vs
Brake pads OEM BMW or GALFER
My dealer charges about $1100 for rear brakes and rotors, and about $1200 for front brakes and rotors, so $2300ish total. I got all pads and rotors done at a local shop for about $1100, and transmission fluid (+ pan and filter) done for $750 at the same shop.
Pros: cheaper at local shop
Cons: expensive at dealer
Vehicle:
BMW
A common brake upgrade to the E34 5 series was to install E38 (7 series) brakes. Only downside is you also have to install larger wheels.
Pros: better braking performance
Cons: requires larger wheels
Vehicle:
BMW
Galfer pro pads are the best ones I have ever used. They have more power, maybe same amount of modulation as shimano ones, they seem to resist fade better amd have ok life span.
Pros: more power, better fade resistance
Cons: ok life span
My understanding is the OEM brakes have well-rounded performance. In spider chart terms, it would look like a round pizza with one slice taken off, and that would be due to dust. They still excel with high performance, solid longevity all at a reasonable cost
Pros: high performance, long lasting
Cons: lots of dust
Vehicle:
BMW X3
K12GT checking in. It’s the smoothest bike I’ve ever ridden. I wish the brakes weren’t made of wood but, I’m used to “quirks” of BMW’s now, after 200K on 1150 (RT & GS-A)
Pros: smoothest bike ever ridden
Cons: brakes made of wood
Mileage: 200000 km
1st step, better pads for more initial bite and overall stopping power. Galfer HH can be had for $80 front and rear, you can spend a lot more on performance/track pads if you want the best.
Pros: more bite, stopping power
My local dealer has the “value service” pricing on BMW USA’s website, front rotors/pads/sensors on an 18 330 x drive for $419.95 front and $435.95 rear.
Pros: affordable pricing
Vehicle:
BMW
My local Bavarian car specialist refuses to install ceramic pads and will only do OEM due to low performance in the cold and increased wear on rotors. I was looking forward to less brake dust, especially on the front, but I live on top of one of the steepest hills in the city. I now have OEM pads.
Pros: less brake dust
Cons: low cold performance
Vehicle:
MINI
I just switched from OEM (Brembo HH Sintered, I think) pads to Galfer HH Sintered pads. I forgot to scotchbrite the discs and I think I glazed everything up during bedding-in process. I used scotchbrite like mad on the discs and sanded the pads with 220 grit until they were dull like when new, but the brakes seem to have the same behavior - heavy brakes test after 10 mile bed-in ride, the brakes plateau without getting to ABS trigger unless I squeeze like a motherfucker. The previous pads I could stand up on the front wheel with one or two fingers, so I feel like I've done something wrong.
Cons: brakes plateau, ABS trigger
The brakes. Looks all OE. The dust is unbelievable awful.
Cons: awful brake dust
Vehicle:
BMW Z4
Mileage: 3000 km
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