What front pads to use ?

[Darren318is]

Well im afraid to start this debate, but I need front pads for mostly city driving I want good responce cold and ok hot. for some reason everyone in the city seams to want to bend my car. I’m not taking it to the race track so what brand do you all recommend? I know I can go to lordco and get any brand but are factory pads worth it? or......?

[fastbmw]

Mintex aren't bad, very little dust. Pagid's are great but expensive and very dusty. Lordco brand are cheap and well cheap. They will last along time and have okay braking for the city, very little dust but are by no means "performance" brakes. They will probably suit your purpose fine. Just make sure they are bedded in properly and you'll be fine.

the oem pad is pagid, the lordco brand is some generic brand they use.

[e30_m3]

for low dust/oem spec i would go Pagid, or Mintex. If you want to get abit more braking but keep the dust down i would say get the Hawk HPS Street pads, mopac sells them and they are abit pricey. For all out braking but still usable when cold the HAWK HP Plus are very good, and the Ferodo DS2500. I'm running them now and they are awesome hot and cold but dust like crazy.

I would definately get oem or pagid/mintex before any of lordco special pad. I've used them on other cars and friends cars and they are garbage.

I might be able to get you a fairly good price on some Mintex, or Pagid pads just pm me your car specs

[Mike 91 318ic]

FYI the dealer has a good brake package, $688.50 for front and rear. That includes rotors, pads, sensors, installation, 100% silent, very little dust, 2 year warranty and are awesome brakes IMO. Also the hubs on the rotors come painted so they don't rust.

M

More Prices:
Brake Pads and installation
Front 173.50
Rear 164.50
Front and Rear $308.50
Brake Discs, Pads, and installation
Front 393.50
Rear 303.50
Front and Rear 688.50




Well im afraid to start this debate, but I need front pads for mostly city driving I want good responce cold and ok hot. for some reason everyone in the city seams to want to bend my car. I’m not taking it to the race track so what brand do you all recommend? I know I can go to lordco and get any brand but are factory pads worth it? or......?

[Dubly]

Mike,

Holy shit, that's a lot of money! You can do yourself for 1/2 the $$ in under an hour without breaking a sweat. Does that include new brake fluid?

Darren,

On my e30's I've run Hawk HPS, HP Plus, Axxis Ultimate, PBR Metal Masters. I would not suggest any of them for your application. The Metal Master are not great and the rest are more $$ and high dust. Good luck with the pad hunt.

[Mike 91 318ic]

I find those prices totally reasonable. Of course it can be done for less if you do it yourself but keep in mind that's for genuine BMW parts, and a two year warranty. I'll bet a shop like Midas would charge pretty much the same with inferior parts. Persoanally I don't have the time nor the place to do brakes, and I haven't done them myself in years so I'd be rusty. Also my afternoons are worth more than 300 to me, not to sound snobby but I spend more than that on dinner.

I just thought I'd mention you don't always get raped from the dealer if you need work done. Doing 4 brakes in under an hour is a great time, you should open a garage!! or be a back yard mechanic for extra cash, I would if I could.
Best wishes
M

Mike,

Holy shit, that's a lot of money! You can do yourself for 1/2 the $$ in under an hour without breaking a sweat. Does that include new brake fluid?

Darren,

On my e30's I've run Hawk HPS, HP Plus, Axxis Ultimate, PBR Metal Masters. I would not suggest any of them for your application. The Metal Master are not great and the rest are more $$ and high dust. Good luck with the pad hunt.

[kowalski]

ill warn everyone now never ever go to mida's. they charge way way to much and they do shitty ass work. i hear ebs green stuff works good i think its ebs but its called green stuff, they're supposed to be low dust and best pad you can buy. i would never pay 688 for that work. what exactly is going to fail in 2 years? ill do your brakes for 650 and give you a 2 year warrenty..:) too each his own, im either going to make my own big brake kit or put on some nice cross drilled brembo's. zinc coated so the vents dont rust and the hub.

[Darren318is]

I thank you all for your advice. I think $700:00 is a little steep for me but I may be back to eat these words after im finished saying why the f@#k didnt I just take it in! we will see. I think i will try the pagid or mintex (I e-mailed you e30-m3) and see if my rotors can be turned, if not Ill need rotors also hmm..on my way to $700. If I need any other parts who has quality parts locally.
Thanks Darren

[edwinelisia]

i just installed mintex , its goood, and the dust can be rated medium i think

[Mike 91 318ic]

I wouldn't turn your rotors, just buy new. If you want cheap parts on line and you're going to DIY check out http://www.eap4parts.com/. I think they're the cheapest place anywhere for oem or after market parts. For local parts call Lordco but make sure you compare prices first.

M

I thank you all for your advice. I think $700:00 is a little steep for me but I may be back to eat these words after im finished saying why the f@#k didnt I just take it in! we will see. I think i will try the pagid or mintex (I e-mailed you e30-m3) and see if my rotors can be turned, if not Ill need rotors also hmm..on my way to $700. If I need any other parts who has quality parts locally.
Thanks Darren

[Dubly]

Mike,

I was just trying to say the dealer price sounds high. Would you pay $600 for one of your regular $300 dinners? I agree the dealer is right place for some jobs. ie. sub frame bushings

In the past I have done my brakes myself and had them done at good shops. Either way for a lot less then $688. I do my own brakes when I have time because I enjoy working on my car, like most people on the board.

Can we agree to disagree on this one?

[Spalding]

Can we agree to disagree on this one?

I am with Mike on this one.

Anyone who lives downtown can understand that it isn’t always possible to do maintenance work yourself. Even if I was able to do this work myself, I don’t know if I would. Brakes are a big deal. I need them to stop my car! Further, I don’t trust some fly by night operation or oil/lube place to mess with the bits that stop my car. If they fail, yikes!

Personally, I use the BMW Store or CG Motorsports exclusively. If it costs $600 to get my brakes done by a proper shop and it includes all the parts I need then I’ll pay it. Sure maybe I or someone else could do it cheaper. That’s fine. Maaco can paint my car cheaper than Korva. No surprise there. Personally I’d rather have Korva. I realize that’s not an apple to apple comparison but that’s how I approach it.

[Mike 91 318ic]

Agree to disagree no problem... My point was parts alone would be 300-400 so an extra 300-400 to have it done for me while I spend my time with the family is priceless. My afternoon is worth more than 300 to me is all... Of course I don't like to over pay but I'm willing to bet midas or crappy tire or even CG would charge at least 600 for everything. If you're going to pay that much you might as well have the dealer service it... This way you have proper service records. I wouldn't buy a car that some guy serviced on his own either. I know when I get my car appraised showing proper and complete service records will help it's value.

M

Mike,

I was just trying to say the dealer price sounds high. Would you pay $600 for one of your regular $300 dinners? I agree the dealer is right place for some jobs. ie. sub frame bushings

In the past I have done my brakes myself and had them done at good shops. Either way for a lot less then $688. I do my own brakes when I have time because I enjoy working on my car, like most people on the board.

Can we agree to disagree on this one?