I have a feeling BMW engineer...

[HPIA4v2]

knows more about brake pads than aftermarket people.

Well I put Akebono pads right before Xmas, just the front with new OEM Brembo rotors. Well even after bedding agressively the brakes has less bite than OEM or Hawk pads I had before. Will try to bleed again this weekend maybe to double check.

The only great think about it, is virtually no dust (even less than Hawk).

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by HPIA4v2

knows more about brake pads than aftermarket people.

Well I put Akebono pads right before Xmas, just the front with new OEM Brembo rotors. Well even after bedding agressively the brakes has less bite than OEM or Hawk pads I had before. Will try to bleed again this weekend maybe to double check.

The only great think about it, is virtually no dust (even less than Hawk).

I'm no brake expert but I believe you need to take into acct the rotors too - as in, are they softer or harder than stock (just like pads). You need to find the right combination of rotors and pads for what you're trying to accomplish. Your trusted indy should know this.

[mrbmwx5]

I have Akebono pads with OEM Brembo rotors and have no problem about the brakes has less bite. The only thing is it doesn't give me the paddle feeling like the real OEM one.( due to the harder pads compair to OEM one)

[c4racer]

BMW does indeed put a lot of R&D into brake performance and it is a signature for the brand in general. What are you trying to accomplish from going with non OEM parts? Cost savings? Improving some aspect of the brakes? Other than a track vehicle, which an X5 would never be - I don't see the reason to deviate from BMW's original design as relates to brakes. That's my personal view of course - YMMV.

[HPIA4v2]

Originally Posted by c4racer

BMW does indeed put a lot of R&D into brake performance and it is a signature for the brand in general. What are you trying to accomplish from going with non OEM parts? Cost savings? Improving some aspect of the brakes? Other than a track vehicle, which an X5 would never be - I don't see the reason to deviate from BMW's original design as relates to brakes. That's my personal view of course - YMMV.

Just hoping for OEM performance with less dust, don't we all.

Maybe it just different pedal feel cause the Akebono is ceramic I believe and hard so it may take longer to bed to the rotors. Will see.

[NY98M3]

I use Axxis PBR Delx pads with OE rotors, no dust or squeel.

[JT///MC]

Originally Posted by NY98M3

I use Axxis PBR Delx pads with OE rotors, no dust or squeel.

you mean less dust....lol. I used those pads exclusively on all my BMWs since 2002 and they work pretty well. Akebonos are a newer pad and supposedly better but I will have to agree that in my 740i after switching to Akebnonos I noticed LESS bite. I did NOT like how they felt vs. stock even though they dusted less. The Axxis Ultimate PBR pads are better IMO. I even used them as track pads on my E36 M3 and M Coupe and they worked fine.

[ZsX5o3]

Originally Posted by HPIA4v2

The only great think about it, is virtually no dust (even less than Hawk).

that's typically the trade off.

[Werewolf]

Who is the OEM for BMW rotors?

Pagid makes the pads

Match them up and you should get the OEM feel back (w/o the markup)