Changing Pads & Discs, should I buy from Dealership or ECP aftermarket brands?

[cooa99]

Hi all, I am about to change the pads and discs on the E53 sports D.

Should I be buying the stock items from the dealer or OEM ones from ECP are just as good? . If ECP which brand?

Thanks

[marti]

OEM are fine but get a good make like Brembo etc and not the really cheap ones as youll find they will warp....

[cooa99]

bembo or pagid ?

Prices are similar for both

[Alan Gunn]

I put pagid on both of my cars and not had any problem.
The 320d had them about 3 years ago and the x5 around 14 months.

[ttr]

Vote for pagid discs and pads !

[cooa99]

I am only doing the rear discs and pads at the moment for the MOT . Also so that then bed in a bit before doing the fronts.

Ragid rear Discs  pads are £86  from ECP compared to £156 from Dealer

Brembos rear Discs  pads is £162 from GSF

[Alan Gunn]

You might want to do the shoes as well while you are on the rear end but up to you.

[cooa99]

that's true.  Now sdded to the list.

I hate doing the shoes, too fiddly

[sleepyfolk]

The handbrake repair kit from Cotswold BMW through the forum was £59.23, includes all the adjusters and other bits and bobs, not bad I thought.

[cooa99]

ok guys , I ran into trouble.

The left disc came off  easily with  brake shoe lining  falling off with one wack of a rubber mallet.

The right disc just won't come off. It is free from the backing plate but the brake shoes is still gripping it from behind. I released the hand brake and still no joy. It just keeps wobbling about

Please what is the best way to get it off?

Thanks

[V8 00USH]

As far as I remember there is a little cog that you can adjust from a wheel bolt hole within the front of the brake disc which will free the shoes from the drum part of the disc.

[ttr]

cooa99,

Just so i understand when you state you release the handbrake do you mean its off ie disengaged or that you have taken the cover off and slacked the two 10mm handbrake adjuster nuts right back.

I had the same issue and in order to remove the rear disc i needed to completely release the handbrake adjuster nuts.

PS if you do its much easier with a 10mm deep set socket

Hope this helps

[cooa99]

Yesterday was a nightmare.

After bashing the disc a few times to get it off unsuccessfully, I then went back to the handbrake and released the retaining nuts,then turned the cog which in turn allowed me to get the disc off.

The bashing on (driver side) must have resulted in a bit of damage either to (i) one of the retaining spring loaded  screw or (ii) the rear disc backplate / flange.

After assembly I can hear a rattle of the lower shoe against the backplate which means the retaining spring has come loose

It's really a shame that most of the brake parts at BMW that used to be off the shelf items are now order only also requiring upfront payment.

I wished I has checked but is the disc back plate easy fit or the whole hub has to be removed 1st?  ... which was the case for my Golf Mkiv
OR maybe have the hole welded a little to make it smaller.

[Alan Gunn]

Not sure on the x5 but on the e46 you cut a bit out of the back plate to save taking the hub off.
Google it but i would think it will be the same.

[cooa99]

Indeed, I might have to cut the shortest distance.

Dropped the car in for MOT this morning and it failed only on the horn and steering gaiter.

looks like I have some more work to do on the brake shoes then get a proper mechanic to sort the gaiter out.