Handbrake issue

[esscolab]

I park on a slight incline at home and noticed that I have to engage the handbrake on the highest setting or the car will roll back.
As an added measure I also leave it in first gear just in case.

I've never had to do this on any car before and was wondering if this is normal on BMW's ?

[Guildenstern]

My 128 is kind of like that too. It has about 5 degrees of wheel play before the parking brake grabs unless I crank the heck out of the hand brake.
Dealer say it's within spec, but I think some of the parking brakes need a little more tweaking from the factory.

[esscolab]

Sorry for posting in here, should be under brakes....

[Dave135i]

I've noticed the same thing...

[esscolab]

I wonder if this is a general issue? Many times I have stopped the car, put on the handbrake, opened the door and realized the car is rolling and quickly applied the handbrake some more. Doesn't sound right to me...

[gatorfast]

Pull that thing up with some force!

[123D-M]

My 123d only requires a few clicks. I don't have to pull it hard at all.

But then Belgium is completely flat...

[esscolab]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Pull that thing up with some force!

That's my point, one day I might pull the bloody thing out of it's socket, i'm using some serious hulk force to get this on the highest click each time. No way my wife could use this handbrake.

[scorcherjf]

Weird. I was surprised to find my handbrake was actually quite strong without pulling it up much. But I was comparing it to my 6 year old 330xi, which required me to pull the brake up as hard as I could to stop it from rolling on a 5 degree incline

[esses]

You should always pull a handbrake all the way when parking. Doesn't matter if it's a BMW or a Pinto. You will never cause any extra wear and tear by doing so, though you CAN cause wear and tear (not to mention collateral damage) by not doing so. [edit: unless you are at the track]

Tightening the cable will shorten the throw, but won't change what's happening at the wheels. If you are rolling back before it grabs that isn't the brakes stopping you - its your gearbox, the static friction in your engine, and engine compression - you need to pull the e brake harder. Either that or your brakes are shot, but I am assuming that is not the case. Also, always leave a standard transmission in your lowest ratio gear when parking. A good rule of thumb is reverse if you are facing uphill, 1st if you are facing down hill. Yes it seems counter-intuitive, but you don't want your engine turning over one way when it is in gear the other way if you care about your timing belts.

[esscolab]

Sounds good advice, I think I will get the brakes tested anyhow on it's service as I am suspicious about this brake. I have never had any card do this before.

[tnawab]

Mines the same way. I need to pull it up pretty hard. My honda was the same way.

As esses said. If it catches its working, doesnt matter how far you need to pull it. An adjustment is all that is needed. Remember, handbreak is just another tool to pull the back breaks as your footbreak. So if your foot break works, nothing is wrong with your breaks. Just the handbreak needs to be tweeked.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by esscolab

I park on a slight incline at home and noticed that I have to engage the handbrake on the highest setting or the car will roll back.
As an added measure I also leave it in first gear just in case.

I've never had to do this on any car before and was wondering if this is normal on BMW's ?

I also park in 1st gear and have found the "parking brake" a bit weak on all 4 BMWs I've owned.
Tom

[esscolab]

The 3rd or 4th click would be fine to hold the car, the last click seems like they left no room for error. I will see if I can get it changed at the dealer, it does bother me.

[PrimoM3]

Originally Posted by esses

... but you don't want your engine turning over one way when it is in gear the other way if you care about your timing belts.

I thought the N54 used timing chains vs. belts...

[modbargains]

Doesn't matter if you have a tight e-brake or not, always at a precautionary measure, put it in gear along with the e-brake when parked on a slope.

[Mad Dragon]

Originally Posted by tnawab

As esses said. If it catches its working, doesnt matter how far you need to pull it. An adjustment is all that is needed. Remember, handbreak is just another tool to pull the back breaks as your footbreak. So if your foot break works, nothing is wrong with your breaks. Just the handbreak needs to be tweeked.

The parking brakes are drums, and the service brakes are discs.

[esses]

Originally Posted by Primo135

I thought the N54 used timing chains vs. belts...

Probably does, old habits die hard. Either way, nothing good can come from going backward with first gear engaged and vice versa.

[V-power]

Originally Posted by 123D-M

My 123d only requires a few clicks. I don't have to pull it hard at all.

But then Belgium is completely flat...

Sorry but that's wrong!
If you say "The Netherlands" it's flat then you are right!
but Belgium has the ardennen a mountaint that's have a height as(694 meter) called the "Hoge venen'.

[Guildenstern]

Originally Posted by esses

If you are rolling back before it grabs that isn't the brakes stopping you - its your gearbox, the static friction in your engine, and engine compression - you need to pull the e brake harder. Either that or your brakes are shot, but I am assuming that is not the case.

It does it even in neutral. They say it's fine. But im not beyond beliving there is sub-spec in the parking drum system.

Although I will say, the book does tell you to use some force. When I crank on it it holds firm.

[jbenington86]

I never have a problem with mine but im always facing down hill

[123D-M]

Originally Posted by dus666

Sorry but that's wrong!
If you say "The Netherlands" it's flat then you are right!
but Belgium has the ardennen a mountaint that's have a height as(694 meter) called the "Hoge venen'.

Yes yes... picky.

Ok, where I live in Vlaanderen is completely flat!

Agreed there are some small hills in the Ardennen. I refuse to call them mountains.