New 2009 2010 BMW Z4 - ZPOST
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   New 2009 2010 BMW Z4 - ZPOST > BMW Z4 Forum (E89) > 2009-Current Z4 Forum (E89) General Discussion

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      12-27-2011, 04:51 PM   #1
Mr Breeze
Private First Class
Mr Breeze's Avatar
United_States
22
Rep
140
Posts

Drives: 2011 Z4 35is
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

iTrader: (1)

Caliper covers on 35is

Well, it has taken me over a year, but I finally got the caliper covers for the 35is to cover the horrid looking stock calipers. With the open design of the 326M wheels, they show a lot of caliper, and I couldn't justify spending $3k+ for Brembo's - particularly since they are only available for the fronts and not the rear because of the e-parking brake. Now I did NOT do the covers to pose that I had aftermarket brakes, but rather to HIDE the ugly stock calipers. The guys at MGP Caliper Covers had not done a 35is, so it took a couple attempts before they got the mounting right, but they were VERY good to work with. I went with black and paid extra not to have the MGP logo on them. I thought the black would hide in the shadow of the wheel better, and again, I wasn't looking to call attention to the calipers by doing a red or a yellow. The pictures are taken with the low sun shining directly into the wheel, so this is the MOST the calipers would show. Under most lighting conditions, they really aren't noticeable.
Attached Images
   
Appreciate 0
      12-27-2011, 05:50 PM   #2
STOOF
Sunburned
STOOF's Avatar
United_States
238
Rep
1,097
Posts

Drives: '16 F83 M4 Convertible 6MT
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Staten Island, NY

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2013 BMW 535i  [0.00]
why not just paint them black?
__________________
2016 M4 Convertible 6MT - SO/SO
2013 535i 6MT MSport - Retired
2011 Z4 SDrive35i 6MT- Retired
Appreciate 0
      12-27-2011, 07:21 PM   #3
z4z4z4
Lieutenant
z4z4z4's Avatar
United_States
45
Rep
548
Posts

Drives: 2002 M3
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: mild mediterranean breezes

iTrader: (1)

Nice work. Clean look. Not showy yet unique.
__________________
Sold 2011 Z4, kept 2002 M3
PM for various e89 parts 4sale.
Appreciate 0
      12-27-2011, 08:26 PM   #4
Mr Breeze
Private First Class
Mr Breeze's Avatar
United_States
22
Rep
140
Posts

Drives: 2011 Z4 35is
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by STOOF View Post
why not just paint them black?
'cause in my opinion, the calipers are ugly. The design, the casting, look like they are an after thought. Painting them would take them from ugly silver to ugly black.
Appreciate 0
      12-27-2011, 09:51 PM   #5
RichysBlk35i
Enlisted Member
United_States
0
Rep
30
Posts

Drives: 2011 BMW Z435i
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Orange County, Ca.

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Breeze View Post
'cause in my opinion, the calipers are ugly. The design, the casting, look like they are an after thought. Painting them would take them from ugly silver to ugly black.
I agree Breeze. The covers look great! I don't have that problem with the multi-spoke 293 (I think) wheels I have on my 35i. But for open wheels like you have on the is it definately look better in my opinion.
Appreciate 0
      12-27-2011, 10:04 PM   #6
DavidJS
Private First Class
United_States
4
Rep
119
Posts

Drives: Z4 sDrive 35is
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: New Jersey

iTrader: (0)

The MGP website doesn't show the Z4 under BMW. I assume you contacted them directly and arranged to work on the fit with them? Who should one contact at MGP, and what did the covers cost you?
Appreciate 0
      12-27-2011, 11:32 PM   #7
Mr Breeze
Private First Class
Mr Breeze's Avatar
United_States
22
Rep
140
Posts

Drives: 2011 Z4 35is
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidJS View Post
The MGP website doesn't show the Z4 under BMW. I assume you contacted them directly and arranged to work on the fit with them? Who should one contact at MGP, and what did the covers cost you?
I did contact them directly. Mike Barland was the guy.
Looks like they have added the 35is to the site, but not the others.
http://www.calipercovers.com/_e/gdep...7/Z_SERIES.htm

If memory serves, they were $200. It was a standard color without the MGP logo. (the faux allen screw heads are part of the standard covers)
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2011, 12:39 AM   #8
DavidJS
Private First Class
United_States
4
Rep
119
Posts

Drives: Z4 sDrive 35is
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: New Jersey

iTrader: (0)

Thank you, Mr Breeze!
Appreciate 0
      01-03-2012, 07:17 AM   #9
SHADOW4
Lieutenant
SHADOW4's Avatar
Sweden
44
Rep
486
Posts

Drives: Tanzanite M4 2018
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Sweden

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2010 E89 35i  [0.00]

Very sensible choice!

Thanks for finding this. I have been thinking alot of how to "hide" thoose uggly calipers as i am happy with the brakes performance. Pantning them is not an improving option.

