Parking Brake
 

So my parking brake decided not to release last night just as i was leaving a friends house in a -20 weather. I tried manually releasing it in the trunk and still did not work.

Any tricks at all? I havent towed it yet since it was going to take 4 hours for the tow truck to come. So i told BMW assist i will phone them this morning instead and have it towed. Thank God i was not in a remote area.

I have had some issues with my X. The brakes whistles when i stop, and i mean really loud whistle and the delear told me its normal - BS

stereo sound like crap although i have a premium sound. Steering wheel makes noise and now this. I only have 7000km on it. I really love this vehicle but why!!:(

Don't accept anything less than satisfaction
 

I have premium sound and it sounds great. The clarity and punch are similar to what I get from large B&W speakers in my family room. There must be something seriously wrong if your system doesn't sound good.

I'm wondering if the extreme cold had an impact on your parking brake. With all these problems, you should not let the dealer/BMW off the hook.

Is there a "lemon law" in Alberta? Not saying that's your situation, but in MA, I believe if you bring the same substantial issue (not exactly sure how that's defined) to the dealer 3 times and it remains unresolved, you can get the car replaced.

thanks for the reply brojor,
i dont know if we have a lemon law. I will find out. BMW asist said tow truck will take 6 to 7 hours.
I even wonder how they can tow it if the tires are siezed by the parking brake.

This parking brake issue we've heard about a few times is getting worrisome. Is this an '08 model that you just picked up the last couple months? That would mean it already has the latest updates too and it's still happening.

I'm getting worried too. This is the second time in a week that I've read about this issue on the forum. I think I may avoid the parking brake when I get my X5 unless I park on some sort of incline/decline.

I'm curious to see how many people actually use their parking brake. This could be a serious issue with the vehicle and most folks wouldn't even know it because they never use the parking brake.

You have to really pull on the cable with the tool to release it. If I remember right, it's about 3-4 inches of cable that will pull out.

I just got my parking brake failure fixed at the dealer. They have no idea why it happens, they just reconnected the cable and cleared the code.

I still can't believe this is something that won't happen from time to time due to poor engineering. Why would they include a tool, specifically designed to release the brakes after they fail, in the trunk?

Yep, it takes a bit of strength to get it to release. Maybe you should try pulling harder.

The last time mine got stuck the dealer said it might have had something to do with the cold - it was -17 that night, with another X5 being brought in for the same problem.

i use it alot, maybe thats why. Honestly i think its one of the best parking brake technology BMW introduced. I like the fact that you can just sit in traffic set the parking brake and just relax. but it seems like the engineering finish sucks.

I have the latest software(PDC and camera).

I have had this problem before which i just released it manually from the trunk and it worked. Not this time though. This time the cable is not firm at all.
Its back at the dealer now. I will not use it anymore, unless i really need to.

It was about 50 F when mine malfunctioned. Temperature probably has something to do with some failures, but not all. Would love to see if there's a TSB from BMW on this.

you are right!
last week it went to -50 and it worked fine

Sweet baby Jesus. Minus 50?

Hell with the parking brake. Pray the heated seats don't fail.:scared:

haha, or the heated steering wheel

It went to -33 on Jan 28th and 29th in Calgary. Windchill doesn't count ;)

(OK, it counts for people just not parking brakes and other mechanical devices)

Um.. Which B&W speakers do you have because the "Premium sound" is crap. I have B&W 802d btw.

Lakai, I have the B&W 803S speakers driven by Parasound amps and processor. Not as beefy as the 802Ds, so your standards may be higher. Yet I'm surprised that we're so far apart on the perceived quality of the Premium Sound. I know that sound quality is subjective, but I'm wondering if there is something different in the installations in our respective X5s.

fyi, the source I've been listening to is an iPod, with all content stored in lossless format. The tone settings are all flat (both tone and equalizer) with Surround Sound turned on. What seems to really help my aging ears is the high mounting position of tweeters in the corner pillars. The bass is reasonably sharp. The weakest part of the range seems to be in the midrange where it's hard to compete with B&W's kevlar drivers. But I'm satisfied with it nonetheless.

