Brake pads need changing ...which ones to buy???

Hi All,

Ok so just bought my second Bmw E46 but upgraded this time from the baby 318CI Coupe to the 330CI Msport Convertible on a 2001 Y reg.

Brake pads are at the limit and been offered a few choices...Jarid - Mintex - and some really cheap and nasty budget rubbish

Any opinions on this...Car just for road use and not thrashed around, have my little ones in the car though so want good safe stopping power!

Cheers

Axxis Metal Master pads from Turner Motorsports are fantastic.

Don't scrimp on brakes.

Read what they say about these pads on the Turner site.

Great stopping power and low dust.

Pagid or Jurid are OEM.

The list of choices is endless; there is no single best pad, they're all a compromise of some sort.
If you don't track your car, want OEM feel with good initial bite, but lots of dust, go with Pagid or Jurid.

I am running Pagid "red" pads from Bavarian Auto. I'm pleased with them, but they still generate alot of dust.
Axxis Metal Master is another good choice, they're made by Repco who has been making brake pads forever.

Originally Posted by Bm330PPN

Hi All,

Ok so just bought my second Bmw E46 but upgraded this time from the baby 318CI Coupe to the 330CI Msport Convertible on a 2001 Y reg.

Brake pads are at the limit and been offered a few choices...Jarid - Mintex - and some really cheap and nasty budget rubbish

Any opinions on this...Car just for road use and not thrashed around, have my little ones in the car though so want good safe stopping power!

Cheers

Just curious seeing this post, has anyone started using the ceramic pads? I know the OEM pads are great stopping but as all have mentioned, very dusty. I would have to say that every pad I have used on my 'bimmer family' (and that's a lot) other than OEM, has resulted in greater brake foot force, not as quick stopping but no dust. What have you guys experienced?

Originally Posted by Scott ZHP

Pagid or Jurid are OEM.

The list of choices is endless; there is no single best pad, they're all a compromise of some sort.
If you don't track your car, want OEM feel with good initial bite, but lots of dust, go with Pagid or Jurid.

I am running Pagid "red" pads from Bavarian Auto. I'm pleased with them, but they still generate alot of dust.
Axxis Metal Master is another good choice, they're made by Repco who has been making brake pads forever.

Wrong, Porterfield R4S does have OEM bite, low dust, highest thermal resistance compared to other non-track pads. Downsides are cost and it takes a mile of driving to warm up from cold. Works great for weekend warrior track days along with auto-x. Unlike the Metal Masters it doesn't eat rotors.

Originally Posted by rav31

Just curious seeing this post, has anyone started using the ceramic pads? I know the OEM pads are great stopping but as all have mentioned, very dusty. I would have to say that every pad I have used on my 'bimmer family' (and that's a lot) other than OEM, has resulted in greater brake foot force, not as quick stopping but no dust. What have you guys experienced?

Like Scott said above, brake pads are *always* a compromise....you`re trading one thing to get something else. Low dust = less initial bite....seems to be a Universal Fact Of Life....

I'm not sure what you want out of your brake pads, but, if friction is what you want, look here:
- What friction grade (e.g., EE, FF, EF, etc.) is recommended for BMW brake pads (1) (2)

Originally Posted by av98

Wrong, Porterfield R4S does have OEM bite, low dust, highest thermal resistance compared to other non-track pads. Downsides are cost and it takes a mile of driving to warm up from cold. Works great for weekend warrior track days along with auto-x. Unlike the Metal Masters it doesn't eat rotors.

I am familiar with Porterfield, they're mostly used for track days and by the racing set.

Like I said, ALL pads are a compromise. Not many people are willing to wait a mile for their brake pads to warm up, LOL.

Originally Posted by Scott ZHP

I am familiar with Porterfield, they're mostly used for track days and by the racing set.

Like I said, ALL pads are a compromise. Not many people are willing to wait a mile for their brake pads to warm up, LOL.

Then if you are familiar you would know that they still work even within that mile before they reach maximum operating temp for stopping. Even at 50% of the stopping power, it's equivalent to the OEM pads stopping power.

And if you really know the Porterfields well, their track specific pads are the R4 models; not the R4S.

http://www.livermoreperformance.com/...ield_info.html

Just for reference the R4S have a friction grade of about FG or GG using a Carbon Kevlar material.

http://porterfield-brakes.com/images...6_02_41_04.pdf

Originally Posted by bluebee

I'm not sure what you want out of your brake pads, but, if friction is what you want, look here:
- What friction grade (e.g., EE, FF, EF, etc.) is recommended for BMW brake pads (1) (2)

@ Bluebee....Thanks for the post. I checked out your links & educated myself, as I was NOT aware of the rating system on brake pads. I just never thought to search before. So, bottom line is for general everyday driving, which can be as wide is it's broad to some, an "FF" rated pad, I assume, would be the best choice. If I ever tracked my car, heaven forbid, I'd have separate SPECIAL pads & tires. But for day to day driving, the OEM Jarid are great but the dust sure does suck.

It depends on what you desire from a brake pad, if you like original equipment performance, Jurid or Pagid brake pads will do the trick, if you desire cleaner wheels with near original performance then Akebono are your pads.
Axxis , now PBR, pads are excellent and long lasting.

Originally Posted by lancelot1959

It depends on what you desire from a brake pad

This is for the E39, but the suggested pads should be commonly available for the E46 as well:
- What are the most commonly recommended pads for the E39, and why (1)

EDIT: See also this duplicate thread:
> E46 (1999 - 2006) > Brake pads need changing ...which ones to buy???