Performance Rotors

[Sam-Son]

I want to replace my stock brake rotors with performance ones.
I'm looking at the Bavauto cross drilled and slotted rotors, ATE powerslot, or the Zimmerman cross drilled and slotted rotors. I want something that will last me at least 50000 wont warp right away and of course have decent stopping power. Also any suggestions you have other than the ones listed would be welcomed.
Thanks
-Mike

[genphreak]

Performance rotors, like performance pads, won't last as long. They generally last until your pads wear out or you warp them. People often try to machine their existing rotors but this is not the way these cars are designed and you are lucky to get optimal braking for half the life of the second set of pads. Most people probably wouldn't really notice but who knows what it does to the bushes, and a BMW engineer would frown.

ATE are excellent rotors and come standard with all the other goodies BMW differentiate their product with. They have a higher standard of finsih to most, are grooved to automatically wear in the pads which can make the whole exercise of changing pads and rotors a waste if it is done improperly. You can read about such experiences on these forums by searching around.

If you want better brakes (again, stock are excellent and way big enough for most applications) just swap to 540 rotors and calipers. (it all bolts up. however check your resovioir seal/cap and be sure to use Super DOT 4 fluid, not DOT 4. :) Nick

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

you'll probably never realize any gain from slots or holes, unless you are tearing up the track.

Good pads is where to spend the money.

[Tiger]

I disagree on this. I have used all three types and they are very evident on difference. Have you ever tried any of them aside from plain one?

[attack eagle]

I never ever had a complaint from customers who used the ATE powerslots...
of course my experience is mostly with them on Mercedes sedans

[Robin-535im]

I want to replace my stock brake rotors with performance ones.
I'm looking at the Bavauto cross drilled and slotted rotors, ATE powerslot, or the Zimmerman cross drilled and slotted rotors. I want something that will last me at least 50000 wont warp right away and of course have decent stopping power. Also any suggestions you have other than the ones listed would be welcomed.
Thanks
-Mike
Have you thought about rotors and calipers from an 850?

They're huge... and bolt right up. I think Bruno's site has a how-to.

I have them, and they work great. I don't know about the price for rotors but I'm about to find out as I need some new ones myself.

[genphreak]

Have you thought about rotors and calipers from an 850?

They're huge... and bolt right up. I think Bruno's site has a how-to.

I have them, and they work great. I don't know about the price for rotors but I'm about to find out as I need some new ones myself.I have them too. It's a cheap conversion if you can find them in single-pot. Four pots seem to cost a heap. I bought ATE rotors form BMA, probably about $65 each, but the plain chinese ones can be got for perhaps half that on eBay (see joetlc's shop for $10 pads and cheap rotors)

The really nice thing about the 850 front brakes is that the rotors are common to e38, e39 & e32 so are easily available. The pads also :)

Here are the part numbers for the pads, with all the related part numbers / Cross references

Thanks to BigKriss and Grave77 for the tips I've needed to put this together.

850i single pot front pads
Bendix DB1409; 3 types available, inc. ceramic

Mark Range Model Year
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=404) X5 (05/00-) 3.0 d, 3.0i, 4.4i 05/00-12/03
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=405) X5 (05/00-) 3.0 d, 4.4i 12/03-
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=360) 5 Series (E39) (11/95-06/03) 525i, 530 d, 530i, 535i, 540i, M5 09/00-06/03
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=361) 5 Series (E39) (11/95-06/03) 525i, 530 d, 530i, 535i, 540i, M5 09/00-06/03
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=387) 7 Series (E38) (10/94-11/01) 740i/iL 01/96-11/01
Mark Range Model Year
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=362) 5 Series (E39) (11/95-06/03) 540i 10/98-09/00
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=363) 5 Series (E39) (11/95-06/03) 540i 10/98-09/00
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=394) 8 Series (E31) (04/90-12/99) 830 Ci, 840i, 850i 04/90-12/99
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=364) 5 Series (E39) (11/95-06/03) M5 10/98-09/00

571873 BENDIX 0986424584 BOSCH FDB997 FERODO BL1644F6 FTE GDB1261 LUCAS-TRW FD6809A NECTO 2148619305 TEXTAR 598412 VALEO 21486 WVA 21642 WV
Original Part # 34111165227

or alternatively;

Also the following pads are almost identical- 1mm difference somewhere, but Grave77 says they work just fine- and BMW spec them with the same rotors.

