So - what brake pads ?

[555]

Thought I'd start a new thread from the "squeaky brakes" one..

Mine squeak too - but I thought that was due to the pads being on their way out (indicator says 3000kms to go) and the squeak is the wear indicator...

Now I got a quote - it's so rude, that I wont post it up!!

So - what brake pads to you recommend?

I saw the CoolCarbon ones that are advertised somewhere on bimmerpost, emailed the mob (EAS or something) - No reply... well... as if I'm going to order off them.

I'm not paying ransom money for front pads....

[Nick135i]

I use Ferodo DS2500 from vsport. (http://www.vsport.com.au/ecommerce/?categoryID=141)

From memory they cost $270 a set for the front.

They are usually seen as a road/race pad - however on a 135i I think they are an excellent choice for just a road pad only.

There has been absolutey no noise what so ever from the pads. They dust about the same as OEM (bummer).

On the road (and the race track) they are a small improvement in feel and heat fade over OEM - however I would not say a massive improvement (I was a little disappointed that the improvement was not more).

But at $270 a set the price is right.

I changed the brake pads myself and it is a pretty straight forward job.

[05C4R]

i swapped over to low dust ceramic and carbon Hawk pads which have been really good

[takahashi]

Point of advice. if you have some mileage on the car. wise to machine the rotor before changing new pads. it is optional IMO but better, especially change from one material to another.

[E92325i]

Originally Posted by takahashi

Point of advice. if you have some mileage on the car. wise to machine the rotor before changing new pads. it is optional IMO but better, especially change from one material to another.

Actually it is not advisable to machine a BMW rotor at all since the material is too soft.

[takahashi]

Originally Posted by E92325i

Actually it is not advisable to machine a BMW rotor at all since the material is too soft.

Really you series? They made from Tofu??

Seriously... why not. Just lightly sand it to get off the residual?

[E92325i]

Not sure on the reason but i hear a lot of european cars (not just bmw) have soft material rotors which should not be machined.

I checked this with one of the guys @ SouthernBM and they told me the same thing. This topic actually came up this week over at E90post and another member also confirmed that bmw rotors should not be machined.

[555]

Waiting on a quote from VSport for Hawk or Ferrodo and some rotors...

[Dec540]

Originally Posted by beemer

i swapped over to low dust ceramic and carbon Hawk pads which have been really good

+1 i fkn love them. I use to have EBC greenstuff pads. If you'r the kind of person who tracks your car or only ever takes it out on the weekend for a thrash then i'd highly recommend the EBC pads. They squeek a tiny bit when cold and put dust all over your wheels but they work a treat! I absolutely thrashed mine a couple of times and never got any fade. But be warned, you will be forever cleaning your wheels.

The hawk ceramic pads are far better than i thought, they don't have as much initial bite as the greenstuff pads so they don't give you as much confidence but when you really need to stop they work a treat and i'd say are on par if not slightly better than OEM pads. I haven't had a chance to really thrash them but there was no worries with fade when beading them in. I love that i can basically just touch up my wheels once every few days and thats only if i'm really anal. I also drive at least 70k's a day so they get plenty of use.

I got mine from the states for $200 for an e46 325 so they will probably be slightly more for a 135 but they are still incredibly reasonably priced and it's a really easy DIY so there is no point paying someone else to do it.

[555]

Originally Posted by Dec540

+1 i fkn love them. I use to have EBC greenstuff pads. If you'r the kind of person who tracks your car or only ever takes it out on the weekend for a thrash then i'd highly recommend the EBC pads. They squeek a tiny bit when cold and put dust all over your wheels but they work a treat! I absolutely thrashed mine a couple of times and never got any fade. But be warned, you will be forever cleaning your wheels.

The hawk ceramic pads are far better than i thought, they don't have as much initial bite as the greenstuff pads so they don't give you as much confidence but when you really need to stop they work a treat and i'd say are on par if not slightly better than OEM pads. I haven't had a chance to really thrash them but there was no worries with fade when beading them in. I love that i can basically just touch up my wheels once every few days and thats only if i'm really anal. I also drive at least 70k's a day so they get plenty of use.

I got mine from the states for $200 for an e46 325 so they will probably be slightly more for a 135 but they are still incredibly reasonably priced and it's a really easy DIY so there is no point paying someone else to do it.

That's good feedback, thanks...

VSport said to go the Ferrodos over the Hawks, but mentioned that the Hawks are also less dusty..

So far: $198 for Hawks front only, $306 for the DS2500's front only...

[wnta135]

I just put a set of Cool Carbons on. Bav Auto has both front and rears on sale for $245.

[Dec540]

Originally Posted by 555

That's good feedback, thanks...

VSport said to go the Ferrodos over the Hawks, but mentioned that the Hawks are also less dusty..

So far: $198 for Hawks front only, $306 for the DS2500's front only...

Try this

[wkthyk]

Originally Posted by E92325i

Not sure on the reason but i hear a lot of european cars (not just bmw) have soft material rotors which should not be machined.

I checked this with one of the guys @ SouthernBM and they told me the same thing. This topic actually came up this week over at E90post and another member also confirmed that bmw rotors should not be machined.

yup, different to jap cars design, european car brake rotor designs are a bit softer, reason is for a softer ride, reduce brake noise, and more importantly the brake pad and rotor are designed to wear together at the same time so providing a better friction coefficient and force you to change the rotor over some time to avoid the deficiency of the brake system.

Same as the above reason, we should not use any track use dead hard brake pads on OEM rotors, which will quickly wear the rotors.

[BMWRX]

Ok, I thought I'd tack onto the end of this thread rather than starting a new one.

My pads are due for replacement soon and I've been recommended by my mechanic to put EBC pads in as I do a track day once or twice a year. So, should I go green or red? Eventually I'll put the BMW Performance rotors in, if that factors into the equation.

Or do I get some other pad that will be great for the road and hold up well for the very limited track use I need them for. Cool Carbon gets mentioned quite a lot. Are they available in Australia? Will Cool Carbon be better than OEM pad in terms of bite?

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

I reckon OEM pads are pretty good in terms of initial bite and hard to beat... reason is they're soft and designed for that, however the trade off is the fade they experience.

Might as well change rotors at the same time as pads?

[BBK]

Craig I am in need of the same! Got a quote from the dealer for over $450 just for fronts... yikes!

If you are buying online maybe we can go halves in shipping?

[1q2w3e4r]

Pagid Yellows RS29 or 19s FTW.

[m 135]

Originally Posted by BMWRX

Ok, I thought I'd tack onto the end of this thread rather than starting a new one.

My pads are due for replacement soon and I've been recommended by my mechanic to put EBC pads in as I do a track day once or twice a year. So, should I go green or red? Eventually I'll put the BMW Performance rotors in, if that factors into the equation.

Or do I get some other pad that will be great for the road and hold up well for the very limited track use I need them for. Cool Carbon gets mentioned quite a lot. Are they available in Australia? Will Cool Carbon be better than OEM pad in terms of bite?

I changed to cool carbon when i had the 135,bought them straight from their site,got the dealer to install them,their charge was quite reasonable from memory,they did not bite as hard as bmw pads,which i thought would grab too hard anyway,but they were great pads and the dust was reduced alot.