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Problem for BMW Cars
Generic problem for all BMW X3 Cars
Handbrake indicator light
Dealer said I burnt out my handbrakes by driving with them on. Is this possible? If the Brake indicator light comes on, I disengage the handbrake. Dealer said that I did not push the handle all the way down ? But I did push it down becuase the light went out? Dealer said light goes out but the brake is still engaged? If so then this is not my fault..if I push it down and the light goes out, then I think the brakes are not engaged. Wouldn't the car drag or emit a burning smell if they were still on? Why is this my fault if the indicator light goes out, I assume the brakes are off! How can this be?
Comments:
Mar 27, 2009
- You two are awseome! Yes will fight this! The guy was also telling me the car was going to explode because it's grinding metal on metal and sparks near the fuel tank (left rear brakes)...also said something about coils being melted!? Wouldn't I have smelled this! Grrrrrr...I'm furiousMar 27, 2009
- Thank you very much!! I'll go back armed and ready!Mar 27, 2009
- Ha right...no fire but there was grinding. It was very loud on Monday when I was driving up a parking garage ramp. It went away as I drove out but there was a faint ticking sound and intermittent squeaking when I used the brakes. The rest of the week the car never made that grinding noise but did squeak at times so brought it in to dealer. On way to dealer car was silent, but as I pulled into the service area the grinding noise started (lucky me). Even with the grinding and squeeking, I never had a problem braking or smelled any burning, and the "brakes need service light" never came on. I am fighting this...they dropped the repair price from $924 to $450! I'm waiting to speak with the service manager..there is no way I'm paying a dime. I've had this car almost 5 years and now they want to tell me I drive with the parking brake on?Best Solution
posted on Mar 27, 2009
I call this a MONDAY or FRIDAY car. Not as bad as a LEMON.
Switch was adjusted on a FRI (tech in hurry to go home) or MON (Techs drunk and dead tired after long weekend)
It is possible that the brakes were ever so slightly engaged and overheated and burned up, but we'd have to drive a long way for that to happen AND we'd have to repeatedly back up real fast and brake hard to readjust them occasionally too.
Isn't the X3 all Disc brakes? The parking brake is mechanical, not hydraulic so I'm not buying a total meltdown theory. You would have felt drag or pull in corners or seen/smelled smoke. It is NOT your fault the indicator light was not properly adj to show full disengagement.
Fight it
Switch was adjusted on a FRI (tech in hurry to go home) or MON (Techs drunk and dead tired after long weekend)
It is possible that the brakes were ever so slightly engaged and overheated and burned up, but we'd have to drive a long way for that to happen AND we'd have to repeatedly back up real fast and brake hard to readjust them occasionally too.
Isn't the X3 all Disc brakes? The parking brake is mechanical, not hydraulic so I'm not buying a total meltdown theory. You would have felt drag or pull in corners or seen/smelled smoke. It is NOT your fault the indicator light was not properly adj to show full disengagement.
Fight it
Yes
No
Solution #2
posted on Mar 27, 2009
I'm sorry but i laughed in dismay when I read your problem. The dealer is an idiot clear and simple. It is perfectly reasonable for you to expect the handbrake to be disengaged if the indicator is off.
Yes it is quite possible to drive the car with the handbrake on but you would feel it no question. However if it was only slightly engaged there would indeed be some wear on the rear brakes. The handbrake has merely got a thin metal cable that runs underneath your car that splits into two separate cables which in turn connect to the rear left and right brakes. So there aren't any extra brakes for the handbrake just the ones which are on the rear wheels.
Of course the other thing is you may have a faulty handbrake indicator light. So it's not really about who's fault it is but where the fault lies on the car. I'd go and check out a local garage unless of course your car is still under warranty.
If it is go to another dealer and armed with the info above don't let them fool you
Good luck and i hope you get it sorted
I've been laughing for ages at your comments - what planet is this imbecile from?
Sounds like he needs some new coils fitted! and yep you would have smelled burning and as far as the sparking is concerned yes that is highly dangerous but come on if there was metal on metal contact it tends to create a nasty GRINDING noise and besides have you noticed any problem when you brake. Has a concerned motorist tapped urgently on your window when your stopped at the lights informing you your rear wheels are alight?
Yes it is quite possible to drive the car with the handbrake on but you would feel it no question. However if it was only slightly engaged there would indeed be some wear on the rear brakes. The handbrake has merely got a thin metal cable that runs underneath your car that splits into two separate cables which in turn connect to the rear left and right brakes. So there aren't any extra brakes for the handbrake just the ones which are on the rear wheels.
Of course the other thing is you may have a faulty handbrake indicator light. So it's not really about who's fault it is but where the fault lies on the car. I'd go and check out a local garage unless of course your car is still under warranty.
If it is go to another dealer and armed with the info above don't let them fool you
Good luck and i hope you get it sorted
Comments:
Mar 27, 2009
- car was going to explode because it's grinding metal on metal and sparks near the fuel tank (left rear brakes)...also said something about coils being melted!? Wouldn't I have smelled this! Grrrrrr...I'm furiousI've been laughing for ages at your comments - what planet is this imbecile from?
Sounds like he needs some new coils fitted! and yep you would have smelled burning and as far as the sparking is concerned yes that is highly dangerous but come on if there was metal on metal contact it tends to create a nasty GRINDING noise and besides have you noticed any problem when you brake. Has a concerned motorist tapped urgently on your window when your stopped at the lights informing you your rear wheels are alight?
Mar 27, 2009
- Hmm there seems to be a little more to it than I had first thought based on your last comment. The grinding is worrying and if it is metal on metal that could be dangerous. The way the reason was explained to you does seem rather implausible though. Whenever I have a problem with my motors I always check them out myself thoroughly before taking to garage and even then I watch what they do during inspection and generally make a nuisance of myself and let them know that I do know what the problem is and the only reason I haven't fixed it is because I don't have the hydraulic lift or some such tool. A little knowledge is most definately powerYes
No
This Problem Also Relates To:
2003 BMW 325
2000 BMW 3 Series
1999 BMW 323 Series
2002 BMW 5 Series
1997 BMW 328
2002 BMW 3 Series
2001 BMW 330
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