[Fredo]

Originally Posted by the dope steez

Word.
A note to those reading this thread - do NOT buy powerstop rotors. The hats rust up extremely quickly, like within a week. I'm really regretting getting these instead of the Zimmerman's. Wanted to save some $$$ and this is what I get!
Also the pads are not the greatest. I'm getting a clunk when switching from braking in forward and reverse. I've torn the system apart and everything looks good. This tells me the pad size might be not quite perfect. If anyone has any further guidance on this I'd be happy to hear it - I just want to get em fixed!

I bought Cool Carbon pads for my 2012 335i. I'm not happy with them, they have a clunk noise as described above. In addition, the pads create lots of dust.

[Mr Podman]

I use German made Zimmerman rotors and ATE pads on all four corners.
PelicanParts.com's website does a great job laying out the options.




podman

[johnung]

Originally Posted by the dope steez

Word.
A note to those reading this thread - do NOT buy powerstop rotors. The hats rust up extremely quickly, like within a week. I'm really regretting getting these instead of the Zimmerman's. Wanted to save some $$$ and this is what I get!
Also the pads are not the greatest. I'm getting a clunk when switching from braking in forward and reverse. I've torn the system apart and everything looks good. This tells me the pad size might be not quite perfect. If anyone has any further guidance on this I'd be happy to hear it - I just want to get em fixed!

I wish I could offer some solution about your brake pads. I installed Hawk HPS 5.0 pads and have been very happy with them.

I hate rusty rotors. One solution that I found is to paint mine with G2 Caliper paint in silver. ($42 at TireRack). See G2USA.com for product details. The rotor in the attached photo was rusty. It was soaked in vinegar for 24 hours, (more than that and it starts to pit the good metal.) The slightly acidic vinegar actually bubbles off the rust. Walmart and Sam's Club sell vinegar cheap by the gallon, maybe $3-$4.

Then the visible sides of the rotor hats were painted with G2. I have read cautions about adding any coating between the top of the rotor hat and the wheel surface because it can effect the proper torquing of the wheel bolts. So the tops of the rotor hats were just scrubbed with brake cleaner and a wire brush.

Make sure to brush on the G2 paint only in the temperature range that they specify. Any warmer and the paint gets gloppy. When applied within the temperature range, the paint levels out to remove brush marks so it appears to have been sprayed on. This method really cleans, protects and eliminates rusty rotors.

I happened to be installing a pair of used rotors so I could vinegar soak them. But the other two rotors I did right on the car by wire brushing with Formula 409 household cleaner and brake cleaner. Then brushing on the G2 Silver paint. Turned out great!
Hope this helps.

[Mr Podman]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

You guys have fun turning your rotors or buy new ones every time the pads go, I will continue to swap them every other time the pads go, and without any issue.

Yesterday I replaced my original rear brakes at 38,000 miles.

If your practice is to slap new pads on old rotors like this one, you're doing it wrong.




podman

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by Mr Podman

Yesterday I replaced my original rear brakes at 38,000 miles.

If your practice is to slap new pads on old rotors like this one, you're doing it wrong.




podman

For some reason the rotors I take off dont look that bad. Do you live near salt water? But, thanks for the insight

[Mr Podman]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

For some reason the rotors I take off dont look that bad. Do you live near salt water? But, thanks for the insight

That rotor spent it's life in the Denver area.
FYI the front rotors I replaced last week looked about the same with that shiny center section.





podman

[SantaEugence]

Originally Posted by Mr Podman

That rotor spent it's life in the Denver area.
FYI the front rotors I replaced last week looked about the same with that shiny center section.





podman

Looking at that I can understand, they look quite bad for the mileage. Every car I’ve had the rear callipers never make good enough contact and I always end up with rust and a crappy surface.
Thankfully the M Sport ones on my current car seem fine, it’s on 43000 miles and if the discs still look like this on the rear I’m not going to change the rotors?

[Mr Podman]

Originally Posted by SantaEugence

Looking at that I can understand, they look quite bad for the mileage. Every car I’ve had the rear callipers never make good enough contact and I always end up with rust and a crappy surface.
Thankfully the M Sport ones on my current car seem fine, it’s on 43000 miles and if the discs still look like this on the rear I’m not going to change the rotors?

I've always said the brakes on my F32 are just OK at best.
I came from an E46 that had awesome brakes. They were the best thing about the car.

Still, I changed rotors every time.



podman

[SantaEugence]

Originally Posted by Mr Podman

I've always said the brakes on my F32 are just OK at best.
I came from an E46 that had awesome brakes. They were the best thing about the car.

Still, I changed rotors every time.



podman

Yes I did expect the brakes to be better on my F30 but I suspect the garage I bought it from had to put new pads on and went out of their way to find the cheapest ones possible...

[pkiledj]

Originally Posted by Mr Podman

I've always said the brakes on my F32 are just OK at best.
I came from an E46 that had awesome brakes. They were the best thing about the car.

Still, I changed rotors every time.



podman

Yes! Exactly. I want my f30 to brake like my e46. How do we make that happen? I want to hear success stories. My plan is simply to install the M Performance pads and stainless steel brake lines. I have the gray Brembo front caliper and the standard Bosch rear caliper.

[SantaEugence]

Originally Posted by pkiledj

Yes! Exactly. I want my f30 to brake like my e46. How do we make that happen? I want to hear success stories. My plan is simply to install the M Performance pads and stainless steel brake lines. I have the gray Brembo front caliper and the standard Bosch rear caliper.

Make sure you buy decent pads. Also the system needs to be bled properly once you’ve changed the lines/fluid so have it done by either BMW or a specialist who knows what they’re doing

[johnung]

Originally Posted by jack10525

Nope. Resurfacing is going out of favor since rotors are a lot thinner than the old days. Personally I'd rather change rotors and pads together. Cut rotors seem to warp due to thinness.

I was getting a different family car worked on at a local shop and the owner said that he stopped getting rotors turned. He said the local prices to have rotors machined had gone up but the worst part was that the quality of the work had been poor & inconsistent, leading to customer returns/issues. Those two things combined had made it a better decision to just replace with quality new aftermarket rotors if the old rotors appeared to need machining.

On another note, I have heard good things about shops that have the equipment to machine the rotors right on the car. That is worth asking if they have that ability.

[Mr Podman]

Originally Posted by johnung

I was getting a different family car worked on at a local shop and the owner said that he stopped getting rotors turned. He said the local prices to have rotors machined had gone up but the worst part was that the quality of the work had been poor & inconsistent, leading to customer returns/issues. Those two things combined had made it a better decision to just replace with quality new aftermarket rotors if the old rotors appeared to need machining.

I agree with the owner.

When you can buy high quality German made replacement rotors very inexpensively, why risk having that solid C+ idiot in the machine shop take a whack at machining the old ones?

Makes no sense.





podman

[sviswasam]

Originally Posted by Charles B

Turner Motorsport - Stop Tech rotors and factory pads. My secret sauce.

Does this combination provide better stopping power? Finding the OEM pad and rotor too underwhelming even for daily driving.

[dmaxdmax]

Originally Posted by sviswasam

Does this combination provide better stopping power? Finding the OEM pad and rotor too underwhelming even for daily driving.

I only ever have or will use the oe compound pads and blank rotors that aren't the cheapest. Textar. They brake. They also give your caliper a lovely gray matte hue powder coating...so no one is looking at your lovely caliper...they're looking at you...pretty impressed with your stopping power.

Also, this is an old thread...you can make your own after searching because there are as many opinions as members.