Ceramic Brake Pads

[pyro]

Well i searched and found out that there ARE ceramic pads for this car, w00t! But what i also found bothered me as there were no real concrete posts on them. I saw that the ceramic pads actually let out more brake dust in some applications, and are very noisy. Can anyone confirm this? Also, im pretty new to Audi's, and this wont void any warranty, right? I cant stand having to wash my wheels almost twice a week because they are turning gray. [mad]
thanks in advance!
[hail] [az] [:D]

[quattrotman]

Well i searched and found out that there ARE ceramic pads for this car, w00t! But what i also found bothered me as there were no real concrete posts on them. I saw that the ceramic pads actually let out more brake dust in some applications, and are very noisy. Can anyone confirm this? Also, im pretty new to Audi's, and this wont void any warranty, right? I cant stand having to wash my wheels almost twice a week because they are turning gray. [mad]
thanks in advance!
[hail] [az] [:D]

I put PBR ceramic pads on my wifes beemer and they're good. No noise and no dust. I prefer the PBR metalmasters myself though and use them front and back on my car. No dust, no noise and super long life. I have used them on various cars for over a decade. I wanted to try out the ceramics on the BMW because it's a lease and I don't care...it's going back next year (forever...good riddance!). They are pretty good though.
Your warranty may be void though for your brakes if you are not using OEM pads. They won't service your related components (if covered normally) if you've changed to aftermarket pads (check with your dealer though..mine was cool about it but said if something happened they can't garuntee to fix). No big deal, brakes are easy to fix though.

[gods_kitchen]

I'm looking for some pads too, where can I find the PBR ones?

[Goped220]

Hawk ceramic the best! check out ecstuning.com

[quattrotman]

I've read actually that the Hawks were not so good. The metallic HPS are better. I went witht the PBR's because they were cheaper and on my wife's BMW leaser I didn't give a shit.

[Goped220]

The Hawk racing pads are the best period!

[4-tified]

I put PBR ceramic pads on my wifes beemer and they're good. No noise and no dust. I prefer the PBR metalmasters myself though and use them front and back on my car. No dust, no noise and super long life. I have used them on various cars for over a decade. I wanted to try out the ceramics on the BMW because it's a lease and I don't care...it's going back next year (forever...good riddance!). They are pretty good though.
Your warranty may be void though for your brakes if you are not using OEM pads. They won't service your related components (if covered normally) if you've changed to aftermarket pads (check with your dealer though..mine was cool about it but said if something happened they can't garuntee to fix). No big deal, brakes are easy to fix though.

What BMW are you leasing?
What problems are you having?

I had a 2003 325i sport and it was very nice and reliable once the coil packs were replaced, similar problem to Audi.

Also, you can replace your pads with pretty much anything you want and it will not void the brake warranty.
Pads and rotors are "wear" items, and unlike BMW, not covered by Audi's maintenance. So, by the time you need new pads you can use whatever pads you want. As long as the pads you use are designed for your car the warranty is intact.
Read the Magnusson-Moss warranty act for some great info on warranty.
The act covers warranty in general, but if you search you may find specific application to automobiles.

[quattrotman]

What BMW are you leasing?
What problems are you having?

I had a 2003 325i sport and it was very nice and reliable once the coil packs were replaced, similar problem to Audi.

Also, you can replace your pads with pretty much anything you want and it will not void the brake warranty.
Pads and rotors are "wear" items, and unlike BMW, not covered by Audi's maintenance. So, by the time you need new pads you can use whatever pads you want. As long as the pads you use are designed for your car the warranty is intact.
Read the Magnusson-Moss warranty act for some great info on warranty.
The act covers warranty in general, but if you search you may find specific application to automobiles.

Ours is the 2005 325IS. Sorry but biggest piece of shit I've ever owned. For a new car, it's been nothing but probs. I could write a book (I literally have to BMW). A nice assortment of warning/mystery lights that still haven't been fixed because they can't figure it out. Oil light. coolant light, CEL and all unable to be diagnosed. Rotors warped after 3 days of use and they wouldn't do anything about it...refered me to my owners manual and said they are 'wear items'...yeah nice high performance machine. Doors don't close right ...never have no matter how many times we go back. Car has died 6 times with no explanantion. List goes on and yes, we have gone to 2 different dealers. I'll never buy another. My friend just dumped his E46 M3 because he was tired of his probs too. I know so many say they are such rliable cars but compared to her old E36...this thing is a shitbox.
As far as your point about the brakes go...it depends on your warranty. My A4's warranty does cover brakes and pads and therefore when I replaced them I lost my warranty on that part. Most new audis don't offer that anymore.
BMW does not cover brakes (pads/rotors) hence my frustration with warped rotors after 150km (that's not 150 thoughsand...that's 150 and the car had 45km on it when we got...they said "oh that's normal...we need to drive it from the boat and stuff").

