Upgrade brakes, recommendation?

[fjgregor]

Hi guys, I'm looking to upgrade my rotors and pads while I'm still getting used to the car. I've seen various setups that I really like, like the E*S ones up on their site and another from Stoptech up on a Facebook forum. What do you guys recommend? I really don't track the car, at least not for now. I use it a couple of times on the drag strip, but it's mostly daily drive to and from college/work.

Any input is appreciated, thanks

[mike@x-ph.com]

Stoptech are our most popular brake kits. I also have them on my own car.

[Fidiman]

If you want a good upgrade with a low investissement, I could advise you:
- stainless steel brake lines (Goodridge for example)
- Motul RBF600 or 660
- Pagid RS29 pads or Endless MX72 or Pagid S (best for road & track would be the first one)

Then, you could change the pistons of your brakes by the RB ones, but first, do the upgrade overmentionned, worth each bucks you will spend in it

[John_01]

IMO, there's no need to change anything. The stock rotors and pads are fine for most usage and performance driving.

If you decide to do some laps on a circuit, then performance brake fluid (freshly replaced) is the first thing you would need. You can upgrade to high temperature pads, but they will squeal when you drive on the street.

[litebulb]

On the stock setup, I hated the initial bite, constant squeaking and caked on brake dust. So 2 years ago I upgraded to ebc slotted & dimpled rotors with ebc redstuff pads. I highly suggest the redstuff pads which was a huge improvement over the stock, however the rotors, not so much. Next time around, I might try and go ecs two piece or stock blanks with the redstuff pads again.

[E82MSport]

Originally Posted by Fidiman

If you want a good upgrade with a low investissement, I could advise you:
- stainless steel brake lines (Goodridge for example)
- Motul RBF600 or 660
- Pagid RS29 pads or Endless MX72 or Pagid S (best for road & track would be the first one)

Then, you could change the pistons of your brakes by the RB ones, but first, do the upgrade overmentionned, worth each bucks you will spend in it

This is excellent advice. I'll add my $.02

I would look at Techna-Fit stainless line as it's been proven they have the exact fittings as OEM.

Here's a bit about Goodridge and Techna-Fit
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1093684

A couple other points of reference for brake lines
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1090379
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1083544

Pad choices noted above are excellent, here are a couple more.
Performance Friction (PFC08's) Track pad (can be used daily with some squeaking)
http://speedfreaksusa.com/i-18405606...rake-pads.html
http://speedfreaksusa.com/i-18405609...rake-pads.html

StopTech Street Performance - I'm currently running these are they a great daily but lacking for track
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-12...ce-brakes.aspx
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-12...FZaRHwodiBoAUA

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by Fidiman

If you want a good upgrade with a low investissement, I could advise you:
- stainless steel brake lines (Goodridge for example)
- Motul RBF600 or 660
- Pagid RS29 pads or Endless MX72 or Pagid S (best for road & track would be the first one)

Then, you could change the pistons of your brakes by the RB ones, but first, do the upgrade overmentionned, worth each bucks you will spend in it

Where can you buy MX72s for this car?
I tried to order a set for my rear calipers from one shop and it turned into a complete schamozzle.

[Fidiman]

Dunno, I bought my M Performance brakes in a shop in France and I had the opportunity to get the Endless pads mounted on them !

[E82MSport]

Originally Posted by Nugget

Where can you buy MX72s for this car?

Here you go.
http://speedfreaksusa.com/i-16544728...-bmw-135i.html

http://speedfreaksusa.com/i-16544725...-bmw-135i.html

Edit: I just noticed your location, not sure where to get them in Europe or are you in Australia?

Maybe try this..
http://www.centraxauto.com.au/ePads.htm

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by fjgregor

Hi guys, I'm looking to upgrade my rotors and pads while I'm still getting used to the car. I've seen various setups that I really like, like the E*S ones up on their site and another from Stoptech up on a Facebook forum. What do you guys recommend? I really don't track the car, at least not for now. I use it a couple of times on the drag strip, but it's mostly daily drive to and from college/work.

Any input is appreciated, thanks

No need for BBK for what you are doing.

Quality sport street pads, SS lines and high temp. brake fluid will be a good step up from what you have now.

[02rsxpilot]

Why would you need SS lines or high temp fluid for a street car? The OEM fluid is already DOT4. Stick some Porterfield R4-S pads on for better bite and be done.

[PURE135i]

I am about to try some ecs 2 pc front rotors. I do a lot of high speed braking and have warped the stock front rotors 3x now in 15k miles. Luckily I have a maintaince warranty so it's been covered. I don't want to deal with this anymore and hope these rotors withstand the 100+ mph stops a lot better than stock.

[E82MSport]

Originally Posted by PURE135i

I am about to try some ecs 2 pc front rotors. I do a lot of high speed braking and have warped the stock front rotors 3x now in 15k miles. Luckily I have a maintaince warranty so it's been covered. I don't want to deal with this anymore and hope these rotors withstand the 100+ mph stops a lot better than stock.

