Handbrake problem

northernlight · Post by **northernlight** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:16 am

Hi guys,

I had a problem at new year where after a long drive, I'd temporarily stopped at the shops near home and then on re suming the journey I'd felt a 'clunk' and slight resistance. It cleared itself and as suggested on this forum it seemed to be sticking rear handbrake or calliper/s.

Took the car out again yesterday and the same thing is happening, albeit now practically after every time I use the handbrake. Starts off kind of jolting at slow speed (I imagine the xdrive is trying to compensate for the brake resistance?) and then feels like a fair amount of resistance on the rear, although can't tell if one or both brakes. As mine is a manual, use of the handbrake is relatively frequent and it seems to take quite a long time for the brake to release when driving along. I think it has also affected the other car systems as twice the yellow triangle with 4x4 warning came on during two journeys along with the yellow abs light. It went off once the car was switched off and started again a few minutes later.

Can anyone advise on whether then handbrake uses the same calliper as the normal rear disc brake? I've had a seized piston on my old e46 front calliper before with similar results hence my query. Also, does anyone know if this is a big job to fix or a recommended garage in the London area to quote a fair price?

Thanks!

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 10:29 am

Parking Brake on the E53 uses a small set of shoes like a drum brake on the inside of the rear disc assembly. I think SWMBO had the brake done by a Halfords Service Centre (what used to be Nationwide) as part of work needed to get through the MOT a couple of years back, and it was about £60 plus parts.

Richard

northernlight · Post by **northernlight** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 10:17 pm

Tried driving the car again this morning and it now appears that it is actually one of the front calipers sticking on.

Does anyone know if this is a big job to refurb/replace?

Thanks

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:33 pm

Does this help? A complete 'How To' from Xoutpost. It doesn't look like a major job as long as you are reasonably diy competent and have a set of tools.

A new caliper will be expensive of course.....it's a BMW!! But if it's only a case of a good clean with brake cleaner, exercising the piston and putting a new set of pads in with some pad lube to keep it all moving you should be OK.

Eurocarparts do them and there may well be a suitable discount code on here too that should get you 25% or so off.

R

northernlight · Post by **northernlight** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:36 pm

This seems to be getting weirder by the day!

Just had the RAC out as i didn't want to drive with the brakes stuck on. When they arrived, sods law it was working fine. They jacked up all 4 corners and checked the wheels running smoothly, brakes engaging - hand and foot, and no matter what i did i couldn't make the problem occur again!

Frustrating. I have however noticed that the DSC yellow light has remained on. I know the DCS can operate the brakes, so i'm hoping that it's some sort of sensor issue, nothing more major. I'm getting it into the garage this afternoon for diagnostics. Fingers crossed.....

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:41 pm

Great!! ???

>:(

At least the Dealer will be able to read any fault codes......

R

northernlight · Post by **northernlight** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 2:15 pm

Thanks for the advice Richard, I'm somewhat at a loss at the moment!

I have no idea what could make brakes intemittently seize on and then show no sign of issue on closer inspection!

northernlight · Post by **northernlight** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:52 pm

Well, just been to the garage and they tell me that the fault code suggests transfer case malfunction??

Any ideas?

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:17 pm

Just found this which suggests that it might be a CV joint rather than an expensive transfer case. Some of the symptoms sound similar. Transfer case failures are rare - especially on a late plate E53, but CVJ failures are more common.

Given how poor main dealers are at finding the 'real' fault and relying totally on what the computer says rather than checking properly, I'm suspicious. That doesn't mean they are wrong, but a CVJ is a much easier (and far cheaper) option than a new/remanufactured xDrive unit.

There's a link in the post which takes you over to Xoutpost and shows what needs doing to replace the transfer case/xDrive unit.

Richard

northernlight · Post by **northernlight** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:55 pm

Great find! The symptoms that the chap in other forum mentions actually sound remarkably similar to mine. It all started when reversing, followed by a clunk/crunch....

The car is actually still under warranty, but it's an indipendent dealer with thier own 'workshop', so i'd like to go in armed with as much info as possible to avoid the head scratching, avoidance tactices that they will no doubt employ.

northernlight · Post by **northernlight** » Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:35 am

Took the beast back to the garage this morning and typically it drive the 100 miles flawlessly!

Just as I got to the garage I parked up then reversed into a space and 'clunk', followed by serious juddering and mechanical noise from under the car. Fortunately all this happened whilst with the guys from the garage, so they know I'm not having them on!

Will update once I get a diagnosis through...

northernlight · Post by **northernlight** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 12:35 pm

Latest update from the garage is that they think it is the transfer case motor/actuator.

Not sure i'm going to be seeing my car for a while at this rate!

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