Good luck with yours. I hope you find a way to make this expensive option pay off for you.

well, just got back from the dealer. They "claim" thy dont have any loaners so the gave me a freakin ford fusion rental - not happy

Secondly, the nearest date they take a look at my X is March 11th.
Im more pissed. Im phoning BMW Canada. I doubt they can do anything about it though.:mad: :mad: :mad:

More than a month wait - that is beyond ridiculous. Did you try other dealers?

we have only two dealers in our city. It freakin sucks. thry can do whatever they want and get away with it.
Maybe i should compalin to BMW Canada, but what can they do?

BMWCA can do practically nothing. Better to form a relationship with your dealer, IMO. It occasionally happens that they don't have enough loaners; my dealer has 60 or so but it still happens, and the last time I was in I got a Toyota minivan. They offered to switch it with me as soon as they got a loaner in, later that day. I declined, as it only took a day for the repair (vacuum line). I would try the same, tell them that you would like a BMW loaner and you will swap them over as soon as one is available. In the current cold snap that you have in Calgary, they likely have broken down vehicles lined up off the lot. No, it isn't a good situation, but it is possible to make the most of it.

Good luck.

So, you're basically making an expensive car payment, but only get to drive around in a fusion? That is absolutely unacceptable. I would demand some type of compensation for it at the very least. I hope you find out if there's a lemon law in Canada. In California (if I remembered correctly), if the vehicle is ever out of service for more than 30 days within a year's period, or if it takes the dealer more than 3 tries and still cannot fix the same safety related issue, then you'll get to make a lemon claim on it.

No lemon laws in Canada. You can demand, but the dealer is under no obligation to give you a replacement vehicle (unless it was in your sales contract). Better to get on the good side of the dealer than start a war, IMO. They want your return business. Give them a chance to make it right.

thats right. its better to be on the dealer side. but dealing with an ignorant service man is a no go.

Anyhow, i called BMW Canada and the guy said a month is too long. He will contact them and if indeed, its a month he will ask the to give me a BMW loaner since it handles the same.

I think BMW Canada has a major problem. If you own a X5 or for that matter any car and you cannot drive it whether they give you a loan car or not, usually that car takes precedent for repair, especially under warranty.

I mean if someone rings up for a normal service you may have to wait a week or two because of the urgent repairs that come through to the dealer, not the other way round.

My old X5 did a starter motor just as the 2 year warranty ran out in the middle of the city one day. BMW still came out picked the car up put a new starter motor in and had it back to me the next day and they paid for the starter motor I only had to pay the labour cost.

They did not say we have other cars before you it will take a week.

I would write a letter to head office and complain, I mean do they want your business or not, else buy a ML next time.

yes,

i think i will buy an ML CDI next time or the new audi SAV. atleast it has some torque. And its way cheaper. I dont know whats wrong with Calgary BMW.

Check this link out and go to the archive guest book
http://www.geocities.com/anticalgarybmw/MSIE/

I don't know anything about Calgary BMW, and am not defending them or their response times. I do note that the rant link is two years old.

One of the issues impacting customer service in Alberta these days is the economy. Simply put, the economy is overheated due to the price of oil. Current Alberta residents feel free to chime in. In the company I work in we have (non-automotive) repair facilities throughout Alberta, and can not find anywhere near enough mechanics and technicians. We are recruiting across Canada, in Australia, and in Europe. We will hire hundreds this year, and hundreds more apprentices. We are still short.

It is bad enough that for some time restaurants have been cutting back hours for lack of serving staff. We have paid bounties (finders fees) for new mechanics for some time, but I see that 7-Eleven is paying them now as well, just for Slurpee machine attendants.

The problem with the service at Calgary BMW, if not caused by it, is at least compounded by the fact that they will be short of staff. Add to that the -30 temperatures in the past weeks, the extreme number of vehicles broken down (not all of them BMWs with frozen oil separators) and you have the reasons for service waits of weeks and weeks. Not at all acceptable, but writing to BMW's head office is not necessarily going to change it unless they have a SWAT team of mechanics to ship in.

Work on getting a BMW loaner, or travel to another dealership. In Vancouver my dealer is currently running 15 days for appointments, or 2 days for the Service Express while you wait service bays.

> 2 days for the Service Express while you wait service bays.

Do they provide a bed ot cot while you wait?

