ECS Tuning 2 piece rotors vs OEM..ECS worth the money?

[Rat3d ///M]

I am about to do a Brembo caliper upgrade which utilizes the OEM rotors, but at 50k miles my OEM rotors are probably due for replacement, so I am considering my options. I do not need to stay with OEM rotors, but need to stay with OEM diameter (360mm front and 350mm rear).

Right now I am looking at either going with OEM replacements, which from ECS Tuning will run me roughly $1000.00, or going with ECS's aftermarket OEM replacements, which look much nicer (but I can't comment on the performance or quality of them, as I don't know). These rotors are however around $1500.00. So my questions are:

1. Are these aftermarket rotors ECS offers worth the extra $500.00?

2. Going with larger upgraded Brembo calipers, is it wise to go with ECS's upgrade, or will OEM rotors basically be the same thing in regards to performance?

3. How do these rotors ECS offers compare to OEM in terms of performance?

I would like to go with OEM and save the $500.00 if I can, but if the ECS rotors are that much better, I will spend the extra cash. No point in spending the extra money for something that is very comparable to OEM however, and this is where I need advice.

The rotors in question for reference:

https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E90-M3...ors/ES2712810/

[Richbot]

I've had the rear replacements for about 10,000 miles. They are definitely brake rotors. They are slightly lighter than new, unworn stock rotors. They have more vanes. They have not caused any issues on my car. They continue to help my car stop. I tracked them once on stock pads and didn't smear the pads all over the rotor, but they're the rears so they don't do much anyway, and I have a front Trophy kit.

Because of the parking brake ring, the rear rotors, despite the extra vanes, are unlikely to make a big difference. For the fronts, maybe worth it?

[admranger]

I recently put them on my car and don't have that many miles on them. They are a nice piece of kit. The replaceable rings are appealing and should decrease the cost of ownership over time.

I have no complaints, but again, I have limited miles on them.

[pbonsalb]

If they last the same 50k miles, cost 50% more to buy originally but 25% less for rotor rings after that, how many miles until you are ahead? 150k more miles and you will be ahead. If you took 4 years to go 50k, that will be 12 more years.

[HP Autosport]

Upgrade if they are full floating rotor assemblies. If they are not full floating, it's not worth the money.

Take a look at the PFC DD rotors. They have been E36/E46 and E9x time trial/track guys favorites rotors when upgrading the calipers or a BBK is not within the rulebook.

[ECSTuning]

These are our semi floating rotors which for this application are slightly lighter than the factory rotors.

As for performance I can spout off how awesome they are... but clearly I'm very bias. On the other M3 community forum you'll find a host of reviews of the rotors in various fitments. Performance is what you'd expect from a quality rotor.

I'm not going to knock PFC DD rotors, they are fantastic rotors at nearly twice the price.

-James

[dparm]

I kinda wish they were available as slotted-only, or drilled in the same pattern/spacing as the stock ones.

Still, for the price, the ECS ones are tempting versus OEM or Zimmerman blanks. The vanes are certainly more track-focused than the stock ones, though I have to say the stock brakes are pretty good for basic track duty as it is.