No brakes, I mean ZERO

JLStock · 01-02-2018, 05:36 PM

I have a R title 428i XDrive with 23k miles. Temp @5am was about 7 deg. F.
I back out in driveway, stop and head up long driveway, light brake a bit, turn on road, drive 1 block, light brake, turn on road. I forgot lunch so I decide to turn around. Drove less than 5 to 7 min. I try to stop and I think it started to brake, then nothing. I think I used my E brake to stop. I release E brake and have foot on brake pedal and I start to move forward. I believe the ABS light came on at that point. I run car around, drive down hill on my driveway and into to my garage using brake pedal to stop. Shut car off and locked it as I go in house.
I then drove to and from work with hand on E brake. Brakes seemed to work both ways.
Any idea what would cause a complete brake failure? Is there a sensor or motor or do I just likely need a brake fluid flush? Any idea what the cost is?

COKen · 01-02-2018, 07:41 PM

I would check the fluid, but was it possible you were on black ice?

Duperstar · 01-02-2018, 07:48 PM

I have to say that I noticed today my brakes were not nearly as effective in this extremely cold weather, worse on Monday. This is after driving about 40 miles, highway and city. Never noticed that in my old e60

chicagoshark · 01-02-2018, 09:47 PM

What's an R title?

jv004 · 01-02-2018, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagoshark

What's an R title?

http://www.letmegooglethat.com/?q=What%27s+an+R+title

lkstaack · 01-02-2018, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLStock

I try to stop and I think it started to brake, then nothing.

It would be helpful to note how far down the brake pedal went and what kind of pressure you felt. Did the pedal go to the floor? Did it feel like the brakes were engaging, but not stopping the car? Did you press down hard?

Orion4 · 01-03-2018, 01:36 PM

Did you get the ABS engaged feedback in the peddle? Or the ABS light on the instrument panel?

chicagoshark · 01-03-2018, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jv004

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagoshark

What's an R title?

http://www.letmegooglethat.com/?q=What%27s+an+R+title

Thanks. I'll send you a list of other things to look up for me.
Pm sent.

JLStock · 01-03-2018, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COKen

I would check the fluid, but was it possible you were on black ice?

Not on black ice, loose snow over packed snow.
I live in Edinboro PA and work in Erie PA, leading nation with 92” of snow so far.

JLStock · 01-03-2018, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkstaack

It would be helpful to note how far down the brake pedal went and what kind of pressure you felt. Did the pedal go to the floor? Did it feel like the brakes were engaging, but not stopping the car? Did you press down hard?

I think I had pedal down all the way. I think there was pressure and then no pressure on pedal.
I used e-brake to stop car then released e-brake and car crept forward at idle with foot on brake.

JLStock · 01-03-2018, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orion4

Did you get the ABS engaged feedback in the peddle? Or the ABS light on the instrument panel?

I believe I got ABS feedback from pedal before failure. I know for sure I did the previous day. The ABS light on dash came on during failure.
I went back home, turned off car and locked it. Reentered and started to drive to work and the issues have not presented again.
Thank you all for your input. I am sorry I had to use so many “I think” comments. It was 5am and the situation took me by surprise so the situation is not crystal clear. Just lucky it happen where it did at the time it did or the car could have been “R” again.

Livetodrive · 01-03-2018, 05:32 PM

I would have the car checked out at a shop before using it again. You don't want to be trying to stop at an intersection without any brakes.

chicagoshark · 01-03-2018, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livetodrive

I would have the car checked out at a shop before using it again. You don't want to be trying to stop at an intersection without any brakes.

Agree. That's not something you wanna chance "probably won't happen again..."

ChubbyWilly · 01-04-2018, 10:01 AM

Check brake fluid, it sounds like someone cut your lines.

Michael Schott · 01-04-2018, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChubbyWilly

Check brake fluid, it sounds like someone cut your lines.

He said they later worked. He has brake fluid.

Orion4 · 01-04-2018, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livetodrive

I would have the car checked out at a shop before using it again. You don't want to be trying to stop at an intersection without any brakes.

If you are still under warranty, have your BMW service department check it out. That type of failure may have tripped an error code and stored it, they can pull or if you have a code reader, you can check yourself.

vooonoo · 01-05-2018, 03:59 PM

pump the brakes with the car off, does the pedal get stiff?

Lysol · 01-05-2018, 06:52 PM

I recall hearing of a fault similar to this (reference: https://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/28/...-brake-recall/)

Might want to mention this when you discuss with your local dealership.

wilbur_the_goose · 01-06-2018, 08:18 AM

Do you happen to have ceramic brakes? I've heard that these need to be "warmed up" before they're 100% effective.

Hobie18 · 01-08-2018, 01:22 AM

ABS in addition to not stopping a car on ice by design has trouble with snow and gravel.
The ABS light would illuminate and then go off. The fact that normal braking resumed later leads me to believe their was no malfunction of the braking system. Just a slick surface that ABS allows the wheels to keep tuning on. If you used your hand brake you were probably locking the brakes allowing you to stop.
If the fluid level was low the brake light would be on and stay on.

ihateredlight · 01-08-2018, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLStock

Quote:

Originally Posted by COKen

I would check the fluid, but was it possible you were on black ice?

Not on black ice, loose snow over packed snow.
I live in Edinboro PA and work in Erie PA, leading nation with 92Â” of snow so far.

*fyi that graph is from 2013-2014.*

hopefully nothing major is wrong with your brakes and it's due to the cold weather.

