Handbrake problem

Tysonwills · Post by **Tysonwills** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 8:06 am

my mechanic just checked my handbrake and noticed that the cog teeth were worn away and said I needed a handbrake unit.
My problem is I have an mot shortly and need to get it sorted, I dont want to pay BMW for the part as they quote crazy money so have been online and they are very few if any for my z4 2004.
There are lots off other BMW handbrakes going cheaper so does anyone know what other models if any handbrake would fit my z4.
Cheers

MACK · Post by **MACK** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 8:40 am

Hi.
I dont know if you have ever heard of it but you can use a site called realoem.com which is BMWs parts catalogue online to check this sort of thing. However I can save you the hassle on this occasion the handbrake lever is specific to the e85/6. I think they're north of a £100 new so not cheap. The parts been revised a couple of times since launch, which usually means it's proving problematic and this coupled to the fact my mates garage has replaced a few on e85s (both fairly early cars) has led me to suspect this is an increasingly common fault on the zed unfortunately, particular early cars. Hopefully the revised part has sorted the issue and buying a second hand one might be a false economy if it's an early part as it may fail again in the same way. I'm not sure off the top of my head if it's changeable without the centre console out which is a bit of mission in itself. Sorry!
If you do decide to use a secondhand bit do a search on ebay for z4 breaking and contact some of the seller's to see if they have one. Not many list it individually but most would whip one off

Tysonwills · Post by **Tysonwills** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 9:26 am

Cheers for the advice MACK

Buckz · Post by **Buckz** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 9:29 am

right the teeth might be worn away but the question is -;

does the handbrake hold the car? does the handbrake lever still "click" when the button is depressed? if so just leave it.

mot is not going to rip apart your trim to see if the teeth are worn or not.

they're going to see if the handbrake is able to hold the car at a certain angle and thats it.

Tysonwills · Post by **Tysonwills** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:44 am

it doesnt work at all no hold whatsoever

Tysonwills · Post by **Tysonwills** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:44 am

sounds like it could be an expensive fix

greg81 · Post by **greg81** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:59 am

Does something like this not do the trick, or do the cogs in question live in another part?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E85-E8 ... SwqeZZcfPU

Tysonwills · Post by **Tysonwills** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 11:02 am

he wont post to n.ireland for some reason

greg81 · Post by **greg81** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 11:05 am

oh right. There's a few of the same on ebay...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-E85-BMW- ... SwLWBZf1Cy
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E85-2- ... SwXXxZS5~8

MACK · Post by **MACK** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 4:51 pm

My choice of them two would be the second one as it's from an auto and auto drivers tend to not use the handbrake as much as manual drivers. So hopefully may not be as worn. It's a bit pricey though so I'd message them an offer. The other ones says posts to mainland only so that's out. Might be worth a call to sytners in Lincoln who offer z4 forum discount, just to see how much they can get one to you for.

Ewazix · Post by **Ewazix** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 9:39 pm

MACK wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2017 4:51 pm My choice of them two would be the second one as it's from an auto and auto drivers tend to not use the handbrake as much as manual drivers. So hopefully may not be as worn. It's a bit pricey though so I'd message them an offer. The other ones says posts to mainland only so that's out. Might be worth a call to sytners in Lincoln who offer z4 forum discount, just to see how much they can get one to you for.

The later 2006 item was the last of 3 versions of the handbrake units (serial No ending 127) so might in theory be the one to go for, as you said previously they hopefully ironed out the problems with this one

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=34_1292

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?i ... 4406774798

MACK · Post by **MACK** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:24 pm

Ewazix wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2017 9:39 pm
MACK wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2017 4:51 pm My choice of them two would be the second one as it's from an auto and auto drivers tend to not use the handbrake as much as manual drivers. So hopefully may not be as worn. It's a bit pricey though so I'd message them an offer. The other ones says posts to mainland only so that's out. Might be worth a call to sytners in Lincoln who offer z4 forum discount, just to see how much they can get one to you for.
The later 2006 item was the last of 3 versions of the handbrake units (serial No ending 127) so might in theory be the one to go for, as you said previously they hopefully ironed out the problems with this one

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=34_1292

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?i ... 4406774798

Normally Id agree, but the listing saying postage to mainland only, so its not an option for the OP unfortunately as it would be ideal as you say. Until this thread I never realised getting something posted to Northern Ireland was such a pain in the arse. Remote Scottish Islands etc are one thing, but an entire country within the UK!

Ewazix · Post by **Ewazix** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 11:45 pm

MACK wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:24 pm
Ewazix wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2017 9:39 pm
MACK wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2017 4:51 pm My choice of them two would be the second one as it's from an auto and auto drivers tend to not use the handbrake as much as manual drivers. So hopefully may not be as worn. It's a bit pricey though so I'd message them an offer. The other ones says posts to mainland only so that's out. Might be worth a call to sytners in Lincoln who offer z4 forum discount, just to see how much they can get one to you for.
The later 2006 item was the last of 3 versions of the handbrake units (serial No ending 127) so might in theory be the one to go for, as you said previously they hopefully ironed out the problems with this one

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=34_1292

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?i ... 4406774798
Normally Id agree, but the listing saying postage to mainland only, so its not an option for the OP unfortunately as it would be ideal as you say. Until this thread I never realised getting something posted to Northern Ireland was such a pain in the arse. Remote Scottish Islands etc are one thing, but an entire country within the UK!

N. Ireland is a Royal Mail UK postage destination providing it has a UK post code it's a standard service cost, I'd message the seller and point this out, apparently a lot of sellers think it's going to cost more. I'm not sure about other parcel services, if necessary pay the bit extra?

bz4kev · Post by **bz4kev** » Sat Aug 12, 2017 12:03 am

classiccarspares2015 on ebay also have one for sale

Tysonwills · Post by **Tysonwills** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 1:30 pm

Cheers for all the advice guys.
I have tracked one down in quarry bmw spares for a good price . does anyone know how difficult they are to fit

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com