z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

UK forum for general and technical discussion about the Z3 roadster
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handsomejackuk
Joined: Sat 18 Jun, 2016 10:35
Posts: 296

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Blaenau Gwent South Wales...

z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by handsomejackuk »

need a set of front disks for my z3 1.9 i see i can get a single disk for £17 and vented are up to £50 is there any advantage in vented.. over the cheaper disks, i dont know what to go for ?
handsomejackuk
Joined: Sat 18 Jun, 2016 10:35
Posts: 296

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Blaenau Gwent South Wales...

Re: z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by handsomejackuk »

Zed Carer
Joined: Thu 13 Dec, 2007 20:27
Posts: 1642

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Wakefield

Re: z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by Zed Carer »

Quite a few people have used the Pagid disks / pads with no problems and these are the correct solid disks for a 1.9.
Hers: Z4 2.0i Sp --------------------- His: Z3 2.8
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Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
Posts: 2136

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by Del »

I believe it is not possible to fit the much wider, vented discs to the 1.9 without changing the calliper mechanism - which is not built (in standard form) wide enough to straddle the wider vented disc.
handsomejackuk
Joined: Sat 18 Jun, 2016 10:35
Posts: 296

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Blaenau Gwent South Wales...

Re: z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by handsomejackuk »

sounds ok for me... cheap enough...

i get the other one off tomorrow and paint up the caliper bracket and caliper while i am at it....
mrscalex
Joined: Fri 13 Mar, 2015 09:14
Posts: 910

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by mrscalex »

I've just bought Pagid disks so I hope they're okay :)

I wouldn't go there with vented disks. Del is right, you'll need different calipers and you'll be into the world of mods to tell your insurance about.

Haven't failed to stop yet in my brother's 1.9 with standard disks :)
ImageImage
2001 Z3 2.2 Topaz Blue (Trudy) - Keeper rebuilt from a write-off
2002 Z3 2.2 Titan Silver (Cookies) - Keeper rebuilt having been bought with a seized engine
2002 Z3 3.0 Sapphire Black (Peanut) - Keeper awaiting rebuilding having been bought as an abandoned project
Plus Willy, Kodak & Maycee - All 2.2 Sport projects. Yes, 6 is a lot of Z3s :)
Always happy to try and help with spares :)
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colb
Joined: Sat 05 May, 2012 22:46
Posts: 690

  Z3 roadster 1.8 TU
Location: Newport South Wales UK

Re: z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by colb »

Chaps are right solid discs on the 1.9 if you changed to vented that would require new calipers and a lot of fiddling.
Colb
1999 BMW 1.8 Z3
2003 BMW 2.5 Z4
1998 Honda Deauville NT650V
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BladeRunner919
Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
Posts: 2225

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by BladeRunner919 »

There's no 'fiddling' required! You just need calipers from a 6 cylinder (I have some from an E46) and vented discs. Unbolt the old stuff, bolt on the new, bleed the brakes and away you go.
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Brian H
Joined: Tue 16 Dec, 2008 19:55
Posts: 2505

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by Brian H »

BladeRunner919 wrote:There's no 'fiddling' required! You just need calipers from a 6 cylinder (I have some from an E46) and vented discs. Unbolt the old stuff, bolt on the new, bleed the brakes and away you go.

Just to add to this, the piston size in the calipers throughout the range of the Z3s (excluding ///Ms) is the same size, therefore the braking bias is no way affected by this modification.
mrscalex
Joined: Fri 13 Mar, 2015 09:14
Posts: 910

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by mrscalex »

I guess it depends what you're prepared to take on. Bleeding the system and indeed the whole concept of tinkering with something important like the brakes would be too much for some people. I think handsomejack might have been looking for a straight swap.

Maybe it's just my bitter experience of modifying Mk I and 2 Escorts many years ago. I spent a lot of money and a lot of time, not always achieving a good result (Stage 3 rally cams not so good for the road but seems like a great idea when you're 19). My conclusion in the end was just go out and buy a better spec car. Disillusioned also with the reliability (well they were 10+ years old even then) I jacked it all in and went for a 5 year old 2.0iS Sierra. A fast, lovely and rare (try to find one now) car.

So my point is, unless you have an emotional attachment to a car (like my brother does with his 1.9 he's had from new) why wouldn't you just trade it in for a 2.0+ if you want a better spec?
ImageImage
2001 Z3 2.2 Topaz Blue (Trudy) - Keeper rebuilt from a write-off
2002 Z3 2.2 Titan Silver (Cookies) - Keeper rebuilt having been bought with a seized engine
2002 Z3 3.0 Sapphire Black (Peanut) - Keeper awaiting rebuilding having been bought as an abandoned project
Plus Willy, Kodak & Maycee - All 2.2 Sport projects. Yes, 6 is a lot of Z3s :)
Always happy to try and help with spares :)
mrscalex
Joined: Fri 13 Mar, 2015 09:14
Posts: 910

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by mrscalex »

Btw handsomejack did ask what the advantage of vented discs are and we all ignored that (I think).

The vented discs dissipate the heat generated from braking and improve the efficiency by stopping brake fade. But I honestly can't see why that's a consideration with a 1.9 on the road?
ImageImage
2001 Z3 2.2 Topaz Blue (Trudy) - Keeper rebuilt from a write-off
2002 Z3 2.2 Titan Silver (Cookies) - Keeper rebuilt having been bought with a seized engine
2002 Z3 3.0 Sapphire Black (Peanut) - Keeper awaiting rebuilding having been bought as an abandoned project
Plus Willy, Kodak & Maycee - All 2.2 Sport projects. Yes, 6 is a lot of Z3s :)
Always happy to try and help with spares :)
handsomejackuk
Joined: Sat 18 Jun, 2016 10:35
Posts: 296

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Blaenau Gwent South Wales...

Re: z3 1.9 disks vented or solid

Post by handsomejackuk »

solid disks will be fine for me vented for higher power cars and better cooling i got that...... i cant be bothered to fit different calipers...
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