I feel brake pads have gone up in price.

For my other car, I spent $100 on pads (Stoptech Street) and only $50 on rotors (Centric/OEM). Really shocking how expensive pads were on that car, but I didn't want to get $20 Pepboys specials.

For the X5, I have put PosiQuiet pads on. The initial bite is horrible, but it eventually gets the car stopped. Good thing the X5 is no speed racer. The low dust is amazing though. After 2 months and 2k miles, the wheels are still pretty clean and I haven't washed the X5 yet.

I actually found the Akebono Euro pads would squeak in reverse.

The Cool Carbon pads dusted less then the A'bonos but had better feel and actually needed slightly LESS pedal pressure when really pushed and heated up (never used a street compound pad that needed less pedal pressure when driven hard). No pads I've ever tracked (VIPER and ZR1 included) have been as linear as the Cool Carbons, 1 to 1 in regard to pedal pressure vs brake force (a must for efficent modulation), if ABS engages at 15lbs of pedal pressure, then 5lbs is 1/3 brake force, 10lbs is 2/3 brake force, never driven a pad as linear in response both hot and cold.

Also like that they're designed/tested/produce in Germany and ALL their effort is exclusivly directed toward BMW/Porsche/StopTech, they don't try to be a "if it uses brake pads, we make them for your application" producer. Not sure if their E53 application is similar to their E46 pads, if it is, they will contact the entire friction surface of the rotor. Pads that leave a 1/16" to 1/8" ring of unswept area of the rotor at the inner and outer edges of the friction surface are poorly designed in my book!

Ordered 4 of these to install with the pads.

good info. I have used Akebonos for all my cars for about 5years now. For about $50 more I get OEM grip I will get these next time

It's funny you should mention this....I've been using Akebono ceramics from the time the first set of OEM's were done on the X (like 7ish years ago now), and for the first time, were doing exactly what you mentioned backing out of the driveway this morning. It was subtle, but still noticeable.

While I've never found myself to waver from the Akebonos, this last set has me questioning my next set of pads. While I was expecting my pads to wear faster given that I moved to the centric/stoptech drilled rotors... this last set of Akebonos hasn't held up NEARLY as well as the previous sets.

I may just give these a whirl next time round!

I'm with you. If the Akebono's wear out anytime soon, I'll give the cool carbons a try.

Just my opinion, I wouldn't have ordered cross drilled and slotted rotors as you are taking away some pad contact surface in my eyes as opposed to a fully solid braking surface, but I am all about the zinc plating on the rotors for corrosion protection.

They do look nice though, looking forward to the impressions of the cool carbon pads! The PO did all new Pagid OEM pads and rotors on all 4 corners before I bought the X so I probably won't be replacing for a while, but nice to know what works when I do have to replace someday.

I thought about pad contact surface when I chose that drill/slot configuration, not too much void as some severe drill/slot patterns (7 rows of holes/slots), I avoided the overdrilled/slotted rotors.

Was sold on Cool Carbon on my Perf Pkg E46 330i 6spd, could not overdrive them even hot lapping Sebring, could consistently outbrake all the non ///M E46. Will post results/pics post install/break in.

Looking forward to seeing it, I've also been eyeing these as replacement rotors sometimes, I like the fact that they do "dimples" as opposed to cross drills, still keeps structural integrity but has the look and cooling characteristic of cross drilled:

www.adamsrotors.com

As long as the pads and rotors chosen activate ABS when you slam on the brakes it doesn't matter what they are. The only potential loss of braking capability would be the time it takes to reach that point with one combination or another.

As you well know, the potential advantage of slotted/drilled rotors would be when dragging the brakes for an extended period of time as I might have to do on the downhill side of mountain road or multiple hard braking that I would have fun doing on a high speed winding road. In either situation solid rotors would hold more heat and cause brake fade sooner.

I like the look of slotted and drilled rotors, have had them on the front for some time and have the rears on the bench to do this weekend. I have not found that the loss of contact surface has made any difference. I did go to pads that are claimed to increase stopping power. I do notice the significant reduction of brake dust.

I've always been of the opinion rotors should be either drilled OR slotted, but not both (it's an aesthetics thing I suppose). As for stopping power, there was litte change in pedal feel/pressure required between the solid discs and the centric/stop tech ones I have now....they just look miles nicer.
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps1b6a8483.jpg