Body make-over. (Zeds, not mine!)

[Layor]

Well, my Z4 goes into the shop for a body make-over a week today. While it's there the owner, Russ, has kindly said he will put it on the ramp so I can work on other bits. Oh joy! working in the warm.
I'm going to replace the copper brake pipes and thought that while I am at it I can replace the hoses too. Whilst looking for prices on the web I came across two different sizes of hose for the rear. Both for the 2003, Z4 E85, 2.5i. One, which I presume is the 'standard' one, is 235mm and the other is 680mm. Is the longer one for re-routing for a 'mod' of some sort?
I also need to sort the nearside (l/h) headlight out. There is a lot of condensation in there and I am thinking that the seal has gone, also, I think one of the fixing lugs has broken, as when the bonnet is lifted the headlight is loose. If cleaning, drying out and re-sealing work okay, then I'm sure I can sort out the lug problem. But, in case it is not possible then I will be needing a new headlight. Any idea's where to go for one, please? The only one I have seen S/H was up in Scotland, and was advised to collect rather than have it sent by post. A long way to go, especially at the moment!!
Last query, I would like to fit 'Night breaker' bulbs as I have read on the forum that quite a few of you have used them with success. But which ones do I need/get? There seem to be so many choices.
Cheers all, Colin.

 

[t-tony]

There are 2 rear hoses at each side of the car Colin, in case you didn't know. One is longer than the other.
If you buy a set of braided hoses there should be 6 in the set.

Tony.

Ps. Some pictures of the hoses would help.

 

[Layor]

Yes, my bad, Tony. I realised that when I took another look at one of your postings. I was thinking that there was only one hose between the line from the master cylinder and the line to the caliper. Doh!
I'll get some pics once I start stripping her down. (now that sounds as if it should be on a different site!)
Is there any great advantage in using the braided hoses over the standard ones, i.e. standard hoses expanding under pressure? Not worried about the cost, I'd rather be safe than sorry!
Are there any particular brands that anyone has found to be better than others?
Cheers, Colin.

 

[t-tony]

You will end up with a firmer brake pedal Colin for sure. I don't think I'd want to go back to rubber hoses on mine now. I'll post a link on this post later to where I got mine.

Tony.

 

[Layor]

Thanks Tony, appreciate it.
By the way, the flaring kit arrived the other day, not too impressed with it though, okay, it was only a tenner and I should not have expected much from it, just me being a scrooge, but you cannot make DIN ends and the quality was worse than I was expecting. That will teach me!
Anyway I ended up getting a hand held one for £35. Better quality, does the DIN and will be very handy for using on the pipes without having to take them out of the system. I have found through long experience that it does not pay to skimp on tools, but I ignored my own advice! More fool me!
Colin.