Brake Dust Problems
 

Hi,
I just got a 2005 X5 3.0 for my wife a few days ago....Overall, I'm very impressed with the car. We drove a bunch of the competitors before choosing the X5....LR3, new ML, Lexus etc. I found the X5 outclassed them all, which is no mean feat given the fact that all of the other cars are new models compared to the X5!

I really only have 2 complaints....I think the stereo is pretty lousy (very thin sounding with zero depth) I tried the DSP version & frankly it wasn't any better, and I have never owned a car that generates the amount of brake dust the X5 does (I have a 2005 Porsche 997S and by comparison it produces about 90% less dust)....It's absolutely absurd!!! In fact it's so bad that I'm going to have too change the pads. It seems that the Axxis Deluxe pads are the way to go....Do I need to change the front and back pads (I can live with the rear brake dust levels) Is it bad to have different brands of brake pads front and rear.

BTW this is an incredibly informative website....the how to articles have proved invaluable. Although the car we got was pretty loaded , I find myself wanting to add bits and the forum articles have been a great step by step guide on how to perform mods.

Thanks for the help
Jason

welcome to the forum, congrats on the car.
brake dust is an anomally i think on these cars, its crazy how much of it there is, i will be changing mine too i think, and yes, axis deluxe is what sounds like the best out there.

Congrats and :welcome: I would recommend that you replace front and rear pads because once you have dust build up on the rear and not on the front, you will just find yourself purchasing the rears in the end. Do them both at one time and get it over with. :D

Totally agree. Do them both at the same time. It's a BMW thing, don't know why. I have a new set of Axxis Deluxe in my 740il for two weeks now, a world of difference. Braking performance is about the same. I have been staying with the OEM brakes on my X because it's still under warranty and it's for free. So I am living with the brake dust for the time being. Welcome to the X5 family!

does anyone know what type of pads came w/ my brembo kits ? still a lot of dust!!!!!!

Probably Jurid pads.

so..it shouldnt be a problem to switch to axxis pads when im ready?

No problem. The question is...Are they available for your kit?

huh? :dunno:

Contact the guys at Zeckhausen Racing and ask them if Axxis offers a replacement pad for the Brembo GT kit.

Vettes have the same problem, luckily GM makes ceramic pads which throw little or no dust, they are slightly less grippy than the stock Z06 pads, but unless you're tracking your vette it makes no difference. So if you can find ceramic pads for your X, it might be a good option for reducing the dust.

regarding changing the rears in addition to the fronts, the answer is yes. If the rears have different pads than the fronts and potentially different stopping power/grip, the rear could get squirrelly and make the car unstable under heavy braking.

Thanks for all the info
Jason

Please give us some examples of why the X5 was the winner (3.0 no less)? What were the big and small factors in your decision?

I recently drove the same vehicles and purchased a 3.0 X5. Here were my top 10 reasons:

1. The X5 handled better than any SUV/SAV on the market. The only vehicle that came close was the Cayenne.
2. The X5 IMO is the best looking. The Lexus and ML both seemed more "soccer mom" type vehicles. The Infinity you either love or hate.
3. Steptronic - I love it.
4. Pano moonroof - the kids love it.
5. My golf clubs fit better in the back - left to right.
6. All maintenance included.
7. iPod your BMW (although I am disappointed in the interface)
8. It just felt right.
9. It looks great in my garage next to my 3 series.
10 X5World :D

i totaly agree. i dont think there is no SUV out there can be very stable and handle very well (like sport car) when you doing 110mile/hour in a curb.

Here in Oz the Axxis are called Bendix, where they are made.

I have used Bendix Ultimates before on a GM car, which are (I believe) the same brand as what is being mentioned here. They wore out the discs as they are a tough pad.

My 3.0 has a pad from EBC in New Zealand. It has virtually eliminated the dust and does not appear aggresive on the discs. Braking is slightly superior to OEM in some conditions and on a par in others.

I am waiting for them to produce a pad for the 4.8 as I think they are very good.

TIP.... make sure you get the discs skimmed when you put on the new pads as has been written before, the new pads may squeal.

Just my 2 cents......

