Handbrake problem
Discussion
Carguy85 said:
Your handbrake cable either needs replacing or has come loose. Don't worry as this is only a small job and will not cost a lot to sort out.
Afraid this isn’t true. The handbrake can probably be improved by tightening it at the rear mech within the disc. The op’s car should still be under warranty.Mr Carguy85, I am in no way meaning to be rude or offensive but quite a few of your posts on BMWs seem to give incorrect information. Maybe worth doing a bit more research before giving advice.
Thanks guys.
I doubt its the cable because if it was the cable then it would not work at all. As I said the handbrake works fine when facing downhill but is ineffective when facing uphill.
My guess is that cable needs adjusting or the discs ared worn out in one direction.
Anyway I am booking it in under warranty; lets see.
I doubt its the cable because if it was the cable then it would not work at all. As I said the handbrake works fine when facing downhill but is ineffective when facing uphill.
My guess is that cable needs adjusting or the discs ared worn out in one direction.
Anyway I am booking it in under warranty; lets see.
I am pretty sure your rear brake set-up will be like most BMWs, drum-in-hat. That is, a disc service (foot) brake operated by calipers on the disc, and with a drum parking brake inside this disc. If you have a sensible lever pull up (i.e. not too far) then I suspect an issue with the brake drums inside the drum/disc set up. If you are under warranty, just take it back.
How steep a hill are we talking?
Have a look here and put the last 7 digits of your VIN in
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUk/select
You can then select the system you want to look at.
As you can see, the brake shoes will have an adjust between the two shoes at one end of them, and then the actuator at the other. This set up (common to all shoe parking brake systems, will be more slightly more effective in one direction than the other. But I have never known it to be that ineffective. How old is the car, have you used the parking brake when coming to a halt? It helps to do this occasionally, especially on a new set of parking brake shoes.
There was a previous thread on this recently. Only a month or two ago.
How steep a hill are we talking?
Have a look here and put the last 7 digits of your VIN in
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUk/select
You can then select the system you want to look at.
As you can see, the brake shoes will have an adjust between the two shoes at one end of them, and then the actuator at the other. This set up (common to all shoe parking brake systems, will be more slightly more effective in one direction than the other. But I have never known it to be that ineffective. How old is the car, have you used the parking brake when coming to a halt? It helps to do this occasionally, especially on a new set of parking brake shoes.
There was a previous thread on this recently. Only a month or two ago.
Edited by Pica-Pica on Monday 8th April 21:28
The car is just under 1 yr old and has done 10k miles; I am the 2nd owner. TBH I suspected there was something wrong but couldnt work out what it was. In majority of cases I engage the P mode on gearstick and then pull handbrake up. This way I was not picking up what was wrong.
But the other week I parked up on a steep hill (not that steep though), put it in P and pulled up the handbrake. However, I did not notice that the car was rolling bcak and the passenger started screaming; I was able to stop the car with the footbrake. I realised that I had put the gear into N rather than P and pulled the handbrake which had not worked efficiently.
So later, I tested the handbrake on steep road facing downhill and then uphill. It tranpired that facing downhill, handbrake worked fine but facing uphill it was more or less useless.
But the other week I parked up on a steep hill (not that steep though), put it in P and pulled up the handbrake. However, I did not notice that the car was rolling bcak and the passenger started screaming; I was able to stop the car with the footbrake. I realised that I had put the gear into N rather than P and pulled the handbrake which had not worked efficiently.
So later, I tested the handbrake on steep road facing downhill and then uphill. It tranpired that facing downhill, handbrake worked fine but facing uphill it was more or less useless.
akkers5 said:
The car is just under 1 yr old and has done 10k miles; I am the 2nd owner. TBH I suspected there was something wrong but couldnt work out what it was. In majority of cases I engage the P mode on gearstick and then pull handbrake up. This way I was not picking up what was wrong.
But the other week I parked up on a steep hill (not that steep though), put it in P and pulled up the handbrake. However, I did not notice that the car was rolling bcak and the passenger started screaming; I was able to stop the car with the footbrake. I realised that I had put the gear into N rather than P and pulled the handbrake which had not worked efficiently.
So later, I tested the handbrake on steep road facing downhill and then uphill. It tranpired that facing downhill, handbrake worked fine but facing uphill it was more or less useless.
You rarely need to actively ‘engage’ P, just switch the engine off and P becomes selected.But the other week I parked up on a steep hill (not that steep though), put it in P and pulled up the handbrake. However, I did not notice that the car was rolling bcak and the passenger started screaming; I was able to stop the car with the footbrake. I realised that I had put the gear into N rather than P and pulled the handbrake which had not worked efficiently.
So later, I tested the handbrake on steep road facing downhill and then uphill. It tranpired that facing downhill, handbrake worked fine but facing uphill it was more or less useless.
You rarely need to engage N either.
So: bring car to halt on footbrake. Hold on foot brake, switch engine off (P engages). Pull parking lever up. Release foot off footbrake. (Wheels need to be turned so that wheels will run into the kerb).
I periodically pull the handbrake while driving on my quiet estate holding it until the squealing stops. The hubs get all gunked up with dust/buildup and this clears it. Seems to make it better for a while. I have also found that pulling it assertively (but not yanking-did that once and it knocked my armrest open!) helps. If you do it like a driving instructor would show you when learning (slowly) it exacerbates the issue.
But basically they are a bit naff.
But basically they are a bit naff.
I took the car into dealers as its still under warranty. Had a bit of a barny with the woman there - she thought car was out of warranty (I told her car is just under 1 yr old) and she thought this is wear & tear (I pointed out that I had only had the car for a few weeks). Was not impressed at all.
When I went back to collect the car she said there was nothing wrong. I said I will run with it and come back to demonstrate if it keeps heppening.
Only good thing to emerge out of this was that they thoroughly cleaned the car.
When I went back to collect the car she said there was nothing wrong. I said I will run with it and come back to demonstrate if it keeps heppening.
Only good thing to emerge out of this was that they thoroughly cleaned the car.
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