For most F30s, the best pad is Akebono Euro Ceramic: low dust, near-OE stopping, and $94.99 for single-piston brakes. If you'd rather keep BMW's bite and live with dust, buy the OE-number pad, 34106799801, from $64.99.
The F30's real trap is fitment. Grey single-piston calipers and four-piston calipers take different pads, and the M Sport badge doesn't tell you which you have. This page covers the F30, F31 and F34. For other BMWs and the dust-vs-bite trade-off in more depth, see our best low-dust brake pads for BMW guide.
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How we picked
Every pad here is listed for the F30 by part number at Turner Motorsport, ECS Tuning, BimmerWorld, FCP Euro or BuyBrakes, checked in October 2026. Dust and bite ratings come from Turner's buying guide where it rates the pad; anything else is labelled as a seller claim or an owner report. We skipped track-only pads and anything not listed on an F30 parts page.
Identify your F30 brake setup
Count the pistons on the front caliper. Then measure the rotor. Those two facts decide your pad and rotor order.
Turner's F30 brake differences guide covers the 335i. The stock 335i has a grey four-piston Brembo front caliper. Full M Sport brakes (option S2NHA) have a four-piston front and two-piston rear, blue on US cars from the 2014 model year. Red, orange or gold calipers mean the M Performance kit.
Most 320i, 328i, 328d and 330i cars have grey single-piston calipers. That includes 2012–2014 four-cylinder cars with the M Sport package (P337A), which kept single-piston calipers but got a sharper pad and 330 mm rotors. BimmerWorld's Hawk listing warns that F30 applications "can be confusing" (BimmerWorld).
Front caliper | Typical cars | Front rotor | Pad family |
|---|---|---|---|
Single-piston, grey | 320i, 328i, 328d, 330i standard brakes | 312 x 24 mm | 34106799801 |
Single-piston, grey | M Sport package (P337A) to 07/2014 | 330 x 24 mm | 34106799801 |
Four-piston, grey | Stock 335i | 340 x 30 mm | Four-piston (EUR1880) |
Four-piston, blue | M Sport brakes (S2NHA) | 340 x 30 mm; some 335i kits 370 mm | Four-piston (EUR1880) |
Four-piston, red, orange or gold | M Performance kit | 370 x 30 mm | EUR1880 or 34116865460 |
Rotor sizes come from BimmerWorld, Turner and ECS. Turner and ECS list 340 mm rotors for blue M Sport brakes, but Turner's 335i guide says some 2012–2013 and non-US M Sport kits used 370 mm, so measure yours. The guide doesn't cover the 340i. FCP Euro lists the 340i with the 335i on Jurid set 573602J ($132.99, FCP Euro), and BuyBrakes lists both for the same PowerStop front pad, excluding blue calipers.
Best low-dust pick: Akebono Euro Ceramic
Akebono is the low-dust pad named most in the BMW owner threads we read. On an E90Post thread about the older E90 335i, one owner called it "the least dust I've seen so far" (E90Post).
Buy EUR1561A for grey single-piston calipers and EUR1880 for four-piston calipers (Turner). Turner's EUR1561A note lists 2012–2016 320i, 328i and 328d; ECS lists it for the 330i xDrive too (ECS).
The drawback is cold bite. One owner on a 2010 Bimmerforums X5 thread said Akebono's initial bite is weaker than OEM, though it stopped well once bedded in (Bimmerforums).
If you want an alternative on single-piston brakes, Hawk Performance Ceramic HB748Z.723 claims "practically no brake dust" for $180.89 (BimmerWorld). Don't confuse it with Hawk HPS 5.0, which Turner rates "some dust".
Best OEM-feel pick: the 34106799801 pad
For single-piston cars, buy the OE-number pad. Turner sells Brembo's semi-metallic 34106799801 for $64.99 (on sale from $92.99) and Textar's OE set, 2519901, for $83.99 (Turner). Turner's Textar page lists the 320i, 328i and 328d but not the 330i, so check by VIN.
BimmerWorld's OE-supplier version is $73.99 and does list the 330i. It says the box could be ATE, Pagid, Jurid, Textar or another OE brand (BimmerWorld).
On four-piston cars, FCP Euro lists Textar 2502801 for the 335i and 435i at $134.99. The drawback for all of them is dust. Turner rates OE pads "heavy brake dust" (Turner guide).
Best spirited-street pick: Hawk HPS 5.0
On M Sport four-piston brakes, Hawk HPS 5.0 HB765B.664 is $189.89 at Turner. Turner's guide rates it "some dust" and "some noise". A parts vendor posting on an E90 thread at E90Post said the 5.0 dusted less than stock with better pedal feel. That's a seller's view, though.
EBC Yellowstuff DP42130R is the other performance street option at $289.99, but Turner and ECS list no caliper fitment for it, so ask before buying. On single-piston cars, EBC Greenstuff 2000 DP22105 ($207.99) claims low dust and "enhanced initial bite" over stock pads. Turner lists it for the 320i, 328i, 328d and 330e, and it isn't covered by Turner's Lifetime Replacement.
F30 front pad prices
Low-dust ceramics cost about the same as OE pads on single-piston cars. Prices below are front axle sets, without a wear sensor, as listed on 14 October 2026.
