Time for new front pads, Textar were on the car (I guess an OEM supplier, PN was maybe t413?) - I thought they had great stopping power, great noise, bad dust. Don't seem to be many reviews of them.
-I want something with equal/better braking, and no/extremely low noise. <$100-150/pair. I can live with dust. I don't want to squeal around town.
-I'm wondering if there's something better than Textar/OEM before I order.
-Car is street only with RE71r's. Lots of canyon runs. Don't recall having any fade issues with the Textars.

I've read a lot of opinions, there doesn't seem to be a consensus. Complaints for both ebc/hawk. I think ds2500(?) were real popular a few years ago, can't remember atm if that's the pn I was thinking of. I was going to try ebc yellows until reading a review calling their performance very similar to oem- I think I'd rather just have OEM if that's the case.

 

Textar, Pagid and Mintex are all owned by the same parent company that is the OEM supplier of MINI pads. So you can expect them to all perform similarly.
I've had terrible luck with EBC pads delaminating and have never used them since- but that was a long time ago and maybe they got better.
Currently have Hawk HP+ on my R53. They have mad stopping power but squeal like a pig.
Currently have Hawk HPS on my E82. Better than stock in every way; no complaints. I would highly recommend them

 

Your answer is in your first paragraph. I bolded it for you and colored the important part in red.

 

If you like the initial bite of the stock pads, stay stock. I found them too much, or maybe I need more finesse on my foot. I have akebono pads now and they are much more linear, way less dust (bonus for you), no noise and otherwise stop just as good as stock pads. This is my first time with the brand and I'm happy with them.

 

I would have suggested Akebono pads also, but they will fade if you ride them hard enough. OEM pads will last a bit longer under abuse before fading.

 

G-loc gs-1