[speary8]

When putting on the handbrake I have noticed that the amount of travel is not consistent. The lever comes up either in 5 clicks or 9 clicks to hold the car.
Has anybody else noticed this and if so do you know what the issue is?

[gippy]

Does it the throw shorten after you've reversed ?
The throw on mine is quite long but after reversing for whatever reason the throw shortens up significantly.... No idea why. Would be good to know actually ...

[speary8]

Not really. It varies every time I stop

[HighlandPete]

It's the automatic adjuster (ASZE) in the handbrake unit. Been happening ever since BMW have been fitting them. I remember my E91 doing the same.

Can be caused by the brakes requiring adjustment at the brake drums. And/or it may be the handbrake cables are getting tight. Don't return the same every application and release. Is not often the actual automatic (ASZE) unit itself that is failing.

[Fazil]

I took my car in, as the Handbrake amongst other things felt a bit loose.
It currently holds on about 7 clicks.
However, I was told if I wanted it adjusted to about 3 or 4 clicks, it'd cost 50 pounds. Is it worth doing?

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Fazil

Is it worth doing?

Surely only you can answer that? I can think of many, many, many things I'd rather spend £50 on but I'm not you.

I never use the handbrake anyway, just put it in park.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Fazil

It currently holds on about 7 clicks.
However, I was told if I wanted it adjusted to about 3 or 4 clicks, it'd cost 50 pounds. Is it worth doing?

Depends on how efficient the parking brakes are. Plus how efficient you need them, like holding on steep slopes. You can only get maximum efficiency with the brakes correctly adjusted in the brake drums.

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Depends on how efficient the parking brakes are. Plus how efficient you need them, like holding on steep slopes. You can only get maximum efficiency with the brakes correctly adjusted in the brake drums.

This^

If it holds well on a steep slope spend your £50 on something else.

I have the variable amount of clicks thing on my handbrake lately, sometimes it holds on 4 clicks, sometimes it takes up to 7 clicks. I find if it takes 6 or 7 clicks and I release it and pull it again it will often then hold on 4 or 5 on the second pull. It holds ok on a steep slope so no problemo!

[Alan435d]

Same on my 435d, never use it now unless im on a hill, bmw handbrakes have always been rubbish since my first E46

[DriveS]

Originally Posted by Fazil

I took my car in, as the Handbrake amongst other things felt a bit loose.
It currently holds on about 7 clicks.
However, I was told if I wanted it adjusted to about 3 or 4 clicks, it'd cost 50 pounds. Is it worth doing?

How to do it for nothing...

1. Put chocks under front wheels.
2. Take off handbrake.
3. Take one wheel bolt out of each rear wheel.
4. Jack up rear end at the centre jacking point, so both wheels are just off the ground
5. Get a bright pencil type torch. Rotate the wheel to the 1 o'clock or 11 o'clock position (depending on which wheel and I cant remember which is which). You will see a toothed adjuster wheel.
6. With a flat bladed screwdriver rotate the adjuster one click at a time until it goes tight.(One wheel is up and one down) The wheel should lock up.
7. Now back the adjuster off about 2 clicks and check free rotation of the wheel.
8. Do this to the other side.
9. Now check how many clicks the handbrake operates at. Make adjustments as necessary.

This can be done in 30 mins. (as long as you can see the adjuster wheels!)