Brake discs and pads

[crankedup5]

Some while back I asked advise regarding which front discs and replacement pads I should consider to purchase for my E60 550i.
For various reasons I didn’t get around to to the job but now it’s time to get on with it. I am going for Brembo discs and pads, but a little confused at the choice for pads ranging from £41 set to £87 set.
Average road use of my car does not demand kit suited to track days. Any suggestions for which pads I should go for. Thanks.

[Court_S]

If they’re available for your car, I’d go or ATE ceramics.

My experience is good bite and a load less dust.

[sortedcossie]

If you leave the car for more than 4 or 5 days at a time, I'd avoid the ATE ceramic. They don't clear any build up off the disks very well.

If you use it every day or so then they are really, really good.

[crankedup5]

Thanks guys, the car tends to sit around with limited use in mileage terms as well. I’m confused regarding the price difference of the brembo pads as well.

[d_a_n1979]

crankedup5 said:

Thanks guys, the car tends to sit around with limited use in mileage terms as well. I’m confused regarding the price difference of the brembo pads as well.

I'd personally stick with ATE discs and whichever pads you want - always had issues with Brembo discs & pads especially from ECP and the likes. I do not like Brembo pads at all, very dusty and seem to feel soft as well (as in soft braking)

TRW, Jurid & Textar are OEM, as well as ATE - OEM pads are Jurid and tend to be better than aftermarket Jurid pads; BMW get a different compound I think! Get them via Autodoc if you can

Another vote for ATE Ceramic pads and I never had any issues with them on my E39s; they'd sit all week not being used as well as I work from home; quiet pads, very little dust and work superbly with the ATE discs too

Edited by d_a_n1979 on Tuesday 2nd July 15:11

[Court_S]

crankedup5 said:

Thanks guys, the car tends to sit around with limited use in mileage terms as well. I’m confused regarding the price difference of the brembo pads as well.

If I recall there is licensed Brembo’s made by others which are cheaper and a bit stter and actual Brembo’s.

Normal ATE pads will be good (OE manufacturer).

[crankedup5]

Thanks to all contributors, looks like ATE are the favoured brand. I will get back into Autodoc.

[d_a_n1979]

crankedup5 said:

Thanks to all contributors, looks like ATE are the favoured brand. I will get back into Autodoc.

Check the app as well; generally the best discounts are on there.

I add the parts to my wish list via my Mac and the do the order via the app on my iPhone etc

[crankedup5]

d_a_n1979 said:

crankedup5 said:

Thanks to all contributors, looks like ATE are the favoured brand. I will get back into Autodoc.

Check the app as well; generally the best discounts are on there.

I add the parts to my wish list via my Mac and the do the order via the app on my iPhone etc

Thanks for tips, checked their website and the discs, pads and wear sensor come in at a rounded £345 all in. I will have a look at the app installation for my ipad.
My son will be doing the fitting for me, I’ve ordered a brake caliper piston rewind tool just to make life a little easier for him.
Thanks again.

[d_a_n1979]

crankedup5 said:

d_a_n1979 said:

crankedup5 said:

Thanks to all contributors, looks like ATE are the favoured brand. I will get back into Autodoc.

Check the app as well; generally the best discounts are on there.

I add the parts to my wish list via my Mac and the do the order via the app on my iPhone etc

Thanks for tips, checked their website and the discs, pads and wear sensor come in at a rounded £345 all in. I will have a look at the app installation for my ipad.
My son will be doing the fitting for me, I’ve ordered a brake caliper piston rewind tool just to make life a little easier for him.
Thanks again.

No need IIRC; they just push back in (brake fluid cap off etc)

[crankedup5]

[Tommie38]

Ate Ceramics are excellent for dust, just be aware that they brake ever so slightly less than factory pads.

If not ceramics, I would go for genuine pads from the dealer. In my experience they are generally better than aftermarket for the combination of noise/dust/braking. OE manufacturers (even if the same as the dealer) can vary; sometimes you get the same product in a different box and other times you do not.

[Tommie38]

Ate Ceramics are excellent for dust, just be aware that they brake ever so slightly less than factory pads.

If not ceramics, I would go for genuine pads from the dealer. In my experience they are always better than aftermarket for the combination of noise/dust/braking. OE manufacturers (even if the same as the dealer) can vary; sometimes you get the same product in a different box and other times you do not.

[d_a_n1979]

Never had any issues or 'less braking' with ATE Ceramic pads; they were better than OEM BMW pads on my E39s; no noise, little to no dust and very good bite from the off / cold...

So no idea where you get 'they brake less' from...

[Court_S]

Can’t say that I’ve experienced less power from my ceramics. They certainly benefit from a really, really good bleed. The ones on my wife’s 330i bite really hard (I was very, very pedantic about the bleed though).

The OE pads in my M140i were really dusty.

[d_a_n1979]

Court_S said:

Can’t say that I’ve experienced less power from my ceramics. They certainly benefit from a really, really good bleed. The ones on my wife’s 330i bite really hard (I was very, very pedantic about the bleed though).

The OE pads in my M140i were really dusty.

My OEM pads are dusty now pal; more than they have been since fitting them TBH - the M Performance discs probably don't help...

Then again the wheels are well coated with C5 and makes them a doddle to wash; so not overly bothered currently...

[Pica-Pica]

I gave up servicing discs some while ago. On my E36 and now F30 335d (370 front), I have always had them done at the main dealer. They last long enough not to worry about the cost. My experience is that they have never grabbed or squealed. Front brake dust is the main (but a minor) issue. I guess some wheel finishing treatment, as mentioned may help.

[d_a_n1979]

Pica-Pica said:

I gave up servicing discs some while ago. On my E36 and now F30 335d (370 front), I have always had them done at the main dealer. They last long enough not to worry about the cost. My experience is that they have never grabbed or squealed. Front brake dust is the main (but a minor) issue. I guess some wheel finishing treatment, as mentioned may help.

Yup; a coating of Gtechniq C5 goes a long way to helping keep the wheels clean

[roadie]

I use E60 rear discs on the rear of my E92 running the F3x brake setup.

I am really pleased with the combination of Textar two-piece discs and EBC Redstuff pads all round after an extremely poor experience with Meyle HD discs and pads. The Meyle HD discs corroded through the wear surface after a week on the stormy Dorset coast that resulted in vibration that could not be resolved. The pads also never wore the discs evenly and left parts of the wear surface unswept.

The Textar & EBC setup is as how it should be and has the benefits of no visible corrosion and very low dust.

[rottenegg]

d_a_n1979 said:

Court_S said:

Can’t say that I’ve experienced less power from my ceramics. They certainly benefit from a really, really good bleed. The ones on my wife’s 330i bite really hard (I was very, very pedantic about the bleed though).

The OE pads in my M140i were really dusty.

My OEM pads are dusty now pal;

They certainly are Easy to clean off though and more importantly, they bite like a rabid dog from cold and are silent