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      11-08-2021, 05:19 PM   #1
grannyknot
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Is the Parking brake lever a known problem?

The teeