I have a 2000 528ia. since I have had this car I have had the brakes change a number of times under the maintenance program. I just replaced the fronts with direct replacement drilled rotors from Brembo and Green stuff Pads that i got from tirerack. After 1,200 miles it feels like the front rotors are warped. When i hit the brakes above 30-40mph the steering wheel vibrates.
Also my brake sensor never came on to tell me the brakes need changing.

Brake changes
1. original 0 miles
2. 10,053 miles OEM
3. 16,353 OEM
4. 32,779 OEM
5. 51,800 Brembo direct replacement


Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do. Should i replace the rotors, rotors and pads, or just the pads.


PS. Can Drilled rotors be cut? :help :help

wow, that's a lot of brake jobs. i would take it to an idependent or dealer to have it checked out. sounds like you have some type of problem with the brakes that accelerating wear.

cross drilled rotors will eat through your brake pads much faster. they also have the tendency to warp much easier than regular rotors.

Is this just the front or all 4 corners? If the pads are wearing even on both sides, it's probably not a brake system problem. If the rears are still OEM, then maybe something's goofy with the back end which is making it tougher on the front end.

I do notice that your car is an automatic, which is going to burn brakes a lot faster than a stick, but this is awful quick. Perhaps if your driving style is taxing the brakes, you might want to consider upgrading to heavier brakes. I don't know if you can put E39 M5 brakes in yours, but there has to be some after-market alternatives that would make your life easier. Was the Brembo replacement just rotors or calipers too?

And if I were you, I wouldn't try to cut x-drilled rotors. I don't have any good reason for saying that, it's just a gut feel. I'm not sure how a lathe would like the holes either.

You wouldn't be the first person that's complained to me about Brembo rotors warping on them...but the first guy has a Denali in the mountains :dunno

Im having the problem with just the front. Thats were the vibration feels like its coming from. The rotors are Brembo with stock calipers. The rear are just regular rotors with green stuff pads.

I have the same problem with 97 528. I have tried sloted roters on the front and have the same probems on the rear. The rear were stock roters and metal masters. I could sit in the back and feel it. I have just changed to drilled zimmerman and deluxe pads. I think there is too much rubber in the suspension. I really do not think my roters were warped. The person who turned them said there was not much of a problem. Does anybody know what the problem is, help? I am not hard on brakes.
I see the stock setup did not work either or are you hard on brakes? When cold they do it less if at all. Maybe the roters get hot spots then with all the rubber it is exaggerated.

Man, stay away from the green stuff on e39's. Lots of guys who used them got warped rotors. Try something from PBR.