No flame intended but I've hammered the stock rotors (on street and on track) with stock pads and performance pads and they've held up well. I think a lot of people think they're experiencing warped rotors when really it's pad deposit. Pad deposit really can feel like warped rotors but with a few really hard brake applications it goes away.

If I was a tech and drove a car with pad deposits I'd probably say it's warped rotors if I didn't know better and just replace the rotors to get the customer on their way. Unless they are actually measuring rotor run-out with a dial indicator I'd be hesitant.

[NorthernDancer]

john01, HP Autosport and E82MSport have all given the BEST advice. I just got off the track today with essentially OE brakes. Probably a total of 40 hard slow downs from 110mph (on one of the turns after a long straight) with absolutely no issues.

[PURE135i]

Originally Posted by E82MSport

No flame intended but I've hammered the stock rotors (on street and on track) with stock pads and performance pads and they've held up well. I think a lot of people think they're experiencing warped rotors when really it's pad deposit. Pad deposit really can feel like warped rotors but with a few really hard brake applications it goes away.

If I was a tech and drove a car with pad deposits I'd probably say it's warped rotors if I didn't know better and just replace the rotors to get the customer on their way. Unless they are actually measuring rotor run-out with a dial indicator I'd be hesitant.

Def not pad deposits my rotors are grooved big time with a ton of hot spots. Doing the 1/2 mile roll racing 155 mph stops pretty much kills them by the end of the day. Usually average 18-25 runs

[brocklanders]

I find it hard to believe a warranty picked up three sets of rotors, I would have thought they would consider that beyond normal wear and tear. I doubt too many people are coming in with warped rotors.

[PURE135i]

Originally Posted by brocklanders

I find it hard to believe a warranty picked up three sets of rotors, I would have thought they would consider that beyond normal wear and tear. I doubt too many people are coming in with warped rotors.

Yeah the maintenance warranty is great.....I did do this between 2 local dealers

[cbl117]

need to replace my rotors, pads and sensors on all four sides. I wanted to try and upgrade while I'm at it. Would ecs performance rotors, hawk hps pads and stainless lines be the upgrade im looking for?

[fboutlaw]

Originally Posted by cbl117

need to replace my rotors, pads and sensors on all four sides. I wanted to try and upgrade while I'm at it. Would ecs performance rotors, hawk hps pads and stainless lines be the upgrade im looking for?

Depends on use case. This thread was originally about non-track use brakes. In which case, I'm with John_01. The stocks are totally fine even for light track use. They dust a bit, but sill stop the car fine.

When you're ready to make the tradeoff of squealing at stops and higher rotor wear, start looking at high performance street pads.

If you do end up using the car for track regularly, there is no substitute for a BBK with proper race pads. I have the stoptech BBK and PFC pads, and it was the best car upgrade I've done.

[cbl117]

Originally Posted by fboutlaw

Depends on use case. This thread was originally about non-track use brakes. In which case, I'm with John_01. The stocks are totally fine even for light track use. They dust a bit, but sill stop the car fine.

When you're ready to make the tradeoff of squealing at stops and higher rotor wear, start looking at high performance street pads.

If you do end up using the car for track regularly, there is no substitute for a BBK with proper race pads. I have the stoptech BBK and PFC pads, and it was the best car upgrade I've done.

Car is DD only. Will i notice any performance improvements with stoptech or ecs rotors vs oem? I keep reading that sS brake lines and new dot4 fluid will be an improvement. Not sure what I'd be improving but is it worth it for a DD only? Sorry to thread jack but i didnt want to make a new thread.

[fboutlaw]

Originally Posted by cbl117

Car is DD only. Will i notice any performance improvements with stoptech or ecs rotors vs oem? I keep reading that sS brake lines and new dot4 fluid will be an improvement. Not sure what I'd be improving but is it worth it for a DD only? Sorry to thread jack but i didnt want to make a new thread.

There's no performance benefit to higher temp pads unless you're getting your brakes hot, which as a DD, you shouldn't be doing.

Normal maintenance is all that's needed. Flush the brake fluid each year. Replace pads with OEM when low (you'll get a warning light).

BMW and other OEM manufacturers actually do a considerable amount of research to put out excellent DD cars. Engine tuning, chassis tuning, brake pad selection. The only reason to start changing things is if you start using the car for things it is not optimized to do.

[cbl117]

Originally Posted by fboutlaw

There's no performance benefit to higher temp pads unless you're getting your brakes hot, which as a DD, you shouldn't be doing.

Normal maintenance is all that's needed. Flush the brake fluid each year. Replace pads with OEM when low (you'll get a warning light).

BMW and other OEM manufacturers actually do a considerable amount of research to put out excellent DD cars. Engine tuning, chassis tuning, brake pad selection. The only reason to start changing things is if you start using the car for things it is not optimized to do.

Thanks for the input. I'll stick with OEM pads and rotors. May look into the BMW performance rotors.