:rofl:

So, to clarify, they are booking two days ahead, for an appointment at a specific time (like a dentist) for a dedicated set of bays, with a mechanic waiting as you drive in, providing while-you-wait service. The Express Service program is a BMW CA initiative, several dealers have this program. Not sure if the US has the same program. No cots, but there is a theatre lounge, a business centre with computers, the M Cafe, etc.

that is some good service.
Anyways, my sales guy happen call me and I told him what was going on, 30 minutes later they told me i will get my truck back tomorrow. They are waiting for a part which will in tomorrow morning.
Apparently, the service guys thought i didnt buy it from their shop. Now thats some BS

:thumbup: Good to hear.

If you don't complain then they will never pick up there act. That's the problem with a lot of people they don't complain.

You buy a top of the range vehicle, you pay top of the range price, you expect top of range service.

BMW pushes all these items so make them live upto there hype.

I bet the dealer did not tell you when you bought the X5 that if it broke down you would have to wait a month for a repair. The dealer should be up to the task to cover where his dealership is, cold or hot climate.

so i got my truck back yesterday. they had to change an actuator of some sort.

I have come to know that you must call your sales person to get things done quickly for ya:iagree:

I am a new member in this forum as I was trying to research regarding "parking brake malfunction" in X5's. I have a year-old BMW X5 3.0 (2007 model) that just had a paking brake malfunction. I drove my X5 to one of the mountain snow resort here in southern california (mt. baldy) one time (the snow has been more or less week old since it last rain here in socal). The temperature was only in the mid 50's up there in the mountain. I parked the car in the roadside (beside the ice area) and stayed there for only 2 hours. After coming down from the mountain when I parked in front of the restaurant where my family and I will dine, the nav screen suddenly showed the "parking brake malfunction". It was towed after calling the BMW assist and after I told the driver that he can manually released the brake in the trunk as he was trying to drive the car with a stucked brake. The dealer called me just now and they told me the electronic component of the parking brake just froze up and need to order parts (while the mechanical portion does not have problem). As I was reading some of the posting, it appears cold/ice/snow has something to do with this problem, huh?

Wasn't cold when mine locked up. No parts to replace either when serviced.

well mine could be the cold and parts got replaced.

I dont use it anymore. Afraid to use it actually:(

sounds like we need to avoid using the parking brake unless you're on a steep hill and need that extra level of "comfort."

but, the manual also states that we should not solely rely on the "P" function...(that is also an electronic process)

who decided to change a good mechanical concept to some unreliable but technically "advanced" model???

give me a gear shifter that physically locks into "Park" using gears and pulleys!!

so rufus, what did they do with your SAV and what did they tell you on why the parking brakes malfunctioned, if no parts were replaced?

They cleared the code and reset the brakes. I asked the SA what was the problem and he said this is the first time they ever saw a parking brake malfunction and they had no idea why it happened.

I could see his nose growing as he spoke.

For those who do not use the parking brake, let us hope the E70 does not have a problem like the earlier X5 had on a few transmissions:

Recall Date:
NOV 01, 2005

Model Affected:
2005 BMW X5

Summary:
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.

Consequence:
THIS COULD CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN THE PARK ("P") POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY CONDITION.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GUIDE PLATE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-332-4269.

Potential Units Affected:
240

holy crap

I will have to resume using it before i push the "P" button.
I find that if i push the P without the parking brake, the vehicle jerks a bit

I drive a 2008 4.8i and I had the same problem.

So I guess there really is a problem with the parking brake of the 2008 X5. The towing company told me that my X was the 5th that he towed because of a parking brake malfunction. But when I spoke to the Service Advisor, he said that it was the first time that he encountered such problem and he doesn't know what causes it.

What sucks the most is, I just got my car last December. Pretty premature to have this problem of sorts. I love the X5 to bits, but I must say that a chunk of my confidence in this vehicle is gone.

I think it would be worth setting the park brake as a test, and then using the special tool under the rear floor to release it, solely as practice and for familiarization in case it ever happens to fail. BMW must have had a concern about the release actuator if they spent the money to provide a manual release tool.

Not to scare you, but I believe that next to the manual release tool for the parking brake is a manual crank to close the sunroof if it won't close due to an actuator failure. Might be worth checking how it works too.

When regular posters talk about their concerns over early production models and nuisance faults, this is the type of thing we think about.

