In a pickle

[Catty]

Hi all,

First post on this forum, but I've read a few guides and would like to say thanks for those.

I'm a relatively new Z4 owner, it's a 2005 2.5i manual in an olive-grey colour. It's fantastic to drive and I'm loving the roofless summer days.

It's just gone in for it's first MOT under my ownership (which expires on the 1st of September) and it failed on the handbrake not holding the car well enough. I've noticed that the handbrake engages on the first 3 or so clicks, but then anything beyond that and the handle slides back down to the third "cog" without engaging anything.

It turns out that I need a new ratchet as the one on my car is worn down. It comes as part of the whole handbrake unit (part number 34406774798). It should be simple enough to fix, except my local BMW dealer don't have any in stock. They checked the system - and no other BMW dealership in the UK has it in stock either. And there's apparently a note on their system which says "there is a production issue with this item, delivery not expected until the end of September". I've looked into it and this part is common to every E85 or 86 Z4, regardless of engine size and regardless whether it's left or right-hand drive. It seems a bit odd to me that a safety critical item affecting this number of cars should be out of stock...
I've also contacted multiple breakers on eBay, all bar one say that the handbrake unit is unavailable, and the only one that has it has put a ridiculously hiked-up price on it.

Is this a really common issue?

Essentially this means that I am left without a car until the production issue is sorted, which is looking like the best part of a month. I spoke to BMW customer services and they say that they can't offer anything other than an apology.

Does anyone here know any other suppliers that may have some in stock?

 

[ben g]

Take it to a *friendly* garage and explain that to them.

Maybe accidentally drop a tenner out of your pocket aswell ;-)

 

[jampudding]

a lot of e46 parts fit in the z4 might be worth a try

 

[buzyg]

Sounds like a purely mechanical problem. It might be worth contacting a few independent Garages and asking if they could re-cut the ratchet, on the old one. Just a thought, might not be safe or practicle, but worth asking.

 

[srhutch]

I can't believe non of the breakers have one. Don't here about it getting changed at all, although the hand brakes do seem weak from what I've read.

 

[DanGibert]

I had this exact problem with mine!
I had the first three clicks, then nothing at all.
I searched eBay and found one pretty quickly, but I can say it's not an easy job to fit. I've spent a lot of time under various cars (especially the Z4). And I for one can say it's not a quick job, you've got to have the exhaust off, heat shields out, drop the prop shaft, most of the interior out. All because it's held on by 3/4 bolts from the underside that screw into captive nuts so you can't undo them from inside.
It's a very labour intensive job, but at the same time perfectly doable, there isn't a hard part to it, just time consuming.

Since fitting my new handbrake I've realised that the auto adjust part is faulty on it, and have to take it out and make one good handbrake out of two bad ones, I just don't have the time to do it!