BMW X5 E70 Handbrake issue

Lumpimeister · 11-06-2017, 07:48 AM

Hi there, i have a 2011 BMW X5 E70.

i had an alert while parking that the parking brake had failed. i checked the fuse and a reset evolution that i found on Youtube but this did not work.

When i press the Automatic handbrake button the car alerts me that this is also faulty and the light does not come on.

When driving along if i lift the lever the handbrake comes on, which would lead me to think the actuator is ok.

has anyone had the same thing happen and if so what did you do to resolve it.

i am hoping it is a faulty switch, rather than the actuator.

regards

Lumpi

X5Piper · 07-04-2018, 06:26 AM

I have exactly the same issue with my handbrake as you. Actuator works if I pull it up whilst driving...otherwise it is shows a fault. I need to know if you had a fix for it since posting thanks?

RichardR0404 · 07-04-2018, 08:42 PM

I pulled the battery terminal off for couple hours before, my car was stuck with park brake on.. errors gone

chris604 · 10-12-2018, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardR0404

I pulled the battery terminal off for couple hours before, my car was stuck with park brake on.. errors gone

Hey all. just had the same issue 2010 X5M. parking brake went on fine when I parked it. a few minutes later I pressed the unlock button on the keyfob. Made an insanely loud screaching noise, which I thought was a door attempting to unlock or something? Maybe unrelated to the parking brake issue? very bizarre. Then tried to drive the truck, but parking brake fault lights and message came on, so was stuck. Tried pulling fuses, and stepping on brake with parking brake switch up or down for 5 seconds. no luck. Just used the orange handbrake release tool which was in the trunk to pull up the handbrake, and was able to drive again. Any idea how to fix it easily?

Thanks!

chris604 · 10-12-2018, 05:40 PM

You think pulling the battery cable would reset it?

zoofari · 11-21-2018, 06:23 PM

P light on, car drivable and park brake not engaged. a shop used an after market 300$ park actuator doesnt do anything, tried 2 of them. maybe order the 1100-1300$ OEM to try luck. Any of u resolved the issue and how?? please save me here.

N62B48 · 11-21-2018, 10:35 PM

I had same problem few months ago, replace the brake actuator.. the new bimmer system use plastic teeth actuator when those plastic teeth chewed or stripped your emergency or hand brakes wont pull, work anymore.It will give you faulty message.

Remember our X5 comes with AWD system you dont need to use the hand, emergency brake it will not roll by itself, unless its FWD or Rear wheel Drive..

N62B48 · 11-21-2018, 10:37 PM

I purchased the actuator from EBAY $250 buks, Kustler parts.

Charlieborg · 11-29-2018, 12:42 AM

Did you get the brake to working again?

chris604 · 11-30-2018, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlieborg

Did you get the brake to working again?

I couldn't get mine to work again. Dealer wants $3500 to replace. Plus programming of $250. LOL.

TKR · 11-30-2018, 07:21 PM

BMW has obviously set planned "end of life" self destruction to the hand brake system to November 2018 because I've seen many posts on this issue lately, and suddenly my handbrake started acting as well.

Well, just cleared the fault codes and then it started working again. Mystery.

chris604 · 12-03-2018, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKR

BMW has obviously set planned "end of life" self destruction to the hand brake system to November 2018 because I've seen many posts on this issue lately, and suddenly my handbrake started acting as well.

Well, just cleared the fault codes and then it started working again. Mystery.

Definitely. My actuator was shot, so resetting fuses, pulling battery cables didn't work. Getting it done now as we speak. they also said it requires programming? How do you program a brake actuator? It's just an automatic parking brake, vs. you having to pull it by hand. LOL.

Ghanziang · 12-04-2018, 10:18 AM

Curious what the programming required is.

G

chris604 · 12-05-2018, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghanziang

Curious what the programming required is.

G

Yep, got charged for programming. It was probably because once the battery is pulled, then everything is reset, so has to be 'programmed' at the dealer. Or, could have been an unneccesary charge. Not sure exactly. But, all my settings on xdrive were all reset. Runs great now though, parking brake working fine. very quiet now, b4 it was noisy.

Ghanziang · 12-05-2018, 01:57 PM

Thanks for the update!

G.

nuwde · 11-30-2019, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N62B48

I had same problem few months ago, replace the brake actuator.. the new bimmer system use plastic teeth actuator when those plastic teeth chewed or stripped your emergency or hand brakes wont pull, work anymore.It will give you faulty message.

Remember our X5 comes with AWD system you dont need to use the hand, emergency brake it will not roll by itself, unless its FWD or Rear wheel Drive..

Did you replace the actuator yourself? Has it given you any problems since? Did you have to program it anything?

nuwde · 11-30-2019, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKR

BMW has obviously set planned "end of life" self destruction to the hand brake system to November 2018 because I've seen many posts on this issue lately, and suddenly my handbrake started acting as well.

Well, just cleared the fault codes and then it started working again. Mystery.

Can you update us on your hand brake status after clearing the fault codes? Thanks!

IMcIntosh · 12-29-2024, 03:15 PM

I had the same issues as you all, message on screen, dining warning, red and orange brake light continuously on the dash. I tried all the fixes mentioned here and on youtube with no success. Then purely by chance and frustration I had the car in drive crawling very slowly and I simply turned the engine off which stpped the car suddenly and automatically engaged the parking brake. When I turned it back on NO WARNINGS, NO DINGING. NO ISSUES. Everything had reset itself and is working perfectly!!!!! That was 2 weeks ago and it is still working as it should. I can't go back and do it again but maybe someone would like to try and confirm or deny? Good luck as I know how frustrating this issue is.

jbash87 · 12-29-2024, 06:10 PM

Nope... Don't do what the guy above me says.

