HELP! Park brake stuck (complete with warning light)

[ThaiZ4]

Just been on a nice 3 hour drive along the motorway.

Came back home, got to my first traffic light and knew I would be there a while so tried to put on the parking brake (electronic).

It didn't go on and I got a PARK warning message on the front display with a little (P) light as well.

I went home and I had the same error. Now the problem is that the ebrake somehow actually worked (I think maybe when I locked the car and it turns it on itself) and I can't turn it off.

It's Sunday and the nearest BMW garage is 4 hours away and I have a car I can't drive.

I'm not a car guy but I've seen online there may be a loose connection to some switch? However, I can't find ANYTHING out there for how to remove the entire console to get to the ebrake?

Can someone help me. Happy to throw in $20 via Paypal for a tutorial with pics or even a good link. I found one article but all the images had expired so they don't exist anymore (and that was in Italian).

Any help appreciated.

 

[Stark]

I'd disconnect the battery and leave it for an hour and see if the system resets itself. Or call breakdown services and see if they can fix it at your home

 

[ThaiZ4]

Thanks. I'll try disconnecting it.

Any advice on how to remove that center console?

Just to confirm, the error code is: CC-ID 480

It's very hard to find other people online who have had this issue. Normally my Google skills are pretty good but this one eludes me.

Appreciate the reply.

 

[Stark]

Does the manual not show how to turn off the handbrake? I think people do it when they change their brake pads

 

[pvr]

Would you not normally see the Park sign when putting the hand brake on?

On my X5 it goes on when I put it on, and when I press the button, it goes off again. Lift on, push off.

Just in case of the obvious ...

 

[Stark]

Sorry ThaiZ4, PVR is 80, and his patronosing tone is more and more evident these days oke:

 

[Jasey]

You do know the brake can only be released with the ignition on or engine running?

Other than that I'd be calling breakdown service

 

[ThaiZ4]

Appreciate the replies but trust me when I say there's no human error here.

I have tried with engine on, off, clutch in, out, break in etc etc.

It's a system error, hence I'm receiving the error code I posted above.

Has nobody here had to take the center console apart before?

 

[ThaiZ4]

Just found this which looks like it could apply to an e89.

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/6042EN.pdf

Looks like I need some tools.

 

[Lynchy]

If you start the engine and try to pull away does the handbrake not release itself as some other cars do and then engage when you turn the engine off.

 

[Stark]

That's a good idea, I think the E89 does, but i've never tried it.

 

[Jasey]

weblog.pac1.net/_.../140610_BMW_Z4(E89)-05_product_description.pdf

Page 65 looks like you are goosed!

Fcuking android tablet won't paste link properly Google e89 product description pdf and try to find that link .

Quite a good document but it states the brake locking on can't be fixed by "customer" :-(

 

[Jasey]

E89 electronic brake does NOT autorelease.

 

[ThaiZ4]

E89 electronic brake does NOT autorelease.

This is correct.

So I unplugged the battery for an hour and reconnected it. No dice.

I found someone who was able to somehow override the system on an X5 by some secret lever. However...no idea if this exists on a Z4. Again, I'm really not a car guy so would appreciate some input.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350393

Can anyone read that and tell me if it's likely to be possible?

As my username suggests I'm in Thailand and have a feeling the mechanics here would have no clue what to do with this

 

[ThaiZ4]

Just found that PDF, thank you Jasey.

http://weblog.pac1.net/_Documents/140610_BMW_Z4%28E89%29-05_product_description.pdf

The image on page 65 is exactly the error message I'm getting.

Right now I don't really have a clue what to do. Guess it will be sitting in my garage for tonight. Hopefully I can get someone to my house tomorrow.

The joys of living in a fairly remote city

 

[Angie4m]

Just found that PDF, thank you Jasey.

http://weblog.pac1.net/_Documents/140610_BMW_Z4%28E89%29-05_product_description.pdf

The image on page 65 is exactly the error message I'm getting.

Right now I don't really have a clue what to do. Guess it will be sitting in my garage for tonight. Hopefully I can get someone to my house tomorrow.

The joys of living in a fairly remote city

Unfortunately reading this it applies there is no manual release in the Z4 and can only be done via diagnostics.

Emergency Release

No parking brake emergency release function is provided for the customer. The parking brake can be released using the BMW diagnosis system or the EMF actuators are removed and the spindle is turned back manually.

Looks more like a possible issue with the EMF and possibly the only way is to now jack the car up, remove he rear wheels and remove the brake as advised in the quote.

 

[Stark]

Angie, how come you are so clever with cars!!!!

Not being sexist, but finding a girl this clued up is very very rare.

I'm sure I'm not the only one on here who is impressed

 

[Angie4m]

Angie, how come you are so clever with cars!!!!

Not being sexist, but finding a girl this clued up is very very rare.

I'm sure I'm not the only one on here who is impressed

Well I think really my dad wanted a boy and I've grown up fixing and admiring cars. I am a qualified mechanic which I did whilst also doing highers (A Levels down South) at school. I've always been interested in cars, my house looks like a parts department and top gear studio with all the bits and pieces.

I've also spent a lot of time having issues with my cars and hate when you take the car in with the fault you know is there are they suggest without looking at it that it's not that. Basically as I'm female I usually get guys trying to fob me off but when they get he technical answer back they shut up and realise that I know what I'm talking about.

I'm also my dad and his mates, as well my mates first port of call when things go wrong, they want to check something or need parts as I have a good few contacts. Even Mikes mates ask questions especially when they think he dealers are just fobbing them off.

Although I've had no experience of the issue here, reading about how it works and the symptoms during the drive it seemed to indicate that the module that that tells the brake to applied is the issue and not the parking brake itself. Quite glad I also know that there is emergency release, saves me taking the centre consol to bits in such a situation.

 

[ronk]

I think some garages try and give blokes the flannel as well!

They don't like it when you come back at them do they?

 

[Angie4m]

I think some garages try and give blokes the flannel as well!

They don't like it when you come back at them do they?

Not one bit. I've even had them 'forget' to tell me that my diagnosis was right only after I noticed the issues weren't fixed and confronted them about it, then they owned up and decided to sort it. And I never got an apology from the service assistant at a Eastern who started shouting at me in the car park telling me my Micro filter was not part of the ventilation system but only for oil when it was clear from the noise that a leaf or two had got into it whilst having a full service the day before. What would I know? I've only replaced a few on my previous cars and my Dads!

I've got mates at work who take what garages say as the truth. I always advise people to be confident when speaking or dealing with garages, don't let them know how little they may actually know about your car and if in doubt ask for the parts back. It's amazing how many 'issues' suddenly disappear.

I've even been told when having non RFTs put on that I've been given he wrong tyres, advising the size to he guy he says yes that's the size but they aren't run flat to which I say I know that's what I ordered and then I'm advised that if I don't have a spare its a MOT fail so you can imagine my response was to quote what the stance is on having or not having a spare ie I don't need one and if I have one it's only checked to make sure it road worthy. Whilst some boy tells some woman next to me that she has 5.5mm of tread left on her tyres but he would strong suggest she has them replaced within the month and she agrees to have it done. Wtf???