Handbrake on a used X5
 

I've got what I'm sure will end up being a dumb question. I just purchased an 01 4.4i with 113,000 on the clocks. It is in reasonable shape for the years and miles, but I've still got a few jobs ahead of me--V/C covers, oil change, trans fluid change--that will require use of the parking brake.

The parking brake which may or may not have ever been used by the previous owner.

Anyone reading this in a cold weather climate probably knows the reason for my reticence to use the handbrake. I've seen for myself what locked up parking shoes will do to those unaware souls who engage the handbrake for the first time 10 years into the life of their vehicles.

That said, I know the X5 uses an electronically operated handbrake. I know that my SAV is not used in a snowy/salty environment (owners have all been from Portland, OR since new) but I just can't bring myself to pull that handle until I hear a couple folks say yay or nay.

Thanks!

I think you can use the handbrake no problem. I go to school in upstate ny, used the hand brake in -16F weather with no issues!

I dont think the e53 X5 uses electronically operated hand brake, its still the lever pull cable system...

01 X5 does not have an electronically operated handbrake.
I had to adjust my handbreak on a 06 X5 4.8is after the dealer miserably failed three times. They made it either too loose or too tight...

how difficult is it to adjust? mine is starting to get loose

Search Tab is one's friend...
some threads on handbrake adjustment:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ar-wheels.html

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...djustment.html

of course, mD. My "veteran xoutposter" status should be taken away.. Thanks for the reminder haha :banghead:

Well, I gave it a go. The brakes held on a slight incline without any rollback. Most importantly the brakes released when I lowered the handle. Not only do I feel better prepared to do the maintenance I have planned but hill parking will be much less stressful.

Naz24 – Sorry for the delay in response.
I should mention I didn’t adjust the rear shoes, I adjusted the cables. So, here you go:

1- Pull the e-brake cover off the handle
2- Loosen the two bolts that hold the two cables (right & left wheel brake)
3- Tighten the two bolts in parallel
4- Raise the driver side rear wheel
5- Check to make sure that the real wheel spins freely. If not, loosen the bolt a tad and check again. Operate the e-brake few times
6- Lower the driver side and raise the passenger side
7- Repeat step 5
8- Lower the car.
9- Engage the e-brake, start the engine, shift to D and see if your car moves. I got mine to the point that even moderate push on the gas can’t move the car.
10- Put the e-brake down. Drive around the block.
11- Raise each side and make sure both rear wheels spins freely with no frictions.
12- You are done.
It took me about 45mins.

Good luck

Wow. Great directions! Thanks for the detailed response

To adjust them properly, adjust the brake shoes before touching the cables. The brake shoes are adjusted with a star wheel on each side, from the rear of the backing plate. Once they are adjusted properly, then you can adjust the cable if necessary (but it is very likely that if the shoes are adjusted properly, you won't have to adjust the cable at all).

Guys,

with all that knowledge above which I really appreciate: does anybody have an experience how that brake works? In the past (ok - it was a Renault R5) I was used to pull that brake to do a 180° turn. Now I had to learn that this cannot be done with the X5 but reading all that I now have the feeling that this is a real parking brake only (and not even that).

Is that really true?

Helmuth