Brake pads Textar or OEM BMW

I used OEM replacement Textar pads. At some later date I may go with something a bit more grippy, but for DD duties the Textar/Porsche pads seem to be more than up to the task.

M3 stock brakes are better, the GTI gets a little tail-happy under hard braking above 110-130mph.

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 recommend Textar, great bite and no need of pre-heating. They also don't cause too much wear on the discs and on the other hand don't generate much brake dust.

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

Textar is an OEM supplier, and they're not that expensive - run with those. Same amount of dust as stock, but no noise, and stock like braking characteristics.

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...