E60 M5 disc options ATE-ZIMMERMAN-OEM

[ant123456]

Has anyone on here had any experience with alternative suppliers for brake discs?

I will pay the large cost for OEM if I'm told that people have tried them and they are not up to the job, but worth a ask just in case!

[Depthhoar]

No direct experience of buying aftermarket brakes for an E60 M5 but did buy some ATE floating discs for my E39 M5 at a significant discount to BMW OE.

ATE make the calipers for my M5 and after quite a lot of online research I concluded that ATE probably were OE suppliers to BMW for E39 M5 discs. Bought them from an online supplier in Germany which turned into an almighty ballache (to be fair, others had an easier time & more success).

If I were to replace my brake discs again I'd probably just suck up the extra cost and buy them from a BMW dealer (someone like Cotswold or Ocean, Plymouth?)

The ATE discs work fine BTW.

(Random internet 'fact': BMW appear to use a limited number of different brake manufacturers for their pads. Textar and Jurid pads feature quite regularly. Allegedly.)

[nick1275]

Depthhoar said:

No direct experience of buying aftermarket brakes for an E60 M5 but did buy some ATE floating discs for my E39 M5 at a significant discount to BMW OE.

I was in the same boat as you, got mine off the shelf at euro's and wangled a large trade discount. Seem to be working fine

[Mr_B]

Not E60, but would never buy Zimmerman discs again in my life after the cross drilled crap that sold for M3s years ago that would be cracking after half a day at the Nurburgring. Genuine discs proved much better.
Quick look says about £400 for aftermarket discs or about £530 for genuine. Think I'd go genuine.

[Mikeeb]

Although the ECP discs that I've seen are made by ATE their spec is not the same as the OE ones. The ECP supplied discs have a steel centre bell rather than the alloy one of the OE discs.

[AW10]

99% sure BMW discs use steel centres...

[Mikeeb]

AW10 said:

99% sure BMW discs use steel centres...

Mine sure aren't steel.

The rear discs have a steel insert for the handbrake shoes.

[cosworth330]

AW10 said:

99% sure BMW discs use steel centres...

The BMW E60 M5 discs have aluminium bells ( centres ).

[AW10]

Every day is a school day - they are indeed ali - just confirmed with a fridge magnet. Apols for my error.

[AW10]

Thread resurrection... Pagid discs supplied by ECP have ali bells.

[ant123456]

You fitted them yet? Do you notice any brake noise? Like a whooshing noise when pushing on, can't remember having it before.

Fitted textar lad pads, the OEM ones I removed had textar stamped by part no, don't feel as sharp.

[sshenton1975]

I fitted Zimmer disks all roumd to mine and have them to be excellent

[RS250_Steve]

I have the ATE discs on the front of my M5 and have no complaints. (they too have Al centres)
They do hum a bit when pressing on, but my OEM ones did as well.

I have Pagid pads on the front and the brakes are loads better than they were before, but the old pads were pretty knackered.

[mikeN54]

Why buy ECP / ATE front disks at £294 each when you can buy original BMW ones for £232?

http://www.genuineautoparts.com/uk/oe-bmw/34112282...

(ignore picture, but that is the part number for a E60 M5 right front disc)

[AW10]

ECP's prices seem to go up and down according to the weather, the phase of the moon, the FTSE 250 and probably a few other things. Last autumn I paid £133 each for front Pagid discs for my E61 M5 after a 10% online discount and roughly 15% from topcashback. List was £174 at the time; ATE discs are currently £205.

Edited by AW10 on Friday 19th August 14:36

[RS250_Steve]

mikeN54 said:

Why buy ECP / ATE front disks at £294 each when you can buy original BMW ones for £232?

http://www.genuineautoparts.com/uk/oe-bmw/34112282...

(ignore picture, but that is the part number for a E60 M5 right front disc)

Because ATE discs are currently on there for £214 each and with the 25% off deal that's (almost always) on a pair is £322.

[mikeN54]

I thought it was just me thinking ECP prices are all over the place, glad you think so too.

So the key is keep checking and buy em when they're cheap?

[AW10]

30% off at ECP this weekend with code holiday30 plus 5.5% through topcashback.co.uk - stock up on your brake parts!