LP845 AP LOOKEED 13046070782 ATE - TEVES 571485 BENDIX FDB856 FERODO BL1543F6 FTE GDB1118 LUCAS-TRW FD6671A NECTO 2128419305 TEXTAR 21284 WVA 21285 WVA
Original Part # 34111160296 , also
34111160712



Also, for those with 540 setups;

540i Front pads
Bendix DB1131; (no Bendix ceramic)
LP602 AP LOOKEED 13046060332 ATE - TEVES 571355 BENDIX 0986490640 BOSCH FDB779 FERODO BL1220F6 FTE 180773 ICER GDB916 LUCAS-TRW FD6472A NECTO 2096820305 TEXTAR 20968 WVA 21212 WVA Original Part # 34111159259, also
34111159279 BMW
34111160450 BMW
34111160459 BMW
34111162535 BMW
34112228248 BMW

540i Rear pads
Bendix DB1132 (no Bendix ceramic)
LP846 AP LOOKEED 13046070792 ATE - TEVES 0986424185 BOSCH FDB857 FERODO BL1281F6 FTE GDB1119 LUCAS-TRW FD6672A NECTO 2128217305 TEXTAR 21282 WVA 21283 WVA
Original Part # 34211160685 , also
34211162865 BMW
34211162866 BMW
34212227325 BMW
34212227326 BMW

[Sam-Son]

I have them too. It's a cheap conversion if you can find them in single-pot. Four pots seem to cost a heap. I bought ATE rotors form BMA, probably about $65 each, but the plain chinese ones can be got for perhaps half that on eBay (see joetlc's shop for $10 pads and cheap rotors)

The really nice thing about the 850 front brakes is that the rotors are common to e38, e39 & e32 so are easily available. The pads also :)

Here are the part numbers for the pads, with all the related part numbers / Cross references

Thanks to BigKriss and Grave77 for the tips I've needed to put this together.

850i single pot front pads
Bendix DB1409; 3 types available, inc. ceramic

Mark Range Model Year
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=404) X5 (05/00-) 3.0 d, 3.0i, 4.4i 05/00-12/03
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=405) X5 (05/00-) 3.0 d, 4.4i 12/03-
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=360) 5 Series (E39) (11/95-06/03) 525i, 530 d, 530i, 535i, 540i, M5 09/00-06/03
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=361) 5 Series (E39) (11/95-06/03) 525i, 530 d, 530i, 535i, 540i, M5 09/00-06/03
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=387) 7 Series (E38) (10/94-11/01) 740i/iL 01/96-11/01
Mark Range Model Year
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=362) 5 Series (E39) (11/95-06/03) 540i 10/98-09/00
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=363) 5 Series (E39) (11/95-06/03) 540i 10/98-09/00
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=394) 8 Series (E31) (04/90-12/99) 830 Ci, 840i, 850i 04/90-12/99
BMW (http://www.roadhouse.es/catalogo/catalogo_modelo.php?ref=364) 5 Series (E39) (11/95-06/03) M5 10/98-09/00

571873 BENDIX 0986424584 BOSCH FDB997 FERODO BL1644F6 FTE GDB1261 LUCAS-TRW FD6809A NECTO 2148619305 TEXTAR 598412 VALEO 21486 WVA 21642 WV
Original Part # 34111165227

or alternatively;

Also the following pads are almost identical- 1mm difference somewhere, but Grave77 says they work just fine- and BMW spec them with the same rotors.

LP845 AP LOOKEED 13046070782 ATE - TEVES 571485 BENDIX FDB856 FERODO BL1543F6 FTE GDB1118 LUCAS-TRW FD6671A NECTO 2128419305 TEXTAR 21284 WVA 21285 WVA
Original Part # 34111160296 , also
34111160712



Also, for those with 540 setups;

540i Front pads
Bendix DB1131; (no Bendix ceramic)
LP602 AP LOOKEED 13046060332 ATE - TEVES 571355 BENDIX 0986490640 BOSCH FDB779 FERODO BL1220F6 FTE 180773 ICER GDB916 LUCAS-TRW FD6472A NECTO 2096820305 TEXTAR 20968 WVA 21212 WVA Original Part # 34111159259, also
34111159279 BMW
34111160450 BMW
34111160459 BMW
34111162535 BMW
34112228248 BMW

540i Rear pads
Bendix DB1132 (no Bendix ceramic)
LP846 AP LOOKEED 13046070792 ATE - TEVES 0986424185 BOSCH FDB857 FERODO BL1281F6 FTE GDB1119 LUCAS-TRW FD6672A NECTO 2128217305 TEXTAR 21282 WVA 21283 WVA
Original Part # 34211160685 , also
34211162865 BMW
34211162866 BMW
34212227325 BMW
34212227326 BMW
Wow thanks for all that:)

[Sam-Son]

I disagree on this. I have used all three types and they are very evident on difference. Have you ever tried any of them aside from plain one?
You neglected to mention which are the best