HighlandPete · 01-08-2018, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLStock

I believe I got ABS feedback from pedal before failure. I know for sure I did the previous day. The ABS light on dash came on during failure.

Did the ABS light just illuminated during the incident, or stay on for the rest of the trip? Only resetting after the switch off?

Did you pump the brakes during the incident? Solid, soft, etc.

If you were getting ABS feedback, it does appear it was the surface conditions that were suspect.

I came down my lane too fast the other day, had turned to ice while I was out. ABS pumped away as I tried to brake. Certainly feels like the brakes have failed, during something like that.

Question I have is about the R title. Do you know the full history? If there is a problem, could it be related to that in any way?

01-02-2018, 05:36 PM	#1
JLStock Enlisted Member 3 Rep 42 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 428i XDrive Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Edinboro PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 428i XDrive [0.00]	No brakes, I mean ZERO I have a R title 428i XDrive with 23k miles. Temp @5am was about 7 deg. F. I back out in driveway, stop and head up long driveway, light brake a bit, turn on road, drive 1 block, light brake, turn on road. I forgot lunch so I decide to turn around. Drove less than 5 to 7 min. I try to stop and I think it started to brake, then nothing. I think I used my E brake to stop. I release E brake and have foot on brake pedal and I start to move forward. I believe the ABS light came on at that point. I run car around, drive down hill on my driveway and into to my garage using brake pedal to stop. Shut car off and locked it as I go in house. I then drove to and from work with hand on E brake. Brakes seemed to work both ways. Any idea what would cause a complete brake failure? Is there a sensor or motor or do I just likely need a brake fluid flush? Any idea what the cost is?
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01-02-2018, 07:41 PM	#2
COKen Lieutenant Colonel 981 Rep 1,560 Posts Drives: M Rster / Z4 M40i / X5 M50i Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	I would check the fluid, but was it possible you were on black ice? __________________ 2002 M Roadster, Steel Gray Metailic, Gray Nappa Leather, HT, TC Kline DA Shocks & Camber Plates, w/H&R Springs, Stromung Exhaust, SSR Type C. Looking for new home. 2022 Z4 M40i, Misano Blue Metallic, Driver Asst Pkg, Prem Pkg 2023 X5 M50i, Phytonic Blue, Black Extended Merion Leather, Driving Asst Pro Pkg, Park Asst Pkg, Exec Pkg, Climate Comfort Pkg.
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01-02-2018, 07:48 PM	#3
Duperstar Private First Class 23 Rep 113 Posts Drives: G30 540 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NYC iTrader: (1)	I have to say that I noticed today my brakes were not nearly as effective in this extremely cold weather, worse on Monday. This is after driving about 40 miles, highway and city. Never noticed that in my old e60
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01-02-2018, 09:47 PM	#4
chicagoshark Captain 309 Rep 641 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Join Date: May 2016 Location: chicago iTrader: (0)	What's an R title?
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01-03-2018, 01:36 PM	#7
Orion4 Lieutenant Colonel 481 Rep 1,572 Posts Drives: 2013 335i Sport Line Sedan Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne, FL iTrader: (0)	Did you get the ABS engaged feedback in the peddle? Or the ABS light on the instrument panel?
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01-03-2018, 05:32 PM	#12
Livetodrive Second Lieutenant 109 Rep 294 Posts Drives: 2016 340i X Drive Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Pa. iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 340i XDrive [0.00]	I would have the car checked out at a shop before using it again. You don't want to be trying to stop at an intersection without any brakes.
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01-04-2018, 10:01 AM	#14
ChubbyWilly First Lieutenant 105 Rep 327 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW 335i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: DFW iTrader: (0)	Check brake fluid, it sounds like someone cut your lines. __________________ Mods: MHD Stage 2+ FlexFuel, xHP Stage 3, VRSF 5" HD Intercooler, VRSF Charge Pipe, CircuitWerks Catless DP, AFE Pro Dry S Intake filter, Eldor coils, NGK 97506 @ .026, Bilstein B14 coils.
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01-05-2018, 03:59 PM	#17
vooonoo ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 537 Rep 1,000 Posts Drives: f30 328 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: nj iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 f30 328i [0.00]	pump the brakes with the car off, does the pedal get stiff?
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01-05-2018, 06:52 PM	#18
Lysol Dü Werke 420 Rep 87 Posts Drives: F30 335i Join Date: May 2017 Location: Just around the river bend... iTrader: (0)	I recall hearing of a fault similar to this (reference: https://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/28/...-brake-recall/) Might want to mention this when you discuss with your local dealership.
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01-06-2018, 08:18 AM	#19
wilbur_the_goose Major 353 Rep 1,245 Posts Drives: 2018 330ix Gran Turismo Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Metro Philly iTrader: (0)	Do you happen to have ceramic brakes? I've heard that these need to be "warmed up" before they're 100% effective.
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01-08-2018, 01:22 AM	#20
Hobie18 New Member 0 Rep 27 Posts Drives: 2013 328ix Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Southern CT iTrader: (0)	ABS in addition to not stopping a car on ice by design has trouble with snow and gravel. The ABS light would illuminate and then go off. The fact that normal braking resumed later leads me to believe their was no malfunction of the braking system. Just a slick surface that ABS allows the wheels to keep tuning on. If you used your hand brake you were probably locking the brakes allowing you to stop. If the fluid level was low the brake light would be on and stay on.
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