Howdy all, I'm a noob. Long time bimmer driver (e46, e90), first time e60... '08 535i. Love the car... Amazing how well it performs for a car this size.

I recently got that dreadful break squeak signaling time for new pads and rotors. A quick trip to the dealership revealed that I still had about 8,000 miles of life left on the pads but that they can't rotate rotors and a set of OEM breaks and rotors for the fronts alone are $800!! (I called around and it is pretty much the same price at most shops I called) Now I know a performance car needs performance parts and I'm not going to complain about the price... But I do have to ask if at that price point, are there better options? Perhaps drilled rotors?

What do you guys do?

 

This might be helpful.

https://5series.net/forums/topic/117...1#entry1448736

https://5series.net/forums/topic/117...kages-for-e60/

 

Try R1 Concepts, they have drilled/slotted rotors with pads too @ $300 on Ebay with free shipping. Then take it to a local mechanic or a Prp Boys or Midas to install them, usually runs a little over $200 for labor. I did that for my fronts, now doing the backs the same way. Hope this helps, I can not afford the dealer anymore myself.

 

thanks guys. I would definitely appreciate a cheaper option vs. the dealer. I've always been a little nervous going after-market on the breaks. Seems like there really isn't a consensus on if it's worth the tradeoff... less break dust but also less bite.

 

...and no disrespect to Michael from acute performance, but in the short time I've been on this forum, that seems to be the only real brand I've seen people talk about on this forum. That always makes me a little nervous. Is that because they are really that good or are there not really that many good options out there?

 

there were a few people with issues with his stuff, but in his defense, i believe he did what he could to make things right. i believe less brake performace, and rusting rotors were some of the issues.

if you get ceramic pads(less dust), chances are you may feel a slight loss in braking performance. also, make sure the rotors you get have a coating on them so that they dont rust and look like sh*t.

 

If you want better performance go with blank disc. The Hawk pads actually improve braking slightly but the cross drilled rotors decrease bite a touch. If you went with ss brake lines you'd end up with better pedal feel and erformance than stock for sure.