Rotors
 

.......Just wanted to throw a question out there: What do we think is a better rotor for the X5 (4.6is,4.8is)? Slotted; cross-drilled; slotted and cross-drilled; slotted and dimpled........

regular

How about stock? Normal OEM brake pads and rotors work great on all BMWs.

Whatever you do, don't get aftermarket cross-drilled ones. They have a tendency to crack and that's not pretty.

I've been driving cross-drilled rotors for 11 years and never had a problem! Quality is quality. You get what you pay for no matter what.

cross-drilled rotors, especially larger sized rotors are more susceptable to cracking under extreme heat.

especially 'regular' rotors that are drilled. you probably won't use the brakes hard enough to cause trouble but you are wearing your pads faster for the LOOK.

Look no futher than: http://www.zeckhausen.com/

I want me some 6 piston stoppies :)

Please! I need the 4.6is,4.8is folks to speak up on this.......where do we go to get our rotors ( not something we viewed on a website; a site where we actually made a purchase), cross-drilled or slotted.

OK - I researched this fairly well before I changed mine (albeit on a 3.0i)

Firstly there is nothing wrong with OEM (and I don't mean cheap aftermarket replacements) but I wanted something to help with stopping a very heavy trailer on lng runs and the last ones had warped

The best solution I came up with was cross drilled with chamfered holes. This gives the benefits of improved cooling and degassing but reduces the risk of radial cracking from the holes

I avoided slotted as the purpose of them is to de-gas as well as shave a small layer off the pad/ glaze off each time applied. Best suited to track and race use.

The best of the best seemed to be Brembo and they do a neat version where the top hats are cadmium plated so you don't get usightly corrosion and as an aside they do look good through the wheel. Dimpled I believe are good for degassing , avoid cracking problems, but I have no knowledge of them

Coupled to sensible non track low dust pads and I have something that's working fanttastically......

Available on a thousand sites - start with a Brembo X5 search on ebay

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9_IMG_0435.jpg

Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to after market performance and I definitely don't profess to be an expert. That said I would be very leary about putting cross drilled rotors on the X because it is such a heavy ride...I would be affraid of warping and cracking, UNLESS you get them "frozen" there is a place that sells cryogenically frozen rotors which claim to protect against cracking. I have ordered all my brake components from DAVID ZECKHAUSEN, "Zeckhausen Racing" he is at the track the time and knows which brake components would be best for your specific needs and application. And yes I own a 4.6 and yes I have bought brakes from him, use his expertise and call him you won't be disappointed.

Tirerack told me they do not recommend drilled rotors, but say slotted is alright for the x5 , I just did the Brembo slotted rotors and they work and look great.

cross drilled rotors will give better performance, but what about the pads? are they wearing faster than with regular rotors?

Yes the X5 is a 5,ooo lb vehicle but we do not drive them like race cars. I personally do not even drive mine as hard as I used to drive my M3 or 911. Cars on the track use drilled rotors so they can absolutely handle the demands of an X5. Ever see the brakes on a race car glowing red from the heat???