what brake rotors came stock with the 98 sedan m3?

[gilliemar]

were they slotted drilled or blank, could you choose an option? because a friend told me they all came blank, every m3, but i got my car with them drilled, and it was supposedly a "stock" car

just wondering

[Tipsy]

Stocks are blanks

[EisnerRacing]

Blank and the best disc for the street with a really good set of ceramic pads

[RatedM3]

I would never recommend ceramic pads on a performance oriented vehicle unless there has been some kind of advancement in ceramic brakes that I don't know about.

[pbonsalb]

I ran Axxis Ultimate ceramic pads for several years without issue on my 99M3. Many M3 owners have run these pads without issue.

I am now running StopTech Street pads, but do not recommend them for this application. The pad chamfer on either end takes up half the pad surface, meaning contact area is significantly reduced. They work, but seem unexceptional to me. I have the StopTech Street pads on my 08M3 and like them in that application.

[RatedM3]

I ran Axxis Ultimate ceramic pads for several years without issue on my 99M3. Many M3 owners have run these pads without issue.

I am now running StopTech Street pads, but do not recommend them for this application. The pad chamfer on either end takes up half the pad surface, meaning contact area is significantly reduced. They work, but seem unexceptional to me. I have the StopTech Street pads on my 08M3 and like them in that application.

The Axxis' are quote, unquote ceramic formulated, and have been noted to be the closest to stock pads. The ceramic content in them, judging by how much dust they put out and how well they perform, is low. I'm talking more about the ceramic pads that are advertised as low-dusting (which 95% of the market is) as the ceramic content in them is fairly high.

[ThreeD]

I ran Axxis Ultimate ceramic pads for several years without issue on my 99M3. Many M3 owners have run these pads without issue.

I am now running StopTech Street pads, but do not recommend them for this application. The pad chamfer on either end takes up half the pad surface, meaning contact area is significantly reduced. They work, but seem unexceptional to me. I have the StopTech Street pads on my 08M3 and like them in that application.

The pad chamfer also surprised me but I don't think it affects their performance and I still like them as a street/light track pad. Good fade resistance, low noise, decent feel.

[sjpgoalie]

I would never recommend ceramic pads on a performance oriented vehicle unless there has been some kind of advancement in ceramic brakes that I don't know about.

I do. They squeal like a pig when they get hot, but I've also logged 1.4x Gs under braking. That was with 225s all around. They work better when they're hot, but they're still better than most cars I've driven when cold. I only notice a drop off when I've been on the highway for a while or the car has been sitting. They're worth it to me.

Edit - Just checked. 1.45Gs to be exact.

[propcar]

I would never recommend ceramic pads on a performance oriented vehicle unless there has been some kind of advancement in ceramic brakes that I don't know about.

I've read great things about PF Z rated pads

[EisnerRacing]

Wow so quick to point out what I said but didn't read it
I said : a really good set of ceramic pads .
No where did that mean cheap autozone pads
I guess I didn't want this to turn I to a debate about brake pads like it has

and to think I would use cheap anything on my M3 and that was posted for a street car not a track or auto cross car
just so you know I run hawk ceramic pads they are great low dust and great stopping

[RatedM3]

Wow so quick to point out what I said but didn't read it
I said : a really good set of ceramic pads .
No where did that mean cheap autozone pads
I guess I didn't want this to turn I to a debate about brake pads like it has

and to think I would use cheap anything on my M3 and that was posted for a street car not a track or auto cross car
just so you know I run hawk ceramic pads they are great low dust and great stopping

Sorry, I work around those cheapo ceramics all day so that what immediately cameto mind. My personal preference is a semi-metallic pad all the way.

[Eric98Sedan]

Sorry, I work around those cheapo ceramics all day so that what immediately cameto mind. My personal preference is a semi-metallic pad all the way.

Totally agree with everything you've said in this thread.

Ceramic pads suck. Low dust pads suck.

[kevinwilly]

^Not all of them do.

I've tried about everything under the sun. I have the Akebono Euro Ceramic pads right now. Almost no dust, but GREAT stopping power. The initial bite isn't as good or "abrupt" as the semi-metallic pads, so I think that leads people to believe that they don't work as well....

But after the first .1 second or so, or once they are already hot, they stop like glue. I tested them out back to back with some nice Hawk HPS pads, which give you that REALLY hard initial bite, and they stopped from 60mph in about the same distance... after repeated runs I couldn't tell you which was better- it just came down to reaction time per run, most likely.

The HPS pads make my wheels look grey after about 3-4 days. I have to clean my wheels about once every 2-3 MONTHS with the Akebono pads.

For the street, they are the most ideal I have found. But like I said- your butt will tell you they don't stop as well because of that lack of initial bite. But don't trust your butt. They work great.

[sjpgoalie]

If the pad doesn't have too much lag, it comes down to max Gs they can achieve with your particular discs/lines and fade. My pads dig in harder the longer my foot is on the brake. I use ceramics as mentioned with SS lines all around. Can't remember which brand. I've had a lot of dust with mine, but it is well worth it. They saved my life several times and the car is more fun to drive. I can brake much later IMO in comparison to OE pads. Even before the SS lines are aiding at all.

[kevinwilly]

If the pad doesn't have too much lag, it comes down to max Gs they can achieve with your particular discs/lines and fade. My pads dig in harder the longer my foot is on the brake. I use ceramics as mentioned with SS lines all around. Can't remember which brand. I've had a lot of dust with mine, but it is well worth it. They saved my life several times and the car is more fun to drive. I can brake much later IMO in comparison to OE pads. Even before the SS lines are aiding at all.


I'll have to disagree on the stainless lines.... the OE lines on these cars are actually stainless, so it's not really an upgrade. They are stainless with a bunch of rubber on the outside, though- so they just don't look like they are.

Unless whoever had your car before you replaced them with crappy aftermarket rubber ones, there's no reason to change the lines unless they are clogged or leaking. I'll tell you- every time I flush the brake fluid, though- makes a huge difference. Especially with how well the rear brakes work. I try to do it about every two years... which means it actually happens more like every 3 or 4.

Bottom line, as long as your brakes can lock up your wheels, they are good enough for street use. And that honestly isn't that hard to do.

[propcar]

the stainless with rubber coated lines are the M3 though... so for SJP who seems to have a standard E36, stainless was an upgrade.

[kevinwilly]

the stainless with rubber coated lines are the M3 though... so for SJP who seems to have a standard E36, stainless was an upgrade.

Oh- true story. I didn't even look to see if he had something other than an M3... that's my bad.