[BrodieH]

Hi, i need new brake pads on my M2 and was wondering what everyones thoughts are on the best options. Im currently thinking i should go for either the textar GF rated pads, which are the same as originally equipped, or Brembo Xtra, which i think are supposed to be an upgrade over the original textar pads. Does anyone have any first hand experience to suggest the brembo Xtra pads are better? Any other suggestions for better brake pads? Thanks

[///MPhatic]

First, brake pads should be chosen for your application, and goals. Pure street car? Possible HPDE's? Track car in mind?

Second, we need to know if you have the blue brakes or the larger 2NH calipers.

[BrodieH]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

First, brake pads should be chosen for your application, and goals. Pure street car? Possible HPDE's? Track car in mind?

Second, we need to know if you have the blue brakes or the larger 2NH calipers.

Thanks for your input, definitely not a track car, but not driven lightly either. Plenty of fast road driving and the occasional trip around europe and obligatory lap of the ring. Generally bashing around country roads. I have the blue brakes, 380mm front 370mm rear. I believe the 2NH brakes are the 400mm brakes?

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by BrodieH

Thanks for your input, definitely not a track car, but not driven lightly either. Plenty of fast road driving and the occasional trip around europe and obligatory lap of the ring. Generally bashing around country roads. I have the blue brakes, 380mm front 370mm rear. I believe the 2NH brakes are the 400mm brakes?

Yes, the 2NH set is 400/380.

Sounds like you need a fast road pad. I think this type of pad is pretty common, and readily available for the standard blue brakes. I don't use such a pad, but I'm sure you can get advice on one from quite a few people here.

[BrodieH]

I have come to the conclusion i want to use either ATE pads that are GG rated, or brembo Xtra pads. The brembo pads are more expensive, so i want to find out if they are actually better or not. They don’t appear to give a COF rating. Does anyone have experience of the pads and could you give some insight ad to whether or not the brembo xtra pads are a worth upgrade over the ATE pads? Thanks

[3t3p]

EBC yellow.
No squeal after bed in.
Good fast road pad IME.

[jritt@essex]

Ferodo DS2500 front and rear is the answer. That's as close as one can get to a good street pad that can also take some track use. You can read a detailed description here: https://www.essexparts.com/news-blog...s-right-for-me

Front for Blue M2 Calipers= https://www.essexparts.com/ferodo-ds2500-brake-pads739
Rear for Blue M2 Calipers= https://www.essexparts.com/ferodo-ds2500-brake-pads742

[gnx]

Originally Posted by jritt@essex

Ferodo DS2500 front and rear is the answer. That's as close as one can get to a good street pad that can also take some track use. You can read a detailed description here: https://www.essexparts.com/news-blog...s-right-for-me

Front for Blue M2 Calipers= https://www.essexparts.com/ferodo-ds2500-brake-pads739
Rear for Blue M2 Calipers= https://www.essexparts.com/ferodo-ds2500-brake-pads742

Do you know how do the ferodo ds2500 compare to these:

BMW M sports brake pads front 34112284465
BMW M sports brake pads rear 34219501835

A bit grabby in traffic but great overall.

[mike@x-ph.com]

It depends on what you are looking for, my favorite brand is EBC and they offer a wide variety of pads.

Red - similar power to stock, no noise no dust
Yellow - superior power to stock, no noise, with dust
Blue - Track oriented cars
You also have the RP lines but these are for cars that pads are mainly for the track not meant for street cars.

[Westersund]

Originally Posted by gnx

Do you know how do the ferodo ds2500 compare to these:

BMW M sports brake pads front 34112284465
BMW M sports brake pads rear 34219501835

A bit grabby in traffic but great overall.

The BMW OEM M Performance pads are VERY good but also very expensive, made by Textar as well. Very noisy when cold but incredible bite on track and no fade. Would not street drive them though, was going to but they are too noisy.

[Westersund]

Originally Posted by BrodieH

I have come to the conclusion i want to use either ATE pads that are GG rated, or brembo Xtra pads. The brembo pads are more expensive, so i want to find out if they are actually better or not. They don’t appear to give a COF rating. Does anyone have experience of the pads and could you give some insight ad to whether or not the brembo xtra pads are a worth upgrade over the ATE pads? Thanks

Since you're UK based I think you should take a look at PBS, I think they have both sport and track pads for the 380/370 mm brakes. Have their Comp pads on my E46 M3 race car up front and I'm very happy with them, half the cost of a set of Endless/PFC/Pagid etc but the same performance.

[3t3p]

EBC are road legal.

Ferodo are not.

Your call if you're in a major incident and the inspector pokes around for a excuse not to pay out...

[E90convert]

Sounds like an exact use case for BMW Genuine M pads.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by 3t3p

EBC are road legal.

Ferodo are not.

Your call if you're in a major incident and the inspector pokes around for a excuse not to pay out...

I'm pretty sure that only applies to Europe and the ECE R90 regulations.

I just checked Canadian law and there is nothing about brake pad compound and road legality on there, and provincial regulations stipulate only about pad thickness and rotor thickness.

In regards to US law I only saw regulations about copper content being restricted. But that's more for the manufacturers to worry about not the end consumer. This is also more for polution and not friction and engineering requirements - which the ECE R90 regulations is about.



But since OP is in Europe, ECE R90 is a legit concern.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by E90convert

Sounds like an exact use case for BMW Genuine M pads.

Not really. Not if we're talking about the track spec pads which might not fall under road legal requirements - in NA I don't think there are any laws about brake pad compound so we don't have to worry.

But just because it is OEM doesn't mean it is road legal. For instance look at the MPE, you have to sign a wavier saying you indemnify BMW for any liability due to the exhaust being louder than legal limits, and that it is track use only.

For instance ECE R90 specifies cold weather performance, and the M performance pads are supposed to tolerate higher track temps. This could very well mean that it will not meet the cold temp braking performance required for ECE R90 - as most track capable pads don't do well cold.

[Westersund]

I've never heard of the need of road legal pads in Sweden (we're a part of EU after all), as long as the car passes the yearly inspection with enough braking force you're good. However we have quite a liberal view on cars and modifying them.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by Westersund

I've never heard of the need of road legal pads in Sweden (we're a part of EU after all), as long as the car passes the yearly inspection with enough braking force you're good. However we have quite a liberal view on cars and modifying them.

im not sure which eu countries it applies to, but Im pretty sure the UK is one of them since alot of the sources talk about the UK.


IMO ECE R90 is a double edged sword. In one aspect it screws over car enthusiats and their potential brake pad choice. In another aspect, it prevents absolutely piss poor quality products to make it to store shelves where there can be cases where the brake pad friction material can separate from the backing material.

At the end of the day im just glad Canada doesn't have these regulations and most car regulations are pretty relaxed. It makes owning and maintaining a car much easier when you have more freedom to make your own choice.

[Philly_sweden]

Originally Posted by F87source

im not sure which eu countries it applies to, but Im pretty sure the UK is one of them since alot of the sources talk about the UK.


IMO ECE R90 is a double edged sword. In one aspect it screws over car enthusiats and their potential brake pad choice. In another aspect, it allows absolutely piss poor quality products to make it to store shelves where there can be cases where the brake pad friction material can separate from the backing material.

At the end of the day im just glad Canada doesn't have these regulations and most car regulations are pretty relaxed. It makes owning and maintaining a car much easier when you have more freedom to make your own choice.

Sweden