Handbrake handle button

[skoff]

Hi Chaps,

I was parking the beast over the weekend and when I pressed the handbrake button to release the handbrake it pinged off, and now it seems my handbrake doesn't work... Are there any diagrams of how the thing fits together? Or has anybody had a similar problem? There doesn't seem to be any visible method of connecting the handle to the lever. It's an alloy handle if that makes any difference?

Cheers

[JensenA]

The little button has a Nylon/Plastic inside, and it just screws on - very sophisticated

[mikepenney]

Can you see the threaded rod that the button should screw onto? If not I had the same problem on mine, the hand brake itself was actually bent; i think it's caused by the angle you are puling the lever up at. Anyway I took the ally grip off which is held on by a tiny grub allen screw underneath and just pushed the lever away from me, the rod then pinged back out to where it should be. You can bend the lever around a bit to centralise the rod and then put it back together.
Hope this helps. Mike

[skoff]

Thanks guys I will give it a go...

[skoff]

Hi All,

Well after much contortion I managed to work out the handbrake handle was held on by 3 allen key grub screws, not crossheads...

It seems that the ratchet isn't springing back to engage so the handbrake isn't staying on. I suspect there is a little spring that makes this happen. I can get my finger underneath it and get it to work, but it's not very convenient when in traffic. The trouble is my daily-drive 5 series has gearbox issues (no reverse) so I need to use the TVR (shame eh?).

The thing doesn't seem to be bent, though I'm not really sure what I am looking for and which way I'd need to bend it to get it working again, if that's the actual problem.

Does anybody have a diagram of how the handbrake goes together before I embark on taking the thing to bits 'blind'?

Thanks
Guys

[shoggyraminator]

I've taken a look at both my copies of the manuals and neither show any diagrams of the handbrake lever.

[FarmyardPants]

skoff said:

Hi All,

Well after much contortion I managed to work out the handbrake handle was held on by 3 allen key grub screws, not crossheads...

It seems that the ratchet isn't springing back to engage so the handbrake isn't staying on. I suspect there is a little spring that makes this happen. I can get my finger underneath it and get it to work, but it's not very convenient when in traffic. The trouble is my daily-drive 5 series has gearbox issues (no reverse) so I need to use the TVR (shame eh?).

The thing doesn't seem to be bent, though I'm not really sure what I am looking for and which way I'd need to bend it to get it working again, if that's the actual problem.

Does anybody have a diagram of how the handbrake goes together before I embark on taking the thing to bits 'blind'?

Thanks
Guys

I found on mine that if the grub screws were done up too tight, the button would get stuck in the 'pressed in' position, with the result that the handbrake wouldn't stay up. Seems connected with the bent rod comments above..

[Byker28i]

The other thing is that when you pull the handbrake up, you can pull it at an angle, resulting in the lever bending slightly, which means the button sticks in.
I did this when I first got the car.

[mikepenney]

when i said the handbrake was bent it is only slight, if you push it away from the steering wheel with the outer cover off you will see that the centre rod doesn't move as much as the outer It's just a matter of "tweaking" it over enough to get the rod moving again. A bit of grease also helps, all it is is that the rod is rubbing on the inside of the handle. You need to get the rod sat in the middle of the handle.
Mike

[skoff]

So, if I understand this - it isn't spring loaded at all it just works using gravity? The ratchet teeth should just rest on top of one another?

It helps to know it's only a small amount it needs to move. Thanks

[JensenA]

The only spring is the one for the button. Just sit in the car and push the hanndbrake away from you towards the passenger door, use a bit of force, a bit at a time until it sort of 'pops' back into place and starts working.

[al 350i]

behind the button at the front of the handbrake is a long spring, if your button came off then its possible that you've lost the spring. but the more common fault is what everyone else has said, the sides of the handbrake case start to clamp the mechanism in side which stops the rachet from working.

failing this then your best bet would be to start carrying a brick with a piece of string attached to it and shout "chocks away"!!

Edited by al 350i on Monday 15th March 20:55

[skoff]

Fortunately I still have the spring. I will give the bend it thing a go, I probably wasn't using enough force...

I have got a brick and a piece of string, I will also wear a Biggles flying hat for effect...

[al 350i]

there's a real knack to the bend it thing! if i remember, you have to push away from the driver, whilst pushing down and pull it forward at the same time. for a more permanent fix, remove the gaiter and from underneath the handle you can prise the two halfs of the handle apart slightly, giving more room for the mechanism to move up and down.

[skoff]

al 350i said:

there's a real knack to the bend it thing! if i remember, you have to push away from the driver, whilst pushing down and pull it forward at the same time. for a more permanent fix, remove the gaiter and from underneath the handle you can prise the two halfs of the handle apart slightly, giving more room for the mechanism to move up and down.

I already have the gaiter off so method 2 seems like the best option.

Cheers Al!

[skoff]

Finally got around to sorting this... Ironically I have been using the Cerb much more while the gearbox on the beemer is being rebuilt, so I have been putting up with lots of handbrake fiddling and cursing.

Anyway I tried bending the lever, and I can't say I am sure that it did actually bend. Some of you guys must be built like brick out-houses if you find it easy to bend. Looking at the bits I had I was a bit puzzled as to how the handbrake button stayed in place at all. There was no place for it to screw onto the threaded metal rod that runs the length of the handbrake handle.

Then I had a lightbulb moment... I looked down the handle and saw a rubber grommet type thing, and with a pair of long nose pliers managed to extract it. This seems to have been the problem. The grommet fits snugly into the button and then the whole thing screws onto the rod. BINGO!

All assembled and now it works a treat again. I probably should have glued the rubber grommet into the button, but I couldn't get the thing out again easily after I had pushed it in so I guess that will be ok for a while.

[Poledriver]

Why are you bothered if the handbrake lever doesn't latch? I thought that it was just there for show!

[skoff]

Poledriver said:

Why are you bothered if the handbrake lever doesn't latch? I thought that it was just there for show!

This is true, but it looks better with a nice shiny end