I believe that the GM ceramic pads are made by Raybestos.

Batman,
Some of the reasons why I/we chose the X5.

Probably best to give my criteria first. I already have a sports car so we needed something practical (but my wife hates 4 door sedans) so it was an SUV. She had an ML320 which was just bloody awful (didn't even drive the car before doing a deal...we vowed not to make that mistake again) Old ML, drove like a truck, rolled on inclines, had abyssmal brakes, underpowered, bad seats etc.

New ML
Still too similar to old one. Seats improved, interior quality reduced (much less leather), ridiculously wide dashboard, still drives like a truck, brakes improved but still weak. Very mediocre SUV....Absolutely horrible lease deal...after discount (car reduced to @ $45,000) $3500 drive off, $802 (incl tax) per month. 36 month 10,000miles pa. Scheduled maintenance NOT incl anymore...The car had a 46% residual...guess I'm not the only one that thinks it's a POS

LR3
Wanted an HSE without 3rd row seats (there's only 2 of us...that's 5 unused seats). Kept getting offered an SE (overspecced) at same price as HSE. I liked the air suspension over rough terrain, but found it a little bouncy on regular roads. Brakes were the best of any SUV I tried, as was the turning circle (incredible). Found interior bland. Lease deal was ok, but too much of the price is for the brand and not the vehicle. Too many of the vehicles strengths were of no interest to me eg 7 off road traction programs, third row seats etc.

Lexus
Mother in law has one & my wife thought it was too soccer mom. Good value for money with many 'toys'...It actually drives too much like a car & doesn't have the SUV presence of the others. Very disconnected driving experience, steering overly light etc.

Infinity
Hated the interior, and thought that the exterior styling was so avant garde that we'd grow tired of it quickly. Not enough room (vertically)

X5 3.0
First off, I think it's the best looking SUV on the market (with the possible exception of the new RR Sport).

Steering weight is perfect...as is wheel thickness (much better than my Porsche, which is too thin...definately should have got the thicker steering wheel option).

Suspension was the best of the bunch...excellant balance between feedback and comfort.

Brakes were second best (behind LR3)

Interior is a little teutonic, but the actual cockpit felt the most ergonomic to me. Seats were also best of the bunch by a considerable margin. The pano sunroof is pretty cool too. It's just a thoroughly relaxing drive, but not boring.

Finally, The lease deal was excellant...The car stickered for about $55,000...came with NAV, premium package, cold climate pkg, xenons, auto dimming mirrors, sport package, rear seat pkg (window blinds, privacy glass..whatever that pkg is called)
I Also had the grills changed to titanium. Drive off was $3500, $681 (incl tax) 36 months. Residual was 61%. In other words $120 a month cheaper than the ML even though the X5 stickered for $10,000 more!! So I got the car I wanted (sorry, she wanted :-) at a great price :)

One quick note to add, be careful when you change the pads. The sensors are reusable if you are careful. Why spend $40 if you don't have to. Be gentle when pulling the sensor out so that it won't crack. Also, have any of you guys tried Mintek pads? I hear they are great on the dust factor..................Phil

you want ferrodo pads... i forgot which one is their ceramic dustless ones... but they have a set for the brembos...

contact zeckhausen for the correct ones...

I have the BMW pads and the dust is.....dusty beyond belief.

The only way I keep a handle on it is by using P21S wheel cleaner. A quick squirt of this, wipe with cloth or brush and hose off. All the dust is rinsed away.

(might be worth trying this since this allows you to keep the BMW pads and warranty etc)

I had these on my 328Ci and was very pleased with them... but when I inguired about them for my new X5, I was told that Axxis recently changed one of their suppliers, and that the new pads are warping rotors after a year or two of use... although M5's and X5's seem to stand up to the abuse better, since they're equipped with massive rotors! :D

Just wanted to give an update....
I received my Axxis brake pads from Zeckhausen.com (very quick delivery...thanks) and had them installed today...Wow the difference in dust is night and day!!! Braking feel/quality seems to be the same as the OEM pad just very, very little brake dust :-)

I've had mine on for a little over 20k miles. You'll love them. Virtually no dust, and still squeal free for me. :thumbup: