Apparently there's a limit to the length of posts so my post was cut off. I need to know what people think of standard Brembo discs and pads:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...A1TJSBJ90RKQD9

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

As a 2 MINI family and almost 250,000 miles between our 2005 and 2006 we have had nothing but brake problems for over a decade. OEM, aftermarket, nothing seem to last more than 10k before brake shimmy. We don't race or track but we do live in very mountainous terrain. I need brakes that are reliable as daily drivers. Thanks.

 

BTW, we've done PowerSlot and Hawk HPS pads with no luck. NAPA actually has given use decent service but still had issues. OEM are horrible and leave our wheels black as tar and get maybe 15k before they have problems.

 

Your post got cut off, but maybe upgrading to 2nd gen S front brakes will help. The calipers pistons, pads, and rotors are bigger. They are essentially the same as the 1st gen JCW performance brakes, without the red paint, logos, and big price tag. Here's some info on the upgrade:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rakes-kit.html

Make sure you get the calipers w/carriers from an S model if you want the bigger rotors. The non S only gets you bigger pads.

 

I have the brembo pads in my rear calipers, I can say that im not disappointed with them. cant say for brake dust. although most full ceramic pads are lower on dust

 

You're talking about huge $. I should be able to outfit my MINIs without spending thousands to fix what BMW failed to design properly. Surely not everyone out there has upgraded their braking systems to JCW kits just to get more than 10k out of rotors.

 

EBC Redstuff pads are a good product from what I've heard. I'll be picking up a set of those when my OEMs wear down

 

Not huge dollars(thousands), that's why they call it the "poor man's JCW brake upgrade". My conversion was about $500 for used front calipers, new F&R ceramic pads, new F&R slotted rotors, new F&R stainless lines, and new fluid. The biggest expense on top of a regular brake job is the calipers and front lines because of a different fitting. Many people get take off calipers from upgrades, or wrecked cars for about $150-200 for both. All the rear stuff isn't even needed for the upgrade, but my brakes were worn in the back.

No master cylinder upgrade needed as it was not required for the first gen JCW performance upgrade.

 

I upgraded my front brakes to R56. This is not a thousands of dollars upgrade. When it is time to pads and rotors. Add $100 to get used R56 calipers, brackets, and hoses. That is what I did. My upgrade cost me $300.

 

Thanks, but I'm am still not sure why I have to change anything from factory sizes to get decent wear. I can do the Brembo discs/pads for

 

The bigger pads and rotors should help a lot more than new pads on the existing setup. The mountainous terrain is probably too much for the stock setup and the extra heat generated is warping the rotors when they get thinner. The larger pads and rotors from the upgrade will help with this, unless it's the rear that's causing the problem. Like gpwpat said above, if you do this as part of a regular brake job the cost difference is small.

If you decide to do it, just make sure you get the brakes from a 2nd gen S model, not a regular Cooper. Clubman S calipers are also the same and that's what I used for the upgrade.

 

I appreciate that. At this point I need to stick with stock sizes. I'm hoping a high quality disc from Brembo paired with their pads will work better.

I've seen some ceramic/carbon fibre combo pads out there. Anyone have experience with those? If the past don't create as much heat that should help, right?

 

I'm not sure if ceramics create less heat, or are just not affected as much like metallic pads are. I'm using Akebono ceramic pads and I didn't have any problems with heat/fading the one track day I attended. The wheels definitely stay clean looking and don't turn black within a week. A quality set of rotors like the Brembo's might help with the heat and last a little longer, but the daily mountain drive sounds like it's giving your system a workout.

It sounds major, but the 2nd gen S calipers, rotors, and brake hoses bolt on without any modification. If you already need to purchase pads and rotors, you're about 2/3 of the way to upgrading the brakes.

 

I haven't heard anyone complain about the brakes not lasting, so I'd have to agree it's the steep mountain roads.

My brakes have been great so far. Haven't touched them in almost 3 years of owning the car. I've had to change the clutch, sc, pulley, fan, and bunch of other stuff but not the brakes.

The second generation brakes sound like the perfect solution. If you need time to collect the parts just throw some cheap pads on to keep the car running until you get them.

 

The pads are excellent, been using them for over a year now. You can get those parts from bavauto as well.

 

which pads?

 

brembo ceramics