decent 4 pots up front, all bushes replaced and all suspension seriously breathed on BEFORE thinking about increasing power, and certainly wouldn't do the brakes on a budget.
Go have a word with yourself, put the car in a garage and get saving up to do all that to a high standard before you kill yourself, or worse, someone else. Don't want to sound like a coont but it's a harsh reality
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:18 pm
by TouringTash
@charas
We are not having a personal pop at you fella. Its just that a blunt repost or answer has to be done. What you are doing will end in death, injury or financial hardships and grief and stern words resonate far greater than a gentle piece of advise.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:48 pm
by charas
Hi Guys,
I hear you all and i must say you are correct about the brakes issue.From my side i realy am on a budget and i don't want to change wheels and diameter.Maby for starters i will use better pads like ferodo ds2500 all around and how it goes.And also i am in a process of go very slow only 3500 rpm cut because the engine is new from a rebuild and i must do 1000 miles before rasing the boost pressure and reprograming the Haltech ecu from start again so at this time i don't need the brakes upgrade.I have also did some research about other solutions and did try them on my front rims and brakes (still not the rear brakes tested yet) but i am close to deside for the rears 276mm x 19mm vented disks from the E46 320i E46 320d and the cabrio,with bmw E46 own rear calipers.This solution comes to a cost of 280 euros for everything needed for the rear brakes ie(adapters, USED calipers,NEW vented disks redriled and 2 rings to match the hubs of the E30 and a set of new pads).For the front brakes the disks from a citroen xantia 2.0 HDI or from a C5 which are 288mm x 28mm x 34.2mm height x 66mm center bore, 4x108 fixing holes(only redriling the 4x100 fixing holes) and find the apropiate calipers for them(I think BMW E32 or E39 540i calipers with adapters are fiting perfect.So if i choose the 540i calipers(if any body know of any other caliper which fits i am all ears),cost used nearly 80 euros,adapters 100 euros,disks 75 euros and ferodo ds2500 for front 156 euros.That's all for now.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:03 pm
by Grrrmachine
A cobbled together kit of used and drilled parts for 410 Euros, or WMS's brand-new custom-built E30-specific 4-pot kit for 500 Euros
You really, really don't want to scrimp and save on this aspect of your car. Don't do it cheaply, do it properly.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:15 pm
by Driftben
im not being funny but this guy sounds like he has the know how to put a kit together and make it work like many of us....... welcome by the way.
i have built a 6 pot front and 4 pot rear Porsche cayenne kit for my V8 e30, soon to be supercharged. mannaged to have the kit working for around £800 and it will rip the tarmac up upon braking but does that make my car dangerous because i have built it myself and not spent out alot more for a kit someone else has made?
i must admit i would of done the brakes before the 400 bhp odd upgrade but what the hay hes here for advice

Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:08 pm
by charas
Ajsingh wrote:Any pics of this beast then??
Welcome to the zone !!!

Yes,i have pictures of the project car but i have no idea how can i upload those here.Any advise?
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:12 pm
by keri-WMS
Best bet is to upload them to photobucket, then post the links here, with the [ img ] tags.

Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:46 pm
by charas
And by the way guys,after the brakes issue i have to look for improving the steering wheel/rack responce and feeling.Don't get me wrong guys but i had cars with excelent responce and feeling i.e Ford escort mk2 RS2000 Fiat 131 mirafiori Nissan 200sx turbo Seat 124 sport and BMW E30,with all these been rear wheel drive(i had front wheel drives too but not worth mention them),and the score is like:
1)Ford escort mk2 rs2000,
2)Nissan 200sx or 180sx,
3)Fiat 131,
4)Seat 124,
5)BMW E30 last.
E30 has the worst feeling of all the cars mentioned above and many more which now i can't remember them.I don't want to be crool but this is the truth at least for me.I must admit that i have driven the E30 M3 from a friend and the steering wheel is far better than the E30 non M3's.The m3 is between the ford and the nissan in the matter of feeling and is head to head with the ford escort for the responce.Again this is my opinion.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:53 pm
by TouringTash
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:59 pm
by Driftben
i retract my above statement

Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:05 pm
by ross_jsy
Try a z3 rack, or an e46 clubsport. Will improve feel tenfold.
Then go down the route of m3 eccentric front control arm bushes and look into polybushing the whole car. Don't forget, these are 20 year old plus cars, so full replacement of rubber bits is going to be essential.
Worthwhile fitting some solid top mounts up front, with adjustable camber/castor and beefing up the rear ones with e46 cabriolet ones minimum.
And would recommend getting some camber/castor tabs welded to your rear beam as I assume you are going to lower it even just a little.
Also, that sort of power will require a reinforced diff hanger. Believe you use an e36 diff back plate as it has 2 mounting tabs as opposed to the e30's one. Then make a custom bracket. Few people on here have done it and there are some pics floating round.
But for the love of god, do the brakes properly!
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:19 pm
by keri-WMS
I miss my Mk1 Escort...

Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:42 pm
by charas
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:51 pm
by Grrrmachine
Holy sh!t! Turbine wheels! I thought Kedge had the only pair!
Nice looking engine bay too.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:53 pm
by charas
It seems i've done it.Thanks for the help keri-WMS.
Now my biggest problem until i make a custom ex manifold is the brakes pump and booster which are over heated because of the turbo and manifold.I've done some insulation and it does work but i am not feeling ok about this.
.
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:55 pm
by DHFiS
Kieran_n22 wrote:I'm going to do an RX-7 calliper upgrade with Corrado G60 discs. Nobody talks about it on the E30 Zone even though it's on the Wiki, maybe because the callipers are hard to find. I had to buy mine from eBay USA. There's threads of the conversion on E30 Tech and here's a link for what you need.
https://sites.google.com/site/e30brakesolutions/
When I looked up last time it looked like you had to fit 3mm spacers for the standard BBS.
I had a go at this and its cheaper to use the WMS set up.
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... sc&start=0
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:55 pm
by TouringTash
Will that brace achieve much ?
Re: BMW E30 Brakes upgrade.
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 6:17 pm
by charas
TouringTash wrote:Will that brace achieve much ?
Not much but it does work.It does make bigger difference over bumps.