Brake pads Bendix or OEM BMW

Seems like there would be room in the market for a slightly detuned S55 base model without the fancy seats, brakes and wheels for about $5-8k less like the M3/M4: M3/M4 Competition.

I really love driving it though, particularly the brakes and the handling.

I use Bendix ultra premium /ceramic pads and I've been quite happy with them

I replaced REAR pads and rotors myself at the end of June of 2017 when I was at 54,000 miles. I used Bendix Ceramic Pads / D1348: https://www.carid.com/bendix/cq-ceramic-rear-disc-brake-pads-mpn-d1348.html These should fit your CC as well (they fit 2.0T and VR6 )They run very clean - like no dust, like the original factory pads did (maybe cleaner). I also opted for oem style rear rotors. Nothing fancy, no slots or drilled holes. The originals didn't have these features and I found them totally serviceable without them. If you buy aftermarket standard style rotors, just be sure that they match the specs of the original factory ones. For my car, the VR6 has rear vented rotors (the 2.0T has solid unvented). I confirmed the vane count and the rotor thickness matched the originals when they were new and then made a decision. I think the rotors I got online were duralast? I can't quite recall. Anyhow, I'm sure I'll be shamed for not going to the VW parts counter for VAG branded parts. But with that said, I have over 2500 miles on since then and the car stops beautifully with zero pedal pulsation. All-in, with a tube of compatible brake grease, I think I was at about $115 in parts and 2.5 hours of my labor.

I put some Bendix organic/ceramic pads on my S-10 way back in the day, and the dust was much more manageable. The dust is a lighter color so it's not nearly as obvious. My current car (G35 Coupe) has ceramic pads, and I can tell a big difference compared to my friends' cars. Brake dust always come back slower on my car.

I got about 107,000 on my 06 and haven't needed to change the rotors yet. I just use Bendix Ceramic pads front and rear, we have always used Bendix stuff and never had any issues.

Have yet to find a better street pad than BMW's OE compound. Ceramics dust less but feel terrible.

The way the brakes begin to grumble during heavy braking is less impressive, but they work well enough.

The brakes. Looks all OE. The dust is unbelievable awful.

And jesus christ. $600 for rear pads and rotors? the the parts are like $250 and labor shouldn't be over $200...