Will go with this until BMW releases performance brakes front and back for our car. For show and to get the proper brake balance.
Appreciate 0
      01-05-2012, 03:37 PM   #10
az34
Major
az34's Avatar
Canada
54
Rep
1,014
Posts

Drives: 2009 z4sdrive35i 2008 x5 3.0i
Join Date: May 2011
Location: montréal

iTrader: (0)

looks nice but i heard that those covers could cause caliper overheating.
Appreciate 0
      01-06-2012, 07:14 PM   #11
Mr Breeze
Private First Class
Mr Breeze's Avatar
United_States
22
Rep
140
Posts

Drives: 2011 Z4 35is
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by az34 View Post
looks nice but i heard that those covers could cause caliper overheating.
Just my opinion, based on how they are attached/installed, unless running on the track, in normal or spirited driving, I don't see them causing over heating. Now I don't believe as the say on the site that they help cooling - there is so little of the cover (just the mounting tabs) that come in contact with the caliper that they would act as either a heat sink to dissipate the heat, nor cause the casting to over heat. I'm not worried about brake overheating, and I live in Arizona...
Appreciate 0
      01-06-2012, 07:26 PM   #12
az34
Major
az34's Avatar
Canada
54
Rep
1,014
Posts

Drives: 2009 z4sdrive35i 2008 x5 3.0i
Join Date: May 2011
Location: montréal

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Breeze View Post
Just my opinion, based on how they are attached/installed, unless running on the track, in normal or spirited driving, I don't see them causing over heating. Now I don't believe as the say on the site that they help cooling - there is so little of the cover (just the mounting tabs) that come in contact with the caliper that they would act as either a heat sink to dissipate the heat, nor cause the casting to over heat. I'm not worried about brake overheating, and I live in Arizona...
hello breeze thanks for the update. p.s. i'm just back from a trip to Vegas also went in AZ and UTAH i can tell that you are very lucky to have such great roads to drive.i'm jealous!
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2012, 07:10 PM   #13
Mr Breeze
Private First Class
Mr Breeze's Avatar
United_States
22
Rep
140
Posts

Drives: 2011 Z4 35is
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by az34 View Post
hello breeze thanks for the update. p.s. i'm just back from a trip to Vegas also went in AZ and UTAH i can tell that you are very lucky to have such great roads to drive.i'm jealous!
Reason #47 why I moved from Minnesota (and it's potholes) to Arizona and it's smooth mountain roads!

Glad you had a good trip!
Appreciate 0
      01-08-2012, 11:30 PM   #14
SANguru
Lieutenant
57
Rep
426
Posts

Drives: i8, X5 50,M550i,Tesla, MP4-12c
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA

iTrader: (0)

they will block airflow to the calipers. Watch out if you are doing any serious driving.. Even a piece of cardboard blocking the front grill can cause the car to overheat. These will be detrimental to brake cooling. Even stock unblocked calipers, I can make the stock rotors glow bright orange at the track.
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2012, 03:00 PM   #15
3002 tii
Lieutenant General
3002 tii's Avatar
2272
Rep
12,559
Posts

Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CT

iTrader: (99)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by SANguru View Post
they will block airflow to the calipers. Watch out if you are doing any serious driving.. Even a piece of cardboard blocking the front grill can cause the car to overheat. These will be detrimental to brake cooling. Even stock unblocked calipers, I can make the stock rotors glow bright orange at the track.
+1

I’d worry about trapping heat and having issues with fade. There’s a reason why guys on the track try to do everything they can to keep brake temps down (brake ducts, backing plates, high temp fluids). Even if not on track, spirited canyon carving could induce fade…
__________________
Follow for latest mods
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2012, 06:51 PM   #16
Mr Breeze
Private First Class
Mr Breeze's Avatar
United_States
22
Rep
140
Posts

Drives: 2011 Z4 35is
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

iTrader: (1)

No track, no worries.

On the track, buy Brembos, or drive a purpose built race car.

One could argue that a more open-designed wheel (like the 293's) would allow more air flow to the rotors and calipers than other stock wheel designs. But I'm not here to argue, just share that my strictly cosmetic modification suits me and my driving.
Appreciate 0
      03-13-2016, 07:40 AM   #17
Jetmart
Enlisted Member
Jetmart's Avatar
Canada
20
Rep
41
Posts

Drives: 2011 Z435is
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Windsor, Ontario

iTrader: (0)

This is an old post. Any more feedback on calliper covers?

http://www.carid.com/2012-bmw-z4-cal...-17896758.html
__________________
2011 Z4 35is
Appreciate 0
      03-13-2016, 01:16 PM   #18
mrkoven
Second Lieutenant
65
Rep
273
Posts

Drives: 2016 Z4 35i
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Silicon Valley

iTrader: (0)

^ looks really tacky to me
__________________
Mineral White FBO MHD Stage 2+
Focal & ARC Audio
Appreciate 1
      03-16-2016, 03:06 AM   #19
VailM3
Captain
61
Rep
769
Posts

Drives: 2011 Z4 35is
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Geneva Switzerland

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mrkoven View Post
^ looks really tacky to me
Got to agree, you are driving a top of the line Z4 base price 66k and you are putting on plastic caliper covers? I guess this is a precursor of more to come as the E89 heads to the "last generation" model and more "modding" comes on board.

Last edited by VailM3; 03-16-2016 at 03:46 PM..
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:24 AM.




zpost
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST