[trevor56]

When the time comes I am thinking of a DIY of my rear brake pads & rotors. I have been doing some preliminary price shopping & there is a large difference in prices between Genuine BMW rotors & other brands. Is there that much difference in quality between the Zimmermann rotors & the Genuine BMW rotors? Is a rotor a rotor & the price difference just for the name. thanks

I added a thumbnail of one example.

PS: I'm not referring to slotted or drilled etc, just regular disk brakes.

[Stück]

Genuine BMW is a composite rotor, the hub is made from aluminum.

Aftermarkets are solid one piece cast iron.

Less weight is better.

[lsturbointeg]

Originally Posted by Stück

Genuine BMW is a composite rotor, the hub is made from aluminum.

Aftermarkets are solid one piece cast iron.

Less weight is better.

so which one of the two is less weight the OEM or aftermarket?

[Stück]

Factory with an aluminum hub is going to weigh less.

[PJinCA]

From what I have always heard, those who were looking for OEM replacement rotors (meaning not drilled/slotted) went with the Zimmerman and were very happy with them.

[xxpanipuri]

my only concern with going with non OEM for brake pads/rotors is the brake squeal.

in past bmw's i used to have alot of brake squeal issues with using non oem brake parts.

just my $.02, i'd stick with OEM, last thing you want is when you're driving around with the windows down that you hear brake squeal each time you pull up to a light!

[sheuer1]

Just replaced both front and rear brakes on 550i, pads, sensors and rotors.
The Zimmerman "OEM" replacements are NOT identical. The Zimmermans are single piece steel, BMW two piece composite, steel rotor and an aluminum hub. As stated in this thread the BMW OEM rotors are composite, and weight less. Stick with OEM, less weight is better.

[ndinh]

Just replaced my rears with Zimmerman and Akebono pads. Super happy with the setup but yes, the Zimmermans do weigh a little more than OE. From just holding one in each hand, I'd say around a few pounds more per rotor, not much. FYI, they actually feel better than my original setup.

[paul_sarky]

I changed my front rotors and brake pads, EBC Rotors and EBC Red Stuff brake pads. Night and day difference compared to stock brakes. My rotors were a little warped and all the brake pads were cracked in half. I had them replaced just a few thousand miles during my normal service at the BMW dealership. Not sure why they would crack.

But no squel, no noise, amazing performance, cold, wet, dry, just grabs and stops the car without any hesitations.

I've used EBC red stuff brake pads for many years now, would recommend them to everyone.

[IBOOSTU]

Anyone Know Where I Can Get Rear Caliper 11 550xi

[krautmeister]

Originally Posted by paul_sarky

I changed my front rotors and brake pads, EBC Rotors and EBC Red Stuff brake pads. Night and day difference compared to stock brakes. My rotors were a little warped and all the brake pads were cracked in half. I had them replaced just a few thousand miles during my normal service at the BMW dealership. Not sure why they would crack.

But no squel, no noise, amazing performance, cold, wet, dry, just grabs and stops the car without any hesitations.

I've used EBC red stuff brake pads for many years now, would recommend them to everyone.

Hey Paul,

The EBC set up with the drilled / slotted rotors and Red pads, does it make the rotor noise as some have said with vented rotors at speed? Also, how is the dust with the pads?

[dadysev]

Originally Posted by paul_sarky

I changed my front rotors and brake pads, EBC Rotors and EBC Red Stuff brake pads. Night and day difference compared to stock brakes. My rotors were a little warped and all the brake pads were cracked in half. I had them replaced just a few thousand miles during my normal service at the BMW dealership. Not sure why they would crack.

But no squel, no noise, amazing performance, cold, wet, dry, just grabs and stops the car without any hesitations.

I've used EBC red stuff brake pads for many years now, would recommend them to everyone.

This happened to me. I did a post about it. I swear BMW had a batch of bad pads out there. What i found is that the rotor doesn't actually warp from the cracked pads, but what happened is the rotors got marked (almost like spotting) and i ended up getting the OEM textar pads and put them on the rotors that felt warped, and within 3 weeks they rotors looked almost mirror like again from the burnt look from the cracked pads, and not a single vibration or judder. Its like the new pads cleaned the surface of the rotors!?!?!?!
I was experimenting and low and behold i was right! They don't really warp, they more get marked up from bad pads.
Just my 2 cents. may not be the same for everyone else.

[Kanavdeep gill]

I have a 2015 bmw 528i xdrive I'm confused what's rotors I should get 1 piece or 2 piece