If you're having issues, no corrosion on your connector, and none of the reset procedures seem to be working, then you most likely have an issue with the electric motor leads within the parking break actuator. They get brittle, can work intermittently, then fail all together. Happened to mine multiple times. I was successful in re-soldering them a few times but finally got tired of that.

The motor can be replaced with this one from ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184215716556

Very simple repair.

11-06-2017, 07:48 AM	#1
Lumpimeister Registered 6 Rep 1 Posts Drives: BMW X5 e70 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Mansfield UK iTrader: (0)	BMW X5 E70 Handbrake issue Hi there, i have a 2011 BMW X5 E70. i had an alert while parking that the parking brake had failed. i checked the fuse and a reset evolution that i found on Youtube but this did not work. When i press the Automatic handbrake button the car alerts me that this is also faulty and the light does not come on. When driving along if i lift the lever the handbrake comes on, which would lead me to think the actuator is ok. has anyone had the same thing happen and if so what did you do to resolve it. i am hoping it is a faulty switch, rather than the actuator. regards Lumpi
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07-04-2018, 06:26 AM	#2
X5Piper Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: BMW X5 2008 Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: SE Qld iTrader: (0)	I have exactly the same issue with my handbrake as you. Actuator works if I pull it up whilst driving...otherwise it is shows a fault. I need to know if you had a fix for it since posting thanks?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-04-2018, 08:42 PM	#3
RichardR0404 Private First Class 34 Rep 189 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW X5 35D Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	I pulled the battery terminal off for couple hours before, my car was stuck with park brake on.. errors gone
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10-12-2018, 05:40 PM	#5
chris604 First Lieutenant 27 Rep 301 Posts Drives: X5 M Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	You think pulling the battery cable would reset it?
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11-21-2018, 06:23 PM	#6
zoofari Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 11 x550i Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: California iTrader: (0)	P light on, car drivable and park brake not engaged. a shop used an after market 300$ park actuator doesnt do anything, tried 2 of them. maybe order the 1100-1300$ OEM to try luck. Any of u resolved the issue and how?? please save me here.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2018, 10:35 PM	#7
N62B48 Private 24 Rep 76 Posts Drives: XDrive 4.8i Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Torrance, CA iTrader: (0)	I had same problem few months ago, replace the brake actuator.. the new bimmer system use plastic teeth actuator when those plastic teeth chewed or stripped your emergency or hand brakes wont pull, work anymore.It will give you faulty message. Remember our X5 comes with AWD system you dont need to use the hand, emergency brake it will not roll by itself, unless its FWD or Rear wheel Drive..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2018, 10:37 PM	#8
N62B48 Private 24 Rep 76 Posts Drives: XDrive 4.8i Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Torrance, CA iTrader: (0)	I purchased the actuator from EBAY $250 buks, Kustler parts. Attached Images
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11-29-2018, 12:42 AM	#9
Charlieborg New Member 1 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW X5 Join Date: May 2017 Location: ATLANTA GEORGIA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW X5 [0.00]	Did this work? Did you get the brake to working again?
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11-30-2018, 07:21 PM	#11
TKR Private First Class 26 Rep 119 Posts Drives: 2016 X5 40e & 2018 330e Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	BMW has obviously set planned "end of life" self destruction to the hand brake system to November 2018 because I've seen many posts on this issue lately, and suddenly my handbrake started acting as well. Well, just cleared the fault codes and then it started working again. Mystery.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-04-2018, 10:18 AM	#13
Ghanziang Private 21 Rep 85 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW X5 3.5i Silver Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Evergreen, CO USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW X5 [0.00]	Curious what the programming required is. G
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12-05-2018, 01:57 PM	#15
Ghanziang Private 21 Rep 85 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW X5 3.5i Silver Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Evergreen, CO USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW X5 [0.00]	Thanks for the update! G.
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12-29-2024, 03:15 PM	#18
IMcIntosh Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: X5 Z3 118i Join Date: Dec 2024 Location: New Zealand iTrader: (0)	Accidental but effective reset I had the same issues as you all, message on screen, dining warning, red and orange brake light continuously on the dash. I tried all the fixes mentioned here and on youtube with no success. Then purely by chance and frustration I had the car in drive crawling very slowly and I simply turned the engine off which stpped the car suddenly and automatically engaged the parking brake. When I turned it back on NO WARNINGS, NO DINGING. NO ISSUES. Everything had reset itself and is working perfectly!!!!! That was 2 weeks ago and it is still working as it should. I can't go back and do it again but maybe someone would like to try and confirm or deny? Good luck as I know how frustrating this issue is.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-29-2024, 06:10 PM	#19
jbash87 Captain 397 Rep 608 Posts Drives: 2006 M5, 2012 X5d, Prelude 4WS Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW X5 35d [10.00] 2006 BMW M5 [10.00]	Nope... Don't do what the guy above me says. If you're having issues, no corrosion on your connector, and none of the reset procedures seem to be working, then you most likely have an issue with the electric motor leads within the parking break actuator. They get brittle, can work intermittently, then fail all together. Happened to mine multiple times. I was successful in re-soldering them a few times but finally got tired of that. The motor can be replaced with this one from ebay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/184215716556 Very simple repair.
	Appreciate 0 Quote