What brakes are good

kmalik20 · 12-28-2012, 03:05 PM

2004 BMW 325i
Looking to replace the brakes and rotors

Should I get Ceramic or Semi-metalic
Also what is a good brand
I am looking at the:

1. Wagner Thermo Quiet Semi metalic/ and ceramics
2. Wagner Quick Stop Semi Metalic/ and ceramic
3. Beck/Arnley Semi Metalic/ or ceramics (Apparently they are the same brand of Zimmerman)
4. Raybestos professional grade semi-metalic

What are your inputs, I am a daily driver. Perhaps someone has some experience with some of these brakes.

Mango · 12-28-2012, 03:13 PM

stock

Zell · 12-28-2012, 03:24 PM

EBC RedStuff. EBC makes great brake parts. Their quality control is really up there.

Mango · 12-28-2012, 03:26 PM

last time i installed ebc green stuff brake pads and ebc slotted rotors, i nearly crashed. they overheated drastically (driving very mildly on the street) when the fluid boiled and pedal sank all the way to the floor. This was 10 years ago on my 2002 civic (brand new civic) so i'm not sure if their stuff is better now.

7xWDC-MSC · 12-28-2012, 03:33 PM

I replaced mine with Padgid and love them, they aren't as dusty as OEM but still dusty. I believe OEM is Textar though if you wanna go that route.

BMW#3 · 12-28-2012, 03:36 PM

Stock is always good. Or if you want to spend some extra money the bmw performance rotors are a little bit lighter and slotted. I have a set with stock pads and if nothing else they look good.

FenderGuy05 · 12-28-2012, 04:32 PM

I wanted to keep the stopping power so avoided ceramics. I went with Akembo pads I believe, and brembo rotors. From what I understand that's OEM.

rcsummers · 12-28-2012, 04:37 PM

i have stoptech drilled/slotted rotors, akebono pads, motul red fluid. Slightly better braking performance than stock for me. but then again I have an M.

Mango · 12-28-2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenderGuy05

I wanted to keep the stopping power so avoided ceramics. I went with Akembo pads I believe, and brembo rotors. From what I understand that's OEM.

Nope. Both aftermarket companies.

You meant Akebono, btw.

rcsummers · 12-28-2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenderGuy05

I wanted to keep the stopping power so avoided ceramics. I went with Akembo pads I believe, and brembo rotors. From what I understand that's OEM.

BMW parts would be OEM.

Mango · 12-28-2012, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcsummers

BMW parts would be OEM.

BMW parts would be OE.

BMW parts with the roundels scratched off and/or identified by an OEM supplier would be OEM.

Zell · 12-28-2012, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E46Mango

last time i installed ebc green stuff brake pads and ebc slotted rotors, i nearly crashed. they overheated drastically (driving very mildly on the street) when the fluid boiled and pedal sank all the way to the floor. This was 10 years ago on my 2002 civic (brand new civic) so i'm not sure if their stuff is better now.

I've been told to stay away from GreenStuff as well, but RedStuff seems to be the sweet spot.

tock172 · 12-28-2012, 05:43 PM

I'm running Zimmermann Rotors & Ate pads. If I were to do it all over again, I would get Ate rotors & textar pads or jurid pads.

Mango · 12-28-2012, 05:57 PM

i love the brembos except the rusting. sholud have painted it or gone zimmerman since i think they are coated. dont like the zimmermans?

i'm using ate pads front, textar pads rear.

tock172 · 12-28-2012, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E46Mango

i love the brembos except the rusting. sholud have painted it or gone zimmerman since i think they are coated. dont like the zimmermans?

i'm using ate pads front, textar pads rear.

The zimmermann rotors are excellent. Absolutely no complaints. No rusting problem either.

I have reason to believe the OE rotors are actually manufactured by Ate, so what's why I'd probably go Ate next time. I feel they might be cheaper as well by a few dollars.

BBBoy323i · 12-28-2012, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenderGuy05

I wanted to keep the stopping power so avoided ceramics. I went with Akembo pads I believe, and brembo rotors. From what I understand that's OEM.

I have the same setup as you for my fronts

they are pretty good.

Mango · 12-28-2012, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tock172

The zimmermann rotors are excellent. Absolutely no complaints. No rusting problem either.

I have reason to believe the OE rotors are actually manufactured by Ate, so what's why I'd probably go Ate next time. I feel they might be cheaper as well by a few dollars.

IIRC, the Ate and Genuine BMW rotors look different. I don't think any other branded rotors match the dark gray look of the BMW ones. While ATE might make a lot of OE brake components for BMW, not 100% sure about the rotors. check it out

E46330iguy · 12-28-2012, 06:53 PM

I run Stoptec Rotors and pads, They work great for the track but they are a bit noisy. If your 100% street use just go stock

sfcjetjr · 12-28-2012, 06:54 PM

Bmw oem. Dust yeah, but comes with the territory. Stop trying to fight it. Look at every other European car, same issue.

E46330iguy · 12-28-2012, 06:57 PM

To give you an idea on the dust that comes off my stoptec rotors/pads, My rims where perfectly clean before i went to take that picture, I drove maybe an hour and they looked like that.