Good luck.

But the thing is, after I manually disengage the parking brakes, I won't be able to engage it again until someone from the dealership sets it back. :(

That could very well be true, but it is not what I understood from the owner's manual. The caution in the manual is that releasing the park brake does not fix a fault, it just releases it. If the actuator had failed, it would take a trip to the dealer. If it was simply frozen, releasing it may solve the problem.

Based on the chance that it could require a trip to the dealer, I suggest that E70 owners familiarize themselves with the release mechanism, without activating it (unless you are at the dealer and get confirmation that it is safe to do so).

Thanks for the clarification.

"If the parking brake has been released manually in response to a malfunction, only technicians can return it to operation." - I got this from the manual.

This is quite misleading. I may have understood it wrongly. After seeing the word "malfunction" there, I think you may be right.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the way I understand this is if i manually release the parking brakes because of a malfunction, only technicians can return it to operation. Therefore, if I release it manually without a malfunction, technicians won't have to return it to operation.

Did that make sense?

That is how I read it, and how I would expect it to work, but then I don't have an E70 and can't test it in my driveway. If I did have one, I would test the emergency release in the drive-through service bay of my dealer, but that is just me :rofl:

I just would want to be prepared so that I wouldn't necessarily have to wait for a tow, if it did freeze up.

that's normal for most automatic transmissions.

I thought the E70 was simply powerful - "Perfect"
lol

it seems like a good idea when you are infornt of the service bay.
The thing is, you never know when your actuator will fail. This was my case.

I tried manually releasing it so many times but didnt work. The next day, the check engine light came on.

The replaced the actuator, reset codes and it was fine.

Well I got the parking brake mulfunction today too. I am a little over 7000 miles. I managed to manually disengage it but the next time I tried to drive off, I could only drive in reverse. When I switched to D to drive forward, the car would not move and the gear would switch to P by itself.

Anyway I had it towed and they are checking things now. While waiting I spoke to a tech and he confessed that it is a known software issue and that they are expecting a fix by May. What they will do is reset it for now.

Do you think they should recall these X5's with parking brake issues? The dealer I went to had replaced a part (actuator) and re-programmed the computer and they didn't know why it happened. The only thing they were sure, there are unusual number of cases.

I think they should, but it will cost them some money so they wont. Also i think they do not consider it dangerous.

Mine was the same; they replaced an actuator.

When my parking brake failed I took it to the dealer. They reset it and when I asked why it happened and did it happen often the SA said it was the first they had ever seen and they had no idea what caused the failure. BS.

I had my 2nd parking brake malfunction in 2 months. Now, the SAV is in the dealership and still waiting an update. In the first work, they replaced a so-called "actuator" and told me they also re-set the computer (software update). If you will ask me how it happened, well I just drop off my wife to work and drive a few meters to stop in a curb as my little son on the rear wants me to fix his DVD movie. When I got off the SAV to attend to my son in the rear seat, I kept the engine running but of course I used te parking brake. I remembered switching the portable DVD adaptor into the cigarette lighter port and alas...there goes the parking brake malfunction again.

^ the cause has been documented here... until they actually apply the fix in the latest (March '08) software update (and it hasn't been confirmed by anyone here), do NOT set your parking brake (lever) while the engine is still running. Turn it off, then apply. It shouldn't occur if you do this (workaround) in the meantime.

Using the parking brake all the time will eliminate the rust builtup (from snow, rain etc) inside the casing. The movement of the cable by using the parking brake is also the cleaning motion as well. Just using the parking brake once in a blue moon is almost guaranteed the parking brake will seize on you.

thanks
I still use it alot, same as using auto H, really

This is great information. I've been avoiding the parking brake after reading about the issues here. I guess I'll have to start giving it a tug...once the car has been turned off, of course. ;)

I bought one of the first 2007 E70s, hence no AUTO H. If this problem with the parking brake ever gets fixed....can I use it in lieu of AUTO H?

Parking brake fixed!!
 

I just received the latest software update (E070-08-05-520) that finally fixed the parking brake bug. My SAV was in the dealership 3 times since March because of fault code 6032 due to jammed parking brake. I hope that this one is the real fix.:rofl:

For this workaround. Should the Parking brake be engaged after everything is off (engine + electronics) or simply with the engine off?

