BostonJon

hey everyone-
getting ready to put on new front pads/rotors on my 2007 530xi. outside of OE replacements, i'm wondering what you guys have used and what you'd recommend. thanks!

kalacho2006

I just get an aftermarket set eline crossed drilled 4 rotors and ceramic pads from R1concepts and they work pretty good. if u go the oem route lot of folks here go for the zimmerman rotors and hawk performance pads.I recommend u get the r1concepts set if u want a sport look

JayArras

Zimmerman + Akebono pads would be my vote.

BostonJon

is the reduced bite of a ceramic pad noticeable? that's my only reservation about a non-metallic pad.

just ordered the zimmerman rotors and a new set of rotor set screws.

FormerE30Owner

Actually the reduced bite of the non-metallic was exactly what I was looking for, but I didn't want to suffer the reduced braking performance of non warmed up ceramics, so I opted for semi-metallics from ATE with the Zimmerman rotors.

Its a personal preference since I like to "heel and toe" with my 6MT 545 and the OEM are just too sensitive to allow good modulation of the brakes when doing the heel and toe technique.

Salut, Bob P.

JayArras

I don't notice a reduced bite at all, Jon. I've had some hard braking situations over the past few months and the car stopped just fine. Then again, I'm not a tail gaiter.

BostonJon

thanks, bob and jay. I looked back at the maintenance records for my toyota and realized that my last set of pads were akebono and they have performed well. I ordered the akebono pads - mostly for the reduced dust - and since they were only $60 if i need to put on a semi-metallic set it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

rice_rocket88

It's probably too late.. but I have a friend who is local and does the cross drilled/slotted or whatever your preference.. it's DRT-Sport. He recently moved his whole shop to NH. But he usually uses zimmerman blanks, and has a pretty fancy setup to slot/drill them. Honestly the extra slot and drill has more bite than the flat discs to me... I've been extremely happy with them. Plus I paired them with the ceramic and/or semi-mettalic pads with no issues.. less brake dust. Win win for me.

BostonJon

i'm familiar with them but didnt know they were still in business - website isn't working at the moment.

for my driving - with is only around town and some highway - i'm not convinced that drilled/slotted is really necessary or appropriate.

rice_rocket88

Maybe the server is down from the move..

I do mostly highway to work, although it's a lot of stop and go and horrible traffic. I find that every car I have that retained the stock discs always get pad deposit which drive me insane. I usually change my entire brake setup every 2 years give or take and I love it because my braking is always the same to me as the day I put on fresh ones.