Help! Handbrake problem E91 320D Tourer

[ism123]

Here's the problem:

When parking on up-hill gradients the lever would need 7 or 8 clicks and looked like a stiffy.
On downhill gradients I'd release the handbrake and the car wouldn't roll and the brakes would bind.

Just had a new lever fitted under warranty at the local stealer, which seems to have sorted the up-hill problem. However, it's still not releasing on downward slopes.

What's the problem, the cure and is the binding why I only average 34mpg?

[8Tech]

I would say that the dealer has fitted the handbrake lever and adjusted the cable travel, but completely failed to check the handbrake cable or shoes. With the excessive handbrake travel you were experiencing, I would suggest that all that was required was the shoes adjusting. I suspect they have just pre-loaded the handbrake cable.
As for the binding, again, you need those rear drums off and the shoes and cables checked. If they incorrectly carried out the repair on the handbrake lever, you can bet they have never serviced the handbrake shoes.
Find another dealer!

8Tech.