12-28-2012, 03:05 PM	#1
kmalik20 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 9 My Ride: Bmw 325i View My Garage	What brakes are good 2004 BMW 325i Looking to replace the brakes and rotors Should I get Ceramic or Semi-metalic Also what is a good brand I am looking at the: 1. Wagner Thermo Quiet Semi metalic/ and ceramics 2. Wagner Quick Stop Semi Metalic/ and ceramic 3. Beck/Arnley Semi Metalic/ or ceramics (Apparently they are the same brand of Zimmerman) 4. Raybestos professional grade semi-metalic What are your inputs, I am a daily driver. Perhaps someone has some experience with some of these brakes.

12-28-2012, 03:13 PM	#2
Mango Platinum Plus Quality Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 16,350 My Ride: M54B30 View My Garage	stock __________________ Cooling \| Maintenance \| Vacuum \| Suspension \| Costs "Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." -Steve Jobs

12-28-2012, 03:26 PM	#4
Mango Platinum Plus Quality Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 16,350 My Ride: M54B30 View My Garage	last time i installed ebc green stuff brake pads and ebc slotted rotors, i nearly crashed. they overheated drastically (driving very mildly on the street) when the fluid boiled and pedal sank all the way to the floor. This was 10 years ago on my 2002 civic (brand new civic) so i'm not sure if their stuff is better now. __________________ Cooling \| Maintenance \| Vacuum \| Suspension \| Costs "Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." -Steve Jobs

12-28-2012, 03:33 PM	#5
7xWDC-MSC Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Peoples Republik of Massachusetts Posts: 95 My Ride: 2005 325xi View My Garage	I replaced mine with Padgid and love them, they aren't as dusty as OEM but still dusty. I believe OEM is Textar though if you wanna go that route. Last edited by 7xWDC-MSC; 12-28-2012 at 03:34 PM.

12-28-2012, 04:32 PM	#7
FenderGuy05 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Daly City Posts: 678 My Ride: 2002 BMW 325i View My Garage	I wanted to keep the stopping power so avoided ceramics. I went with Akembo pads I believe, and brembo rotors. From what I understand that's OEM. __________________

12-28-2012, 03:24 PM	#3
Zell Wears carbon fiber boxers Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: In a van down by the river Posts: 3,693 My Ride: 330Ci ZHP 6sp View My Garage	EBC RedStuff. EBC makes great brake parts. Their quality control is really up there. __________________ E46Fanatic's resident mathemagician

12-28-2012, 03:36 PM	#6
BMW#3 Banned User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 18 My Ride: Jet Black 330ci View My Garage	Stock is always good. Or if you want to spend some extra money the bmw performance rotors are a little bit lighter and slotted. I have a set with stock pads and if nothing else they look good.

12-28-2012, 04:37 PM	#8
rcsummers Mister TechnoMeister Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Suburbs, NJ Posts: 3,024 My Ride: M3 View My Garage	i have stoptech drilled/slotted rotors, akebono pads, motul red fluid. Slightly better braking performance than stock for me. but then again I have an M. __________________ "RICH" EURO.TECHNIKS My Build Thread

12-28-2012, 05:43 PM	#13
tock172 100% star stuff Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,432 My Ride: 2004 330i View My Garage	I'm running Zimmermann Rotors & Ate pads. If I were to do it all over again, I would get Ate rotors & textar pads or jurid pads. __________________ Bilstein/Eibach B12 Pro-Plus Suspension System \| DICE Mediabridge \| Valentine One

12-28-2012, 05:57 PM	#14
Mango Platinum Plus Quality Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 16,350 My Ride: M54B30 View My Garage	i love the brembos except the rusting. sholud have painted it or gone zimmerman since i think they are coated. dont like the zimmermans? i'm using ate pads front, textar pads rear. __________________ Cooling \| Maintenance \| Vacuum \| Suspension \| Costs "Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." -Steve Jobs

12-28-2012, 06:53 PM	#18
E46330iguy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Canada,SK Posts: 2,392 My Ride: Supercharged 330i View My Garage	I run Stoptec Rotors and pads, They work great for the track but they are a bit noisy. If your 100% street use just go stock __________________ Winter Authority When Hell freezes over,we'll play Hockey there too Its fundamental to our nature, man must explore. you've Met a terrible fate haven't you ? KONI /Michelin/Stoptec/ Bimmerbrake / MTechII/AA Stage one (for now) Questions about Header wrap? clickHere Supercharger build thread click Here

12-28-2012, 06:54 PM	#19
sfcjetjr Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Avon Park, Florida Posts: 233 My Ride: 2002 BMW 325i View My Garage	Bmw oem. Dust yeah, but comes with the territory. Stop trying to fight it. Look at every other European car, same issue.

12-28-2012, 06:57 PM	#20
E46330iguy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Canada,SK Posts: 2,392 My Ride: Supercharged 330i View My Garage	To give you an idea on the dust that comes off my stoptec rotors/pads, My rims where perfectly clean before i went to take that picture, I drove maybe an hour and they looked like that. __________________ Winter Authority When Hell freezes over,we'll play Hockey there too Its fundamental to our nature, man must explore. you've Met a terrible fate haven't you ? KONI /Michelin/Stoptec/ Bimmerbrake / MTechII/AA Stage one (for now) Questions about Header wrap? clickHere Supercharger build thread click Here Last edited by E46330iguy; 12-28-2012 at 06:57 PM.

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