Single-piston front pad | Part number | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Brembo | 34106799801 | Semi-metallic OE | |
OE supplier | 34106799801 | OE | |
Textar | 2519901 | OE | |
Akebono Euro Ceramic | EUR1561A | Low-dust ceramic | |
Hawk Performance Ceramic | HB748Z.723 | Low-dust ceramic | |
EBC Greenstuff 2000 | DP22105 | Low-dust street |
Four-piston front pad | Part number | Fitment note | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
PowerStop Z23 Evolution Sport | Z23-1609 | Four-piston; some entries exclude blue calipers | |
Brembo Premium NAO | 34106872334 | Blue caliper, 340 mm | |
ECS DD23 ceramic | DD23-1609 | M Sport brakes (S2NHA) | $96.79 Turner (sale, ships Dec 2026) |
Akebono Euro Ceramic | EUR1880 | Grey or painted four-piston | $119.99 Turner |
Jurid | 573602J | Listed for 335i, 340i | |
Textar | 2502801 | Listed for 335i, 435i | $134.99 FCP Euro |
Hawk HPS 5.0 | HB765B.664 | M Sport brakes | $189.89 Turner |
EBC Yellowstuff or Redstuff | DP42130R, DP32130C | Not listed | $289.99 Turner, ECS |
Brembo Premium NAO | 34116865460 | 370 mm front rotors | $93.99 Turner |
FCP Euro's listing pages don't show front or rear for most pads, so open the product page before ordering.
Rotors and sensors
Every F30 front axle has a wear sensor, and no pad set here says it includes one. The front sensor is 34356792289 (Turner lists it for cars without M Performance brakes): $18.99 from Brembo at ECS, $21.31 from Bowa at FCP Euro, or $33.99 genuine BMW at Turner. Buy a new one if the warning came on.
Replace rotors that are under the minimum thickness stamped on them, or that shake the car under braking (see why your car shakes when you brake). Buy the size your car has.
Front rotor pair | Fits | Price, October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Zimmermann 312 x 24 mm | Standard brakes | |
Febi 330 x 24 mm | M Sport package (P337A) to 07/2014 | $173.99 Turner, back ordered |
Zimmermann 340 x 30 mm | M Sport brakes (blue calipers) | $220.00 ECS (sale) |
Zimmermann 370 x 30 mm | M Performance 370 mm kit | $267.99 ECS |
With Akebono pads, a single-piston front job is $94.99 for pads only. Add the $18.99 sensor and it's $113.98. Add $120.99 rotors and it's $234.97. On 340 mm M Sport brakes, with EUR1880 and $220.00 rotors, the same steps are $119.99, $138.98 and $358.98.
Labor isn't included. Bed in any new pad, which Turner says is "required".
UK buyers
Expect to pay about £107 for front pads fitted through ClickMechanic, against £193 at a franchise dealer. Its estimates aren't dated.
ClickMechanic estimate | Parts | Independent garage | Franchise dealer |
|---|---|---|---|
3 Series 2.0, 2012 | £59 to £154 | £92 to £166 | £166 to £265 |
3 Series 3.0, 2013 | £61 to £145 | £94 to £153 | £168 to £240 |
ATE Ceramic and Textar E-Pad appear among the brands in its estimates for some cars. Euro Car Parts, GSF and Autodoc show pads only after a registration lookup, so we couldn't confirm £ pad prices or UK stock of Akebono Euro.
How to check this on your own car
- Photograph the front caliper through the spokes. Count the pistons and note the colour.
- Look for a two-piston rear caliper. Turner says it points to full M Sport brakes.
- Decode your VIN and look for S2NHA (M Sport brakes) or P337A (M Sport package).
- Measure the front rotor diameter: 312, 330, 340 or 370 mm.
- Photograph the sensor plug and the old pad's part number before you order.
What to do today
- Count the front caliper pistons and measure the rotor.
- Pick the pad: Akebono EUR1561A or EUR1880 for low dust, 34106799801 for OE feel, HPS 5.0 for bite.
- Add a front wear sensor, 34356792289, for $18.99 to $33.99.
- Check rotor thickness and order the right size if it's worn.
- Bed in the pads, then check the brakes again after a week.
Swapping wheels or tires at the same time? Read run-flat vs regular tires on a BMW. For dash and comfort tweaks, see the F30 and G20 coding options. Still shopping? Use our used BMW checklist.
Common questions
Are Akebono pads good on an F30?
Yes, for low dust. Expect a softer first bite than OE pads, and buy EUR1561A or EUR1880 to match your caliper.
Do M Sport pads fit a non-M Sport car?
Not if "M Sport" means the four-piston M Sport brakes. Those pads are a different shape. A car with only the M Sport package and single-piston calipers takes the standard 34106799801 pad shape, per BimmerWorld.
How long do F30 brake pads last?
We couldn't find a reliable mileage figure, and it depends heavily on driving. Turner rates OE pads as long-life. The car's service menu shows an estimate of the distance left on the front and rear pads.
Sources are linked in the text. Main references: Turner Motorsport, ECS Tuning and BimmerWorld.
Featured image: BMW F30 3 Series Jet Black (2) by Damian B Oh (BY-SA). Source
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