Z4M: Parking brake groan when set

[iamwiz82]

Whenever someone gets out of my Z4M after setting the brake there is a fairly loud groan that is emitted that is louder than I have ever heard in another car, it sounds like a morbidly obese person getting off of a mattress. Don't set the parking brake and no noise is heard. Anyone ever have this?

[thekurgan]

I believe it's the parking brake mechanism, something to do with the drum-in-drum design. All BMWs I've had have this sound and it does sound pretty creaky like it is the suspension but I was told it is the tension on the parking brake cable.

[Dammmittt]

The cable might not be tight enough...if it is set firmly it shouldn't groan or move at all.

[nickb]

My 2006 Z4M did it from day one. There was a post on this site some time ago explaining what caused it, something about the way the emerg brake drum is arranged. It was apparently a design thing, and BMW doesn't consider it a problem, it was suggested. I may have mentioned it to my dealer also, but nothing was done regardless.

The suggested fix was (to me) so involved and needing significant (again, to me) disassembly and modification that I recall thinking that there's no way I'm ever going to see that happen on my car. But I can't remember the specifics, but someone else will remember, and it's probably in the archives somewhere.

[dwm]

The design basically will always groan because the shoes float quite a bit. The sound is somewhat loud because it gets transmitted directly to the backing plates. Every BMW I've ever set on the floor after jacking has had parking brake groan. It's normal.

[iamwiz82]

The design basically will always groan because the shoes float quite a bit. The sound is somewhat loud because it gets transmitted directly to the backing plates. Every BMW I've ever set on the floor after jacking has had parking brake groan. It's normal.

I'm talking about just getting out of the car ater driving, not just jacking it up. Perhaps I am pulling it too hard? I know that if I set the parking brake my wife cannot release it. :rofl:

[Caddyshk]

Normal

[Incompatible]

Had my 07 Si in shortly after purchase for another issue and asked the SA about the noise coming from the rear of the car while getting out and less frequently when getting in. I was told that it was the emergency brake engagement and if it bothered me, they could "grease" the cable and flange. I decided not to due to the additional time required. To verify if it is the brake: the next time you get out of the car, leave the car in gear (manual) and don't engage the emergency brake. No noise = brake, noise = suspension.

[dwm]

I'm talking about just getting out of the car ater driving, not just jacking it up. Perhaps I am pulling it too hard? I know that if I set the parking brake my wife cannot release it. :rofl:

Whether or not it makes noise getting in/out of the car depends on your weight, your suspension, how you parked, etc.. Mine typically doesn't do it then simply because I'm not very heavy and my suspension is firmer than stock. Always does it when I jack the car with the e-brake on.

If your wife can't release the brake, I'd say you're pulling it too far. Unless you like the idea of one of the cables snapping, which according to Murphy will occur when you've parked on a steep hill and have left the car in neutral :). Obviously the other rules still apply: turn wheels toward curb if parked facing downhill, away from curb if parked facing uphill, toward side of road if there's no curb. Leave transmission in 1st gear or reverse.

[KevinC]

Whenever someone gets out of my Z4M after setting the brake there is a fairly loud groan that is emitted that is louder than I have ever heard in another car, it sounds like a morbidly obese person getting off of a mattress.

I hear this noise both when I get out of my car, and when I wake up in the morning. Hmmm... might be time to lay off the pizza and bon-bons!

[RobMCoupe]

I'm talking about just getting out of the car ater driving, not just jacking it up. Perhaps I am pulling it too hard? I know that if I set the parking brake my wife cannot release it. :rofl:

That is way too hard for parking brake. I pull just enough to stop it from rolling and leave the car in frist gear or reverse. It's the gear that stopped the car from moving.

[Blak Blur]

My 2006 Z4MC has always done it and my 2001 E46 M3 which I had for over 5 years always did it.