Electronic Parking Brake Failure

Sounds like Damage limitation.

The issue won't be due to old software, it will be old software that has a dangerous flaw/failing that they have obviously now rectified. They wouldn't want the drama that surrounds jeeps though re the parking failures..

I wonder how many software updates are done secretly when you go in for a service so they can keep potentially dangerous flaws on the downlow before they're reported...
 
I checked for faults codes but non. The emergency function still works, just the standard park brake function u/s.
 
Hi everybody. Yesterday I encountered the electronic parking brake failure as soon as I entered the car. I have the famous 'P' in yellow and the e-brake does not engage anymore. Neither on off, nor on the on position but currently its on the off position because I can still drive the car. I have read the forum about this and apparently it comes from a low voltage of the battery and makes sense for me because the car was unused for 15 days and my battery is not a new one (5 years so far). I have also read that one has to take the car to workshop so that they can upgrade the software and reset it.

Has anybody used anything different and with success so far? Maybe using some kind of diagnostic obd to upgrade the software? Its costly to take it to bmw for just an upgrade of the software. Any input is appreciated, thanks!
 
The problem with my colleagues car is that she doesn't go in person and try to speak to a techy like I would and try and bypass the service desk drones.
The one she spoke to on the phone, the service desk operative said "the cable may have broken".
True enough it might be a broken wire, but I don't think she meant that.

Half expecting she will have traded it in this week end for a Audi.
I think she will almost give the car away to be shot of it, shame. And be the last BMW she will have.

If this is becoming a common problem then why should people have to pay for a software reinstall.
Software is not a wear item. It doesn't age or shouldn't degrade.
The only people that can introduce a bug is BMW.
What happens if due to handbrake failure the car is left in gear and slips out, rolls off and kills someone.
Who becomes liable?

I never take my car to be serviced by BMW. It's working fine and don't need them, without me knowing tinkering with the software.
My colleagues car has only been back three months since they fixed her roof for the fourth time. So how many software upgrades have been applied?
 
Hey flybobbie...you are right! I cant understand how bmw would do such a flop on an ebrake system!!! I take it I will have to go to bmw and pay for an upgrade in the software, right?
 
Well if my colleague still has her car and gets it fixed, I will let you know the outcome.
Due to go in Tuesday.
 
I had the car reprogrammed at an indi. My parking brake continued to work but I had the bong and the warning light. I suspected a weak battery as it is the original but the indi tested it and said it was fine. After reprogramming its been fine since.

So, the fault doesn't always mean the parking brake has failed, seems it can lock on, can refuse to lock or just produce a warning but continue to work fine! The battery isn't always the issue. :o , analyse that! :D
 
I agree with you regarding the issue that its not always the battery's fault! In my case I think it is. The ebrake does not work when I park but if I am moving and push it up, it does work and the car immediately stops. So Sammyz, you too can confirm that the only software upgrade that I can do is doing it at a bmw dealer shop. Correct?
 
I had the problem except the brake wouldn't go on . BMW sent out a lo loader and took it to the dealership where I was told it was " reset " . So far so good but I'm always wary .
 
It seems a lot of bmw z4 owners have had this experience...its a shame though, I dont like the idea of an ebrake system, the car could be parked and off it goes on its own!!! How much roughly do they make you pay for a software ugprade?
 
Yes, you've got to get the software updated by either BMW dealer or a good indi. I was charged £120 I think as they 'investigated' fault and checked battery.
 
Well my colleague, has I suspected traded in the car, so I will never know the reason.
I think if I have to go to BMW to get this fix, I would push for free or a visit to trading standards.
To me it's safety critical item. Why should reprogramming fix the problem. There must be a problem with the program or some interference from somewhere else.
 
So a little update...I went to two different mechanics and none of them has got the tools to make a software upgrade. The perks of living in such a small island!!! At the moment I am stuck. Does anybody know if there exists some kind of computer I can buy and make the software upgrade myself???
 
Hi Sammy, here in Gozo there are dealers that sell bmw cars but they dont even know what a software upgrade is...I have to travel by ferry to Malta, i guess this is my only option here. In Malta there is one agent for bmw cars, just one.
 
Slightly off topic but I love Malta :thumbsup: , never been to Gozo though but I would love to visit next time I'm in Malta. I visited most of the ancient temple sites in Malta and would like to see the ones on Gozo.

Looks like a trip to Valetta for you then is the only option.
 
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