Brake pads OEM Mazda or DIXCEL

I was quoted 1200 to change my brake pads on my ND. Did it myself of course but it was funny to find out what the dealership wanted.

Took the car in for a service , got a work car and it's been driving the Rx much less. I wouldn't have done it all at once, so did a service, replaced brake pads.

I got my 2015 M3 2.5, 3 years ago with 30k Miles, now at 150k miles I have gone thru a lot of maintenance items. Additionally, my 15’ M3 GTS is “Made in Japan” not in Mexico, (some parts are actually different, Like my brake pads!) I attribute this to having a better built car.

Stock calipers with Dixcel SD slotted rotors and Dixcel ES pads.

So far I've spent 400€ on brakes, 100€ new battery, 1200€ on axles and other components related to them and maybe 150€ on oil and filters (2 oil changes so far)

Dixcel ES pads are a “fast street” pad with low noise and dust that out perform oem pads and can be used for light track application also with effective heat range of 0-600 degrees Celsius. I think they’re the best “bang for buck” pad you can get.

oem brake pads are ceramic (low noise, low dust, minimal rotor wear, less bite)

The bigger brakes are strong, but the gearbox is obstructive. Steering response is instant and - to your eyes anyway - the MPS corners flat and hard. But wide, high, soft part-bucket seats send the opposite message to your brain , giving the uncomfortable impression the car is rolling in corners.

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

In my experience the OEM Mazda Miata "Value" brake pads have absolutely horrible initial bite characteristics and require much more pedal pressure to achieve a given level of deceleration than aftermarket performance oriented brake pads.