Bob525D

My car is due its MOT next month and i have always had my concerns about the efficiency of the handbrake, it doesnt engage very well first time. In fact it is after letting it off and putting it on for a second or third time it holds really well. Is this common with the E60? Anyone know how best to adjust it?

Thanks.

BLooD

if it`s any consalation, mine passed the MOT and it was only 10% effecient, not sure if was due to mine being an auto or the mot guy didn`t want to tackle adjusting it. Since i changed the rear pads it works alot better.

Bob525D

I hope i manage to find a reasonable MOT place, i hate MOT's. Other than that the car is fine, not worried about any other things at all.

Thanks for the reassurance.

pauliehcfr

To adjust, you need to get the rear wheels off the ground and remove 1 lug bolt from each rear wheel. position the lug hole at approximately 6:00-7:00 position and shine a light into the hole. You should see a star adjuster wheel. Using a long, thin flathead screwdriver, place it in the hole to catch one of the stars teeth and either work the screwdriver up or down like a lever to turn the star wheel. as you are adjusting, spin the wheel, when you hear a slight amount of drag on the park brake shoes, stop adjusting and back the star adjuster off about 3 turns (movement of the screwdriver) do the same on the other side and then test the parking brake. If I remember correctly, BMW says the parking brake should hold the vehicle after about 8 clickes on the park brake handle. I don't recall which direction you have to turn the adjuster to tighten the pads though, a little trial and error works though.

Bob525D

Thanks for that, this is exactly what i was looking for.