I just went though this last year and this year with my 420e.

Factory pad in appearance is a Pagid. I don't like the feel or the black dust. Textar (yellow box) were always suppose to be the OE in europe? They have better feel than Pagid in my oppinion. I ended up with MB-Pagid's as both Pagid and Textars were on backorder... needed brakes. Not happy I did some research and Akebono's are really the leader in ceramic pads.

FACT: The Akebono are ceramic and were NOT made when our cars were new.

They are a more recent and if you read the literature(and believe it) appear to have a more constant coefficent of friction over a broad temperature range, lower dust, etc. Very good thing except under racing conditions, you'd need something which is more aggressive - but hey you wouldn't want to race with factory pads either. Portfields or maybe a high metallic pad would be best.

The premium pad aftermarket is where the bucks are and a growning segment. Seems like every maker now has a ceramic pad...

I don't know where you'd find those for a 420e for $51... got some last week for $71 w/free shipping. I'll put them on soon. They come with 2 wear sensors and some molylubricant to go under the squeel shim.