[4-tified]

Ours is the 2005 325IS. Sorry but biggest piece of shit I've ever owned. For a new car, it's been nothing but probs. I could write a book (I literally have to BMW). A nice assortment of warning/mystery lights that still haven't been fixed because they can't figure it out. Oil light. coolant light, CEL and all unable to be diagnosed. Rotors warped after 3 days of use and they wouldn't do anything about it...refered me to my owners manual and said they are 'wear items'...yeah nice high performance machine. Doors don't close right ...never have no matter how many times we go back. Car has died 6 times with no explanantion. List goes on and yes, we have gone to 2 different dealers. I'll never buy another. My friend just dumped his E46 M3 because he was tired of his probs too. I know so many say they are such rliable cars but compared to her old E36...this thing is a shitbox.
As far as your point about the brakes go...it depends on your warranty. My A4's warranty does cover brakes and pads and therefore when I replaced them I lost my warranty on that part. Most new audis don't offer that anymore.
BMW does not cover brakes (pads/rotors) hence my frustration with warped rotors after 150km (that's not 150 thoughsand...that's 150 and the car had 45km on it when we got...they said "oh that's normal...we need to drive it from the boat and stuff").

That's VERY odd. Was this even a new BMW, or a "certified used"?
My 2003 only had coil problems.
E36's were very electrically troubled.
BMW is known for odd electrical gremlins, pretty much like Audi and even MB.
The brake thing is VERY odd to me as I was on the BMW list for a bit over 3 years during my ownership and that wasn't a common complaint at all.
Also, it's odd that your dealer would say it's a "wear" item because BMW actually DOES cover brake rotors and pads during the 4yr/50k warranty. After that, it's like any other car.
So, if your rotors were "warped", BMW should have fixed that under warranty.
BMW is probably the only company that actually covers pads and rotors.
They even cover brake fluid replacment every 2 years.

You don't have to apologize to me. I liked my BMW and I like my Audi.
I'm not a brand snob, so all great cars are fine by me.
My BMW was THE best driving/handling/riding car I've ever owned, even slightly better than my A4. They are both fabulous car when equipped with the sport packages and suspensions.

Ah! I just noticed you're in Canada. That probably explains the warranty variance.
BMW covers pads and rotors in the US, Audi does not.
And, it seems switched in the north lands, how odd.

[quattrotman]

That's VERY odd. Was this even a new BMW, or a "certified used"?
My 2003 only had coil problems.
E36's were very electrically troubled.
BMW is known for odd electrical gremlins, pretty much like Audi and even MB.
The brake thing is VERY odd to me as I was on the BMW list for a bit over 3 years during my ownership and that wasn't a common complaint at all.
Also, it's odd that your dealer would say it's a "wear" item because BMW actually DOES cover brake rotors and pads during the 4yr/50k warranty. After that, it's like any other car.
So, if your rotors were "warped", BMW should have fixed that under warranty.
BMW is probably the only company that actually covers pads and rotors.
They even cover brake fluid replacment every 2 years.

You don't have to apologize to me. I liked my BMW and I like my Audi.
I'm not a brand snob, so all great cars are fine by me.
My BMW was THE best driving/handling/riding car I've ever owned, even slightly better than my A4. They are both fabulous car when equipped with the sport packages and suspensions.

Ah! I just noticed you're in Canada. That probably explains the warranty variance.
BMW covers pads and rotors in the US, Audi does not.
And, it seems switched in the north lands, how odd.

We got it new and was unhappy from the start. Yeah, I think waranties are different up here but they wouldn't even look at the brakes > they listened to the symptom, took it for a spin and basically told me it would cost about $500 to fix. Nice, thanx. I'll bring that up when they want me to buy a new one on lease end.
I think the motor is one of the best in the industry and the auto tranny is amazing but I think my Audi handles better and I think the ride is too cushy in the BMW. I probably got a lemon but oh well. Next car is either a Q5 (when it comes out) or Tiguran (out next year hopefully) or maybe Toureg (we need a bigger car). I'm going back to VAG though. Unfortunately one bad experience is usually enough for me. I'm glad you are enjoying yours though [up]