[Chrisscott94]

After having not drove the car for a few days due to us being in lockdown, I took it out to get the food shop and while I was rolling away there was a continuous squeal. Thought it was brakes but I wasn't applying the brakes at all while the noise was occurring. Has anybody else experienced this?

[Eddamoo]

Its probably still your brakes. Pads contact the discs ever so slighly all the time. Any kind of surface corrosion that has built over that time will cause a squeak.

It could also be the inboard handbrake drums.

You could also have a tiny stone stuck next to the disc and caliper, or disc and splash shield - they can cause a horrific squealing!

[RobUK]

Sorry when I saw the thread title I thought it was something to do with interfering with pigs!

Anyway, have you checked you don't have a stone lodged between the disk and the guard at the back of the disk? If it is, reversing up a few metres will often dislodge it.

[seenthelight!]

Try a couple of harsh emergency stops, forward and reverse, then see if it goes away

[Ronstein]

I was expecting the 'is it coming from the passenger seat?' comment

[lethbridge]

There is a common problem where the handbrake mechanism gets dirty/needs lubrication and is slow to release - so you get a squeal for 20 yards or so and then it is fine and it ends up happening every time you release the handbrake. No amount of braking will solve it. Obviously it may be the disc brakes as others have suggested but if braking doesn't make it go away I'd suspect handbrake (unless of course you don't use it!).

[lobeydosser]

A slack alternator drive belt can cause a squeal as you accelerate away, but tends to go quiet if you back off and run at a steady speed.

[MarkJS]

Originally Posted by lethbridge

There is a common problem where the handbrake mechanism gets dirty/needs lubrication and is slow to release - so you get a squeal for 20 yards or so and then it is fine and it ends up happening every time you release the handbrake. No amount of braking will solve it. Obviously it may be the disc brakes as others have suggested but if braking doesn't make it go away I'd suspect handbrake (unless of course you don't use it!).

This is exactly what it is. It’s very common and I have had this issue with varying degrees on pretty much every BMW I’ve had. My E92 was the worst and I put it into a dealer to have the handbrake mechanism cleaned & lubricated which cured it. For about 2 weeks. It came back over time but was a lot less prominent.

Even my F32 does it but only very, very briefly when moving off after being parked a while.

Of course, you could leave the handbrake off in Park if you have an Auto but that could be another can of worms...

[Chrisscott94]

Thanks for the replies guys! It seemed to have went away after driving for around 20/30 metres and didn't happen any time after that. Will get into a garage at some point for it to be looked at though! Thanks again.

[Somebloke]

Originally Posted by Chrisscott94

Will get into a garage at some point for it to be looked at though!

Don’t bother! They will say they can’t replicate it!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Chrisscott94

Thanks for the replies guys! It seemed to have went away after driving for around 20/30 metres and didn't happen any time after that. Will get into a garage at some point for it to be looked at though! Thanks again.

One way to reduce the handbrake squeal is to gently apply the handbrake while driving slowly (in a safe place), to help rub off corrosion.

The procedure used to be put in the User Manual. I'll see if I can find a quote.

[Sasquartch]

Very unlikely on a BMW. This was common in the old days with simple V belts, these days ribbed serpentine belts with tensioners are used.

Originally Posted by lobeydosser

A slack alternator drive belt can cause a squeal as you accelerate away, but tends to go quiet if you back off and run at a steady speed.

[HighlandPete]

An example from an E90 User Manual:

To prevent corrosion and one-sided braking action, occasionally apply the handbrake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.

E39:

You can help prevent corrosion and avoid uneven braking response by gently engaging the parking brake from time to time when coasting to a stop at traffic lights (ensure that you will not pose a hazard to other road users).

[Senna]

Originally Posted by MarkJS

This is exactly what it is. It’s very common and I have had this issue with varying degrees on pretty much every BMW I’ve had. My E92 was the worst and I put it into a dealer to have the handbrake mechanism cleaned & lubricated which cured it. For about 2 weeks. It came back over time but was a lot less prominent.

Even my F32 does it but only very, very briefly when moving off after being parked a while.

Of course, you could leave the handbrake off in Park if you have an Auto but that could be another can of worms...

Never use my handbrake 😄

[Ishan99]

Originally Posted by Chrisscott94

After having not drove the car for a few days due to us being in lockdown, I took it out to get the food shop and while I was rolling away there was a continuous squeal. Thought it was brakes but I wasn't applying the brakes at all while the noise was occurring. Has anybody else experienced this?

Dude I have the same issue. I was told it's the brakes

[Chrisscott94]

Originally Posted by Ishan99

Dude I have the same issue. I was told it's the brakes

How many miles does your car have on the clock?? Mines only done 30k so shouldn't be any break issues yet..

[speedski]

If you have an auto make sure you take the handbrake off before switching from P to D - it won't squeak then. If you put it in D with the handbrake still on then pulling away will result in the squeal.

[TiredGeek]

Originally Posted by speedski

If you have an auto make sure you take the handbrake off before switching from P to D - it won't squeak then. If you put it in D with the handbrake still on then pulling away will result in the squeal.

I'll try that as mine definitely drags the handbrake sometimes.
When wifey is driving there's a much more pronounced squeal pulling away from the lights, I tracked it down to the tyres though

[330Stevie]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

An example from an E90 User Manual:



E39:

Pretty sure the F3x manual says the same

[un1eash]

It's just a bit of surface rust on the discs from sitting. Nothing to worry about.

[Liquidfox]

Handbrake not releasing properly, BMW rebuilt my rear brakes under warranty as I got annoyed with it.