[335rocket]

2k miles on the car and the parking brake seems a little loose already. My E46 parking brake was the same way, became loose very quickly. but my Audi A4 parking brake never losened up in 3 years. Anyone else noticed this on their BMWs?

[Gort]

Don't know. I've had mine almost a year and I've never even used the parking brake.

[BMdblU]

Originally Posted by Gort

Don't know. I've had mine almost a year and I've never even used the parking brake.

Ugh

Do you find your car in the middle of the street ?

[335rocket]

your cars a stick, and youve never used the parking brake??? how can that be?

[Gort]

Park on level ground. Leave car in 1st gear. Never had a problem in about 2,000 years of driving.

[GregL]

Originally Posted by Gort

Park on level ground. Leave car in 1st gear. Never had a problem in about 2,000 years of driving.

I once saw with my own eyes a double-parked 330ci roll into the tail (and under the spare tire carrier) of my friend's Nissan Pathfinder and demolish the passenger-front corner of the BMW's nose. He didn't use the parking brake on "relatively flat" ground either.

To the OP: Yes I find that mine is loose about 99% of the time, seems that I have to pull up on the handbrake much further than I would imagine having to. I installed the split armrest and most of the time the handbrake just about touches the bottom of the extended armrest section, which certainly doesn't seem right.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by GregL

I once saw with my own eyes a double-parked 330ci roll into the tail (and under the spare tire carrier) of my friend's Nissan Pathfinder and demolish the passenger-front corner of the BMW's nose. He didn't use the parking brake on "relatively flat" ground either.

I didn't intend to start a debate on the topic, but trust me, if the car is securely in first gear with the clutch released and engine off on level ground - it ain't rolling nowhere. Try pushing one some time when it in that condition. Good luck.

[335rocket]

yeah, were getting off my topic here lol

[O-cha]

Mine too, either bring it in and have them tighten it or do it yourself. their should be a small plastic cover in the center console you can pop off too tighten the bolt.

[OhhaiAlex]

you can go to the dealership and get it tighten

[VIZSLA]

Originally Posted by 335rocket

2k miles on the car and the parking brake seems a little loose already. My E46 parking brake was the same way, became loose very quickly. but my Audi A4 parking brake never losened up in 3 years. Anyone else noticed this on their BMWs?

6K on a manual and I'm finding that I have to pull harder/higher for it to hold the car too.

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by Gort

I didn't intend to start a debate on the topic, but trust me, if the car is securely in first gear with the clutch released and engine off on level ground - it ain't rolling nowhere. Try pushing one some time when it in that condition. Good luck.

Its not necessarily the fact that it will roll, its what happens if the car gets hit. Youre relying on the gears to stop the car from moving, but if it gets pushed or hit, those wheels are moving and youre chewing up some teeth in that transmission. If you pull up the parking brake, at least it will keep the car from moving when hit and if anything, the tires from rotating.

[AndrewAZ]

Seems like the same issue as the E46 nothing you can do besides go to the dealer and have it tightened. I think my E46 lasted between 5k-8k miles before I had to have it tightened.

[UncleWede]

We have a parking brake?

If someone hits my car, the parking brake ain't going to make much difference, and the "damage" to the gears from it being in gear will be no more than the damage I create when I drive with the engine on and downshift, probably.

[Garrett]

Originally Posted by 335rocket

2k miles on the car and the parking brake seems a little loose already. My E46 parking brake was the same way, became loose very quickly. but my Audi A4 parking brake never losened up in 3 years. Anyone else noticed this on their BMWs?

TAKE IT IN... no point in asking what you should do when the car is still under warranty..!

[E36E46E90]

I think you might have something wrong with your car. My e90 automatically adjusts on the second pull, its part of the brake features. Someone back me up..

[Diesel]

mine squeaks when i release it. i took it in to have them adjust it.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by E36E46E90

I think you might have something wrong with your car. My e90 automatically adjusts on the second pull, its part of the brake features. Someone back me up..

My 335 does the same thing, once a month, I ride it while I'm parking and that seems to help it "grab" as well; I think I read something in the owner's manual about using the parking brake to grind off possible corrosion on the drum in drum mechanism.

[Calgary Agent]

Originally Posted by thekurgan

... I think I read something in the owner's manual about using the parking brake to grind off possible corrosion on the drum in drum mechanism.

Drum? What drum would that be .... ?

[335rocket]

with my E46, I brought it to the dealer and they tightened it with no problem. About 2k miles later, it was loose again

[purplewidow]

i use the P brake every day i have 8000 miles and no not one isssue...funny my buddy has an m3 and it was loose on that also guess it was an e46 m3 thing

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by Calgary Agent

Drum? What drum would that be .... ?

The parking brake is controlled by a drum in drum design; most rear disc brake vehicles are designed the same.