Owner reviews for brake pads

I just replaced my OEM pads with Hawk HPS5.0 pads and slotted StopTech rotors. Slightly more dust than the OEM ceramic pads but they do a good job.

Pad compound and lever setting make a big difference. Fully sintered pads were a complete night and day difference on both my bikes. Easily twice the bite over stock (brand new OEM pads) the rotors are still good to go after 6 months. You can't run a sintered rear without a sintered front but you can go the other way (ebc instructions). I would order up a set of sintered hh front pads and I bet it makes a huge difference. Stock pads are set up for a quiet, linear, long lasting and user friendly compound.

i'm using hawk pads (on my second set) currently, but might try the reds on my next swap out.

I've had success with the EBC yellownbrake pads for DD and track duties.

I am very happy with Ferodo's DS2500 pads. I also prefer not to swap pads and just run one set that works for both street and track. I participate in autoX and HPDE events - mostly the latter this year. The Ferodo pads have great initial bite when cold, perform well when hot, and seem to be easy on rotors

Just installed EBC yellow stuff pads, front only, for an upcoming track day and they are dead silent just like the stock pads were. Couldn't be happier with them-- so far....

I put ~$120 worth of good Pagid pads on my 525i and had ZERO regrets. Especially for being freakin' $880 cheaper than the dealership! Brake pads take all of ten minutes to DIY, no reason to spend that much.

Last year I replaced my front pads with EBC greenstuff. The initial break in period performance was amazing. Now they're a little better than stock with added brake dust.

I thought the biggest let down of the stock mk7 GTI brakes where the ****ty stock pads cooking very easily, but with a good set of pads and fluid where pretty descent.

The brakes - overheated on several occassions coming down mountain passes. This happened on 2 sets of brakes so it seems like a design issue.