Have been using Pagid red stuff pads for a long time. Very low dust, initial bite is not as abrupt as OE pads but stopping distance is still decreased some, especially from freeway level speeds or multiple stops in a short period of time.

for me personally the e53 with cheap Centric semi-metallic pads stops MUCH better than the e46 convertible with ceramic.

Does anyone know if "semi-metallic" is code word for charcoal? Looking at the wheels you can't tell me different.

And that is why I run ceramic.

I have been running ceramic pads and the frozen centric rotors for years.

Just ordered Zimmerman rotors (made in Germany) and genuine BMW pads (made in Germany). The dust is a real drag, but the braking confidence in a daily driver is second to none.