BMW and M Power Owners

Hi,

Does anybody have experience of adjusting the e39 (and other similar models) rear handbrake?

I fitted new rear discs and pads the other day and am not happy with the handbrake. I slackened off the handbrake cables from inside the car before any work.

After fitting the new discs, I wound the in-wheel brake adjusters up just so they stopped the discs turning by hand. I then backed them off 10 clicks (following the BMW procedure, I took a "click" to mean a tooth on the adjuster wheel).

With the rear back together and the wheels on but jacked in the air I pulled the handbrake on and tightened until there was some resistance at each wheel, turning by hand.

One cable has had to be tightened up more than the other, it was like this before I started any works though, and the handbrake was OK before.

Now, if I apply the handbrake enough to hold the car whilst on an incline (~6 clicks), although the handbrake holds, it feels as if one corner of the rear end lifts away from the ground whereas the other does not.

Any tips? Or is it a case of getting the car on a Garage's brake rollers?
 
I think you backed off the shoe adjusters too much. I tighten it until the brake is locked solid then back off 6 'clicks'. You might be inadvertently turning the wheel 2 clicks at a time when levering the screwdriver through the hole.
 
MoRT489 said:
The roof on my E93 gave up at the weekend "roof movement impaired" with it being stuck half open :mad:, so it's in the garage now, all caused by one faulty sensor. Will be fixed under warranty and hopefully have it back by the weekend for some fun in the sun. I was amazed that there is no manual override to close the roof like there was on the previous 3 series vert, apparently to disable the hydraulics to be able to move roof manually you need to get into the boot and remove a load of the trim, but... if the roof isn't latched properly the boot won't open!

Also was slightly amazed the service guy said he couldn't do anything to the car until I brought in the service book (something about their audit on in/out times needing to tally), he said "pleeease tell me it's not in the boot?!" :D
Click to expand...

All fixed under extended warranty :D just one faulty sensor.
 
Clarkey said:
I think you backed off the shoe adjusters too much. I tighten it until the brake is locked solid then back off 6 'clicks'. You might be inadvertently turning the wheel 2 clicks at a time when levering the screwdriver through the hole.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the 6 click tip, definately unwound them 10 clicks though as used a torch when adjusting them.

I didn't replace the shoes as they had loads of material left, perhaps I should have gave them a file/sand to remove any glazing?

I think I'll take the discs back off, do just that, and then reassemble going with 6 clicks.

I read another forum post on using a torque wrench on one of the wheel nuts to better-guess the handbrake resistance, ever done that?
 
Yeah scuff them up and ofc degrease the drum surface. Not wrenched on a wheel bolt, probably just knacker the taper on it. Normally I'd just stick a couple of bolts in and use a bar between them, if you can't move it with 18" of leverage then it's definitely tight :p. Seriously though if you want to use a torque wrench then just whack it on the hub nut.
 
I just had an interesting drive to the shops for a pint of milk...

I was driving through the centre of town which was dead as it's a Sunday night and noticed a new black Merc E Class parked on the street with two young thuggish looking blokes inside.
As soon as I drove passed they put their lights on, caught up with me and began tailgating. I didn't think anything of it at first however soon noticed that they appeared to be following me.

Fast forward 5 minutes and they're still following me, down narrow side streets, etc and the passenger was now on the phone. Eventually I turned right at a set of lights and they went straight on - however now I notice a 61 reg black VW Golf join us just as the Merc peeled off, and the driver was on his phone.
I began heading home but this Golf was following my every move (but not tailgating, he was actually leaving quite a large distance) so I decided not to and continued down a very quiet side street. Guess who is parked up at the end of it? The Merc with the thugs inside and the passenger still on the phone. I continued down the road until I got to a set of lights and the Golf stopped some 5 or 6 cars lengths behind me, leaving a ridiculously large gap between us. When the lights turned green I lost him with the help of my right foot.

I know I sound paranoid but I've always been very aware of car gangs since somebody I know had his RS4 stolen when they followed him home once. I understand that people sometimes do follow nice cars and perhaps it is not that unusual however the way in which they were working together and how the Golf was acting (always keeping a large distance and trying not to be seen) does make me suspicious!
 
Such a shame a lot of the later M5s have those two tone interiors. They look cheap compared to a nice all black/tan/cream ones.
 
panthro said:
Anyone been to the new Cooper Reading showroom? It's pretty impressive. Biggest BMW showroom in the UK.
Click to expand...

Not been to their new place yet but I had a few bad experiences at the old place.