Should just be the engine... I've had no problems doing just that.

I see the post above yours now saying the 5/8 fix addresses this... maybe you're already in the clear? When's delivery?

Cool.

I'll be adventurous and try using the park brake before turning off the engine (when I'm driving by myself) to see if the problem really has been fixed.

Since the workaround is so effortless, I'll use that method when applying the brake when there are passengers in the car.

Just curious. Is there any truth to this statement:
"It is important to apply your parking brake when you park. It will protect your gears from stripping".

A Caddy mechanic told me that this was true when on any sort of incline. He said, if you noticed that when you set a car in park, then let off the brakes that you'll notice the car roll slightly. It puts the gears in a wrong position and when re-engaging the gears cause slight unnecessary rubbing. Over a long period of time this may lead to a slight stripping of the gear. He claims the parking brake will prevent this shift.

His explanation does make some sense. What are your takes?

rh71. I just took delivery of the car over the weekend :) I didn't want to say anything on the board until I get some pictures of it. Hopefully I'll have some time this weekend. The car is awesome. Just not fond of the gas consumption though.

Nonsense. Stripped gears means that the gear teeth are knocked off, and the gears no longer engage.

When you put a vehicle in park, it has little to do with the gears. There is a pawl, which is a little arm, that engages and stops the output shaft turning. It is built fairly light, and if you ever put a vehicle in park while it is rolling, you risk breaking the pawl. The gears, meanwhile, are all at rest. Without the clutch packs engaged, they are simply idling, same as neutral.

Using a parking brake is logical, as it is safer. On a steep hill, it also prevents too much load being applied to the parking pawl.

^ well that pawl audibly creaks a lot at stop (engaging parking brake and releasing foot brake) and start (releasing brake and backing out)... on a very slightly inclined driveway. I guess it's as normal as possible...

I just joined the party. My X5 is having the "Parking Brake Malfunction" problem.

what model year e70 are having these problems? i just ordered a 2009 30i. i hope i will be spared of those issues...

Mine is 08 MY, was built in November 07.

> the gave me a freakin ford fusion rental - not happy

Yeah, but I'll bet you the parking brake won't stick on the Fusion, which might not be the case if they gave you an X5 loaner! :)

Interesting thread. From reading other forums completely unrelated to cars, I find many people posting in the 'others' section about topics such as this ! Its not just X5's that have the problem, its very common across lots of different makes of vehicles, and its down to the fact that there are actuators and cables which can all fail from time to time, hell even a normal hand brake needs adjusted and lubed every 10000 miles or so !

i dont even use it anymore.

> even a normal hand brake needs adjusted and lubed every 10000 miles or so !

I have never heard of a handbrake that had a 10,000 mile service interval. What make or model of vehicle are you talking about?

not even on a hill? :D i kid, i kid

Most systems that use a cable operated latch need attention at this age, I'm a mechanic BTW ... sigh and whatever BMW has invented.. it hasnt managed to beat the laws of physics :rolleyes:

> Most systems that use a cable operated latch need attention at this age, I'm a mechanic BTW

I have worked as a mechanic in the past, but I am retired now. Perhaps my experience is unusual, but I have never seen a handbrake that needed any service sooner than about 50,000 miles or five years, except for a couple that came from the factory misadjusted and needed an adjustment in the first 100 miles. Typically, servicing the parking brake system at the time of brake pad/shoe replacement is more than enough service for a parking brake system that is used routinely. Of course, if it is not ever used, that is another situation. I currently have a Ford Focus with 49,000 miles on which the parking brake has never been serviced and works perfectly. And in climates like Phoenix with no Winter salt, my Mother's 1987 Cadillac has gone 137,000 miles with one handbrake (actually a footbrake) adjustment over the years.

Even BMW says the parking brake only needs to be checked, and adjusted if necessary, every 30,000 miles:

http://www.savagebmw.com/Service/con...tervals.htm#I1

Land Rover says to check it every 45,000 miles and adjust, if necessary.



Seriously, maybe a 1950's car needed handbrake service every 10,000 miles, but not newer cars. BMW simply screwed-up their parking brake system on the X5 and, in typical BMW fashion, will complete solve the problem in another year or two.