recommendations for brake pad replacement
 

I was looking into axxis ultimate street pad. Are there any other pads I should consider?

IMO, unless you're gonna track your X5, the Axxis Deluxe pads will be fine

For the front pads I would highly recommend the Porterfield R4-S, I don't think they make them for the rears of the 4.6 or 4.8

:iagree:

Go with the Axxis Deluxe
 

As the other poster said, the Ultimate's are for track use. I have the Axxis Deluxe on my 530 and I love 'em. No dust and I personally can't tell any difference between them and the OEM's.

Jurid front Textar rear.

Don't mean to hi-jack the thread but a BMW mechanic told me that the OEM brake pads are soft but that's why they work so well. I am sick of the brake dust too and want to go with aftermarket brake pads but the mechanic said that aftermarket brake pads will make noise after a while. Is is true or are there aftermarket brake pads that will work as well as the OEM brake pads and won't make noise? TIA.

OEM vs. Axxis
 

I've had the Axxis for about 8k miles and they are quiet as can be. You've got to make sure you bed them in correctly though.

whatever pads you go with just don't go with Porterfields
i had them on my c36, great breaking but warped brand new stock rotors in less than a week, not to mention screatching loud when hot, swaped them out for stock pads and of course brand new rotors again since first warped.

i should have learned my lesson, when it came time to change pads on the X, what i do? i get porterfields rs4 pads on new stock rotors, what happens EXACTLY same thing as on c36. so i think maybe stock rotors are too soft, i put in brembo rotors what i get SAME thing warped less than a week, same loud sound (old breaks squicking sound) embarrasing. So off i went 4 new rotors, pads stock this time again. Yes lots of dust, a little loss in initial bite, a little loss in very high speed breaking, but no freaking noises.

sorry just had to get that off my chest ;) each set of pads was like $270 not to mention any rotors costs, i was a little dissapointed to say the least.

This is true, OEM pads have a very specific rockwell hardness to wear WITH the rotor. Most dustless pads are much harder and not carbon based and tear rotors faster. They don’t transfer heat to the caliper and fluid like OEM pads and have a higher rotor temps during braking.

There is really nothing positive about dustless pads when comparing to OEM spec TUV approved pads other than less dust.