Brake Dust

[Jack Roadster]

My 2007 335 and 2000 Z3 had major brake dust on the wheels. I used PS 21 all the time to clean them. My new 2014 Z4 has almost no brake dust build up. What did they change? Are the pads a totally different material? I thought the dust was part of the design to get better brake performance? Is it just because the car is new?

[Mayhem]

My 2012 Z4 has plenty to spare if you are feeling left out.....

[Hujan]

I get almost no brake dust on my Mini. I get boatloads on the Z and the M3. Not sure what's up with that.

[jparnes1]

I heard of very different experiences of current Z owners, as shown here. I get virtually no brake dust. I'm hoping when I need new pads that I can get the same kind, but I don't know what they changed.

[BMWZ4RIDER]

I have what I consider heavy brake dust and wold love to get brake pads that reduce this annoyance. My pads are OEM from the dealer. Any advise for my next pad change?

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4RIDER

I have what I consider heavy brake dust and wold love to get brake pads that reduce this annoyance. My pads are OEM from the dealer. Any advise for my next pad change?

If we can't find out why some have lots of dust and why some don't (and ask for the ones that don't), you can always go the sure route and get ceramic pads. Of course, you'll have to pay for those, even if you're still under warranty.

[Lurcher]

BMW stock pads are typically 100% organic - giving you great pedal feel, but dusty as hell and typically wear out quick. On the other end of the spectrum are the ceramic pads - which give you a marginally less pedal feel (not as linear a bite) but almost no dust. Most of the e38 guys went this way as soon as they became available.

Depends what you want...

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by Lurcher

BMW stock pads are typically 100% organic - giving you great pedal feel, but dusty as hell and typically wear out quick. On the other end of the spectrum are the ceramic pads - which give you a marginally less pedal feel (not as linear a bite) but almost no dust. Most of the e38 guys went this way as soon as they became available.

Depends what you want...

But the point I'm making is that my stock pads throw off almost no dust. I just came back from a 700 mile weekend trip and there is just the slightest amount of dust on the wheels. Compare this to my 525 which would have black wheels at the same point. So what's the difference in composition between my 525 pads and the ones on the Z4?

[nicknaz]

jparnes what wheel design do you have?

I suspect the more open the wheel design the less dust accumulates

For example, I notice less dust after changing to style 325 as compared to style 296

My other speculation based on E90 experience is there is a difference between sport and non sport pads and the non sport pads trade off initial bite and "Feel" for less dust

[Lurcher]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

But the point I'm making is that my stock pads throw off almost no dust. I just came back from a 700 mile weekend trip and there is just the slightest amount of dust on the wheels. Compare this to my 525 which would have black wheels at the same point. So what's the difference in composition between my 525 pads and the ones on the Z4?

Hitting them a little harder in a heavier car?

I've just started noticing the dust, but I'm also starting to take advantage of the brakes. I've got 12k on them (2k since I bought it...)

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by Lurcher

Hitting them a little harder in a heavier car?

I've just started noticing the dust, but I'm also starting to take advantage of the brakes. I've got 12k on them (2k since I bought it...)

No that can't be it. I mean the difference in amount of dust is staggering. The pads must be different in composition in my Z4. Next time I'm at the dealer, I'll ask.

[Kessler35is]

The pads that come on the car from BMW are the worse pads for dust I have ever seen.

I did notice there was a delivery checklist in my owners manual and it says on there to explain to the customer about how the performance pads cause lots of dust.


It is so bad I can clean the wheels, get in the car and drive around the block, and there is enough dust on them I can see it on my finger when I swipe it across the wheel.


My question would be do the ceramic offer the same stopping performance as these "performance pads" do.

[Kessler35is]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

jparnes what wheel design do you have?

I suspect the more open the wheel design the less dust accumulates

For example, I notice less dust after changing to style 325 as compared to style 296

My other speculation based on E90 experience is there is a difference between sport and non sport pads and the non sport pads trade off initial bite and "Feel" for less dust

I have 326M's (the most open design they offer stock) and it is the worse I have ever seen on any auto period. My 2011 F150 Limited has 22" factory wheels painted in white with huge rotors/pads and they do not produce 1/10 the dust these BMW pads do.

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

jparnes what wheel design do you have?

I suspect the more open the wheel design the less dust accumulates

For example, I notice less dust after changing to style 325 as compared to style 296

My other speculation based on E90 experience is there is a difference between sport and non sport pads and the non sport pads trade off initial bite and "Feel" for less dust

Well, yes there's less dust because there's less metal to adhere to, but what metal there is would be covered the same amount. What I'm saying is that if I came back from a several hundred mile trip in my 525, my wheels would be black. The wheels on my Z would have the slightest dust haze on them
Nick are you saying there are different pads if you have an M Sport package? I checked on Realoem.com and there's only one part number for our car.

Originally Posted by Kessler35is

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My question would be do the ceramic offer the same stopping performance as these "performance pads" do.

I've never driven on ceramic pads but what I do know about them is that the reach maximum braking performance when they reach a certain temp. so for you in Mississippi that might not be an issue, but up here on colder days, it can be. I've also been told that OEM pads have a better bite. Anyone have ceramics that can chime in?

[Lurcher]

I never noticed the temp issue on my e38 - but on that heavy beast it did'nt take too long for them to get warm.

They were a pain to get bedded in though - but you never had to worry about black rims and the dust that did accumulate came off at the car wash....

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by Lurcher

I never noticed the temp issue on my e38 - but on that heavy beast it did'nt take too long for them to get warm.

They were a pain to get bedded in though - but you never had to worry about black rims and the dust that did accumulate came off at the car wash....

I wouldn't think temperature would be an issue for you in Texas. But when I get my Z4 out from storage in April, or on the other end in October, it can be pretty chilly here. So, how's the bedding in process difficult? Do all ceramics need bedding in?

[pmlnnrt]

My 2014 has practically NO brake dust - a real change from the 2009 Z-4 that I had -

[rking117]

This is not the first time i have heard of this after the 2013 models. I suspect that they changed the material the pads were made out of after the 2013 model year. There are other threads out there that talk about this further.

[bigendbob]

Here in the UK i fitted some EBC green stuff pads to the rear, hoping it would reduce the brake dust. But no same as the originals, plenty of dust. Seeing as the discs and hubs readily rust, could the discs be to blame. Perhaps their make up creates a more agressive bite on the disc and wears the pads quicker.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

Nick are you saying there are different pads if you have an M Sport package? I checked on Realoem.com and there's only one part number for our car.

Yes, I think there is a difference. Not sure if its pre/post LCI or sport/non sport though

I also think there's always going to be a trade off with dust vs friction vs noise vs high temp capacity but maybe for a commuter usage nothing is noticeable except no dust (wheels stay bling)

[Lurcher]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

I wouldn't think temperature would be an issue for you in Texas. But when I get my Z4 out from storage in April, or on the other end in October, it can be pretty chilly here. So, how's the bedding in process difficult? Do all ceramics need bedding in?

Don't know if they all require bedding in - but I do know the initial sanding marks on the rotors did not wear off for quite some time on a friends car, so when I put mine on there were some excessive long "stops" on some back roads to make sure the surfaces were well mated.