Which front pads should I use for my z4?

[Patrick_g46]

I have my car booked in for pads on thursday and the garage (A BMW specialist) said I can supply the pads but they will supply Genuine BMW pads which obviously I am guessing wont be cheap. They hinted that aftermarket pads wont always fit properly but in the 8+ years I have been servicing my own cars I have never had the correct pad not fit (only when the morons at ECP have supplied me the wrong pad). So, what would you use?

Thanks

Patrick

EDIT: I just spoke to my local Rybrook BMW dealer and they want £61+vat for the pads. Eurocarparts wants £24 for pagid and £26 for bosch.

 

[Ewazix]

Myself a few others have fitted the Textar e-pad low dust version. TMD Brakes group includes the Textar, Pagid and Mintex brands and make brakes for lots of manufacturers including BMW and I'd say they are performing as per the original BMW pads but with a bit less dust. All meet or exceed OE specifications so I shouldn't get too hung up about choosing any of these.

BTW If anybody starts BS'ing that some weird sounding pad is hugely superior in some way you can ignore it. Any pad sold for ROAD USE in the EU has to perform to within 15% of the original makers specification, that's plus or minus. i.e it's not allowed to perform much better or worse. Any area of improved performance will be met by compromise somewhere else e.g. higher fade resistance comes with less initial bite when cold. The only thing to worry about is fit, squealing, dust and durability in respect of the material breaking up or coming unglued, so if you are tempted by some lesser known brand do a little google research first in that respect. All I can say is that any of the three brands I mentioned should give no problems.

Oh and take care about buying 'branded' pads off ebay, there is a LOT of counterfeited stuff around!

 

[TonyP]

I fitted Pagid's all round for less than £50 from ECP, fitted perfectly as expected, very happy with them.

 

[mj2k]

Myself a few others have fitted the Textar e-pad low dust version. TMD Brakes group includes the Textar, Pagid and Mintex brands and make brakes for lots of manufacturers including BMW and I'd say they are performing as per the original BMW pads but with a bit less dust. All meet or exceed OE specifications so I shouldn't get too hung up about choosing any of these.

BTW If anybody starts BS'ing that some weird sounding pad is hugely superior in some way you can ignore it. Any pad sold for ROAD USE in the EU has to perform to within 15% of the original makers specification, that's plus or minus. i.e it's not allowed to perform much better or worse. Any area of improved performance will be met by compromise somewhere else e.g. higher fade resistance comes with less initial bite when cold. The only thing to worry about is fit, squealing, dust and durability in respect of the material breaking up or coming unglued, so if you are tempted by some lesser known brand do a little google research first in that respect. All I can say is that any of the three brands I mentioned should give no problems.

Oh and take care about buying 'branded' pads off ebay, there is a LOT of counterfeited stuff around!

I was hoping for significantly less dust based on what I'd read - "fronts producing the same dust as std rears" as one example.

Was thinking about the epads, but if it is only slight reduction then I might reconsider.


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[sbtwister]

I just fitted Akebono euro ceramic pads on the front. No problems - fit perfectly. No squeal or other undesirable effects. Feel very much the same as OEM.

 

[Ewazix]

Myself a few others have fitted the Textar e-pad low dust version. TMD Brakes group includes the Textar, Pagid and Mintex brands and make brakes for lots of manufacturers including BMW and I'd say they are performing as per the original BMW pads but with a bit less dust. All meet or exceed OE specifications so I shouldn't get too hung up about choosing any of these.

BTW If anybody starts BS'ing that some weird sounding pad is hugely superior in some way you can ignore it. Any pad sold for ROAD USE in the EU has to perform to within 15% of the original makers specification, that's plus or minus. i.e it's not allowed to perform much better or worse. Any area of improved performance will be met by compromise somewhere else e.g. higher fade resistance comes with less initial bite when cold. The only thing to worry about is fit, squealing, dust and durability in respect of the material breaking up or coming unglued, so if you are tempted by some lesser known brand do a little google research first in that respect. All I can say is that any of the three brands I mentioned should give no problems.

Oh and take care about buying 'branded' pads off ebay, there is a LOT of counterfeited stuff around!

I was hoping for significantly less dust based on what I'd read - "fronts producing the same dust as std rears" as one example.

Was thinking about the epads, but if it is only slight reduction then I might reconsider.


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There is still dust but less of it and significantly easier to clean. Standard pads contain a high level of iron and it's the iron particles that burn on to he wheel surface and the dust is immediately corrosive adhering to the surface. Low iron/high ceramic pads like the e-pad have less iron so most of the dust just wipes off.

 

[Ed Doe]

If you're not interested in performance pads per se (Ie not HAMMERING them on the road or track), I'd go for Pagids. I've only heard good things about them. I fitted them to the girlfriend's hatch and they've performed brilliantly, even when I've been driving it...

 

[ESP]

Iv got PAGIDS on mine. They don't claim to be fancy race or fast road, iv I have seen them twice in reviews that there one of the best for Low Dust. To me this is more important as I have tried RED & GREEN STUFF and don't think they make any difference on performance at all, but they do create loads more dust.


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[mj2k]

Cheers Ewazix


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[jamiez]

Ebc yellow for me have been a fantastic compromise between less dust than oem and really good for performance "spirited" driving

 

[wilbo]

Another for textar e pads from me

 

[KERMIT1970]

Mintex for me. Used red stuff pads on my old z3 didn't like them,lots of dust & noise. Pagid are good value from ecp.