Two small problems? Any idea's?

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
User avatar
MrBroon
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Contact:

Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:46 pm

I have two small problems with my iS.

1) The brake pad warning light comes on intermittently?

2) The handbrake sometimes doesn't pull up on one side?

Does anyone know if these are MOT failures?

Thanks.
James Westwood
http://www.bmbits.co.uk BMW Parts at upto 50% off dealer prices
IT Security solutions Scotland
Zayyan
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6385
Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Aylesbury
Contact:

Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:50 pm

MrBroon wrote:Does anyone know if these are MOT failures?
I've been told the second one is, mine had the same problem :(
Image
User avatar
MrBroon
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Contact:

Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:59 pm

What was the fix if you don't mind me asking?
James Westwood
http://www.bmbits.co.uk BMW Parts at upto 50% off dealer prices
IT Security solutions Scotland
jonb
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3732
Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: bristol

Tue Apr 19, 2005 6:26 pm

james

sounds like the handbrake shoes need tightening. this is done by turning the star shaped adjuster inside the disc, which is only accesable through the wheel bolt hole near the tophalf of the hub. i forgot which way you rotate it now as i havent done it for ages.

tools you need are wd40, a torch and a long flatblade screwdriver.

could also be the handbrake cable that need tightening.
Last edited by jonb on Tue Apr 19, 2005 6:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Zayyan
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6385
Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Aylesbury
Contact:

Tue Apr 19, 2005 6:33 pm

MrBroon wrote:What was the fix if you don't mind me asking?
It's likely it's just as Jon described, I didn't ask as the garage did it and didn't put it on the bill :)

Perhaps as it was such an easy job!
Image
User avatar
MrBroon
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Contact:

Tue Apr 19, 2005 8:00 pm

Thanks guys, off out now to have a go. :)
James Westwood
http://www.bmbits.co.uk BMW Parts at upto 50% off dealer prices
IT Security solutions Scotland
User avatar
MrBroon
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Contact:

Tue Apr 19, 2005 9:02 pm

Well took off the wheels and I couldn't find what you described, when I looked through the bolts there was nothing there that I could use a screwdriver to adjust, what should I have been looking for?

I had a go with the sensor but no matter what I jiggled it wouldn't go off. :cry:

Nevermind I'll let you know how the garage fixed it on Thursday night.

Cheers.
James Westwood
http://www.bmbits.co.uk BMW Parts at upto 50% off dealer prices
IT Security solutions Scotland
Guest

Tue Apr 19, 2005 9:19 pm

2 adjust the rear shoes ,u need 2 turn drum till 1 of the bolt holes is near top,shine ur torch through it and u c the adjuster between the shoes at the top.u click the adjuster 1 way and it will take up the handbrake.its hard 2c ,esp when covered in brake dust!mite help 2 blow through hole .it is a mot failure if its not working 1 side or the balance between the 2 is alot.the brake warning light ,i would just take the bulb out!!!
User avatar
MrBroon
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Contact:

Tue Apr 19, 2005 9:46 pm

Ah, that explains it, I've got discs all round on the iS. I'd thought of the bulb idea, but thanks for mentioning it. :wink:
James Westwood
http://www.bmbits.co.uk BMW Parts at upto 50% off dealer prices
IT Security solutions Scotland
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49353
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Tue Apr 19, 2005 10:57 pm

For the pad light, ignore the cowboys who tell you to take the bulb out, and do a search for " 220 ohm resistor" on this forum.
If your garage has "adjusted" your handbrake, and didn't charge for it, I would suspect they've just tightened the handbrake cables. This will ruin your handbrake shoes, and the handbrake's efficiency will reduce to the point where it becomes dangerous (but still good enough for MOT).
The handbrake cables should only need adjusting when new and possibly after a settling in period. Handbrake adjustment must be done in the hub.
If this is what your garage has done, then I suggest you find another one that doesn't employ chimps. If by some chance they have done the job properly, then, my apologies.
charlE30
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3818
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Warwick
Contact:

Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:00 am

The handbrake pulling to one side isn't an MOT fail if the brake is working efficiently, mine passed and was advised it needed adjusting but wasn't dangerous. All sorted now though 8)
BMW E30 344i track car :banana:
BMW F31 335d xdrive
Post Reply