Workshop Hints

Workshop Hints

Please familiarize yourself with the statements below regarding new procedures when making repairs to the Electro-mechanical Parking Brake. Consult the Repair Information in TIS for additional information on the following procedures:

The parking brake shoes are adjusted the same way as current BMW models by turning the adjuster with a screwdriver through the wheel bolt hole of the wheel hub.

Parking brake cable removal: To remove the parking brake cable assemblies, the EMF top cover must be removed and the end stop plate must be raised with a screwdriver. Using the brake release tool (found in the vehicle tool kit), release the parking brake completely so that the balance arm is turned back to the stop. This will allow the pulleys to rotate far enough so that the cable crimp can be disengaged from the recess in the pulley.

Parking brake initialization: The parking brake must be initialized with the DISplus after replacing the brake shoes, The brake cable "free play" is learned by the EMF control module from the Hall sensors in the actuating motor.

Parking brake lining seating: When the parking brake shoes are replaced, the new brake linings must be seated (bedded down) to achieve adequate holding power A "Special Bedding Down Routine" is integrated in the parking brake software and can be accessed with the DISplus found under Service Functions - Chassis - Parking Brake - Workshop Braking-in.

The parking brake indicator light in the instrument cluster will flash red (at a low frequency) to signal the standby status of the brake bedding down program. After activating the program, the ignition must not be switched oft and the bedding down procedure must be carried out within 30 minutes.

If more than 30 minutes have lapsed, the parking brake button is pushed, or the ignition is turned off before the procedure is carried out, the brake bedding down program will be terminated. The system will resume the normal parking brake function.

The brake linings are seated by the EMF applying a reduced holding force. The braking force at the spindle during this procedure is 20% of the maximum actuating force.

The procedure is activated when the vehicle is stationary (for example: stopped at a traffic light). The brake shoes "scrub" when the vehicle starts off. The EMF releases the parking brakes when a speed of 15 km/h is reached or 30 seconds after the start of the seating procedure.

For safety reasons, the seating procedure is immediately terminated when any DSC function is required. The seating procedure is also terminated when the push button is pressed or the ignition is turned off.

Travel monitoring: Normal parking brake lining wear increases the actuating travel over the service life. Based on the reference point (stop in the EMF unit), the Hall sensors in the actuating motor allows the EMF control module to measure the travel range.

When the defined travel limit is exceeded, information is provided to the driver and a fault is stored in the EMF control module. This can also be checked using the DISplus found under Service Functions - Chassis - Parking Brake - Position Travel Check.

Brake testing on a miler dynamometer: The E65/E66 parking brake operation can be tested on a brake roller dynamometer. The parking brake test can be conducted with the engine running by pressing the parking brake push button. With the engine turned off, the parking brake test can activated by pressing the parking brake push button. The actuating unit will quickly apply and lock the parking brake.

Assembly Mode: Replacement EMFs are shipped in "assembly mode" to surpress activation until the brake cables and EMF are completely assembled and installed in the vehicle. This prevents unintentional operation of the EMF by the parking brake push button and can also be activated (for safety reasons) on an existing EMF in the vehicle when work is being performed.

Before initial operation, the assembly mode must be deactivated by using the DISplus found under: Service Functions - Chassis - Parking Brake - Assembly Mode.

When installing the EMF, make sure that the seal to the body and the seals for the parking brake cables are correctly installed.

Coding data: The coding data for the parking brake system is stored in the EMF control module (EEPROM) and the DSC control module (EEPROM). The coding data is entered by the DISplus when a control module is replaced.