MDchanic

I'm going to need four rotors for my '98 318ti (as well as pads and a M/C), and I've been looking into what's available.
Unfortunately, the answer is: Too bloody much!

I have crawled various BMW forums, and found a lot of irrelevant advice, as I do not need to know what is best for motocrossing, track racing, use in climates that never go below freezing, or use by kids with huge stereos and flat paintjobs.

Does anyone have any significant experience with ElCheapo vs Ate vs Brembo vs Balo vs Meyle vs Zimmerman vs NAPA vs NAPA high-end vs whatever else is out there?

In general, I have gravitated to the cheaper discs on most cars, but over many years with a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee (alias: "The Disc-Eater"), I have discovered that the fancy NAPA discs survive a LOT longer in that car than anything else.
My question is whether anyone out there has any similar wisdom to shed from the German perspective.

I will be using good-quality ceramic pads, as I drive in sub-zero weather and don't like surprises in icy conditions from pads that need to warm up.

Thanks in advance... I hope.

- Eric

oldcutlass

If your just going to drive it normal, go with the NAPA's.

MDchanic

Yeah. Napa has three front rotors for that car, one Alrom and two Zimmermans.

All are significantly more expensive than (presumably OEM quality) Ate's or Balos that I can get for $45 with free shipping and no tax, and a LOT cheaper than a few others I've found.

The price range for front rotors is from $21 for Opparts from a mail-order place, to $130 for Zimmerman Sports (sold through Altrom) from the local NAPA.
That is a HUGE range of variation, and it's hard for me to imagine that the Zimmermans are SIX times better than the ElCheapos (or even more than twice as good as the Ate's).

My head is spinning.

- Eric

1970supremevert

try pelicanparts.com

MDchanic

They're one of my main suppliers.

Ate and Balo for $45 with free shipping, as mentioned above.

- Eric

2Olds4U

If it's just a daily driver, Eric, I'd go with either Ate or Zimmerman. Just make sure you get the coated ones. The plain iron ones get real nasty pretty quick.

MDchanic

Thanks, 2Olds.

I don't know whether the whole "coated" thing really matters - here in Maine, everything gets nasty pretty quick.

- Eric

Junkman

I have experience with Mercedes rotors, and found that the "auto parts" store rotors warped quickly, and didn't provide the quality as the OEM. I replaced them with the more expensive OEM, and got much better service life. Even with my Fords, I have found that the OEM are better quality than the aftermarket. The sweetness of the low price is often tempered by the bitterness of the quality and having to do it over again, long before it should be necessary.