They have been servicing my BMW for nearly 3 years from brand new as it was brought from them and not even updating the service computer log in my car:confused: So I got them to rectify that.

On my last service they called me at 5.30 to tell me that my car was ready but they have no driver to bring it back to my office!!!!
so I had to make my way there in the rain :confused: Then when I got there I had to wait for them to get the lock up key from the chap who has taken it home.

So I don't think much of them to be fair.
 
GSDog said:
I just had an interesting drive to the shops for a pint of milk...

I was driving through the centre of town which was dead as it's a Sunday night and noticed a new black Merc E Class parked on the street with two young thuggish looking blokes inside.
As soon as I drove passed they put their lights on, caught up with me and began tailgating. I didn't think anything of it at first however soon noticed that they appeared to be following me.

Fast forward 5 minutes and they're still following me, down narrow side streets, etc and the passenger was now on the phone. Eventually I turned right at a set of lights and they went straight on - however now I notice a 61 reg black VW Golf join us just as the Merc peeled off, and the driver was on his phone.
I began heading home but this Golf was following my every move (but not tailgating, he was actually leaving quite a large distance) so I decided not to and continued down a very quiet side street. Guess who is parked up at the end of it? The Merc with the thugs inside and the passenger still on the phone. I continued down the road until I got to a set of lights and the Golf stopped some 5 or 6 cars lengths behind me, leaving a ridiculously large gap between us. When the lights turned green I lost him with the help of my right foot.

I know I sound paranoid but I've always been very aware of car gangs since somebody I know had his RS4 stolen when they followed him home once. I understand that people sometimes do follow nice cars and perhaps it is not that unusual however the way in which they were working together and how the Golf was acting (always keeping a large distance and trying not to be seen) does make me suspicious!
Click to expand...

Doesn't sound like your being paranoid at all, I would report it to the Police.
 
GSDog said:
I just had an interesting drive to the shops for a pint of milk...

I was driving through the centre of town which was dead as it's a Sunday night and noticed a new black Merc E Class parked on the street with two young thuggish looking blokes inside.
As soon as I drove passed they put their lights on, caught up with me and began tailgating. I didn't think anything of it at first however soon noticed that they appeared to be following me.

Fast forward 5 minutes and they're still following me, down narrow side streets, etc and the passenger was now on the phone. Eventually I turned right at a set of lights and they went straight on - however now I notice a 61 reg black VW Golf join us just as the Merc peeled off, and the driver was on his phone.
I began heading home but this Golf was following my every move (but not tailgating, he was actually leaving quite a large distance) so I decided not to and continued down a very quiet side street. Guess who is parked up at the end of it? The Merc with the thugs inside and the passenger still on the phone. I continued down the road until I got to a set of lights and the Golf stopped some 5 or 6 cars lengths behind me, leaving a ridiculously large gap between us. When the lights turned green I lost him with the help of my right foot.

I know I sound paranoid but I've always been very aware of car gangs since somebody I know had his RS4 stolen when they followed him home once. I understand that people sometimes do follow nice cars and perhaps it is not that unusual however the way in which they were working together and how the Golf was acting (always keeping a large distance and trying not to be seen) does make me suspicious!
Click to expand...


That does sound shady as hell to be honest. Is a E92 M3 vulnerable to an OBD attack to steal it, I know some BMW models were.

Did you get the reg of either vehicle, if you did I would contact the police and they might have something on the database relating to the vehicles?

It does sound very suspicious IMO.
 
rapid64k said:
Not been to their new place yet but I had a few bad experiences at the old place.

They have been servicing my BMW for nearly 3 years from brand new as it was brought from them and not even updating the service computer log in my car:confused: So I got them to rectify that.

On my last service they called me at 5.30 to tell me that my car was ready but they have no driver to bring it back to my office!!!!
so I had to make my way there in the rain :confused: Then when I got there I had to wait for them to get the lock up key from the chap who has taken it home.

So I don't think much of them to be fair.
Click to expand...

That's a shame to hear. They've been pretty good with me and I've had several cars serviced there, as well as buying my old Z4 35i from them.
 
The EML on my E91 came on, on Friday evening on the way home from work, and the car seemed to drive fine without any noticeable differences. So I phoned up BMW to get it booked in yesterday as the light was still on in the morning (the car hadn't moved all weekend). And then last night, the EML light didn't come on when I started it.

Is there any way to figure out what the code is without a reader? I am wondering if I just delay getting it read by BMW until it has its next service in a couple of months time. This has happened 1 time before, just over a year ago, and nothing since last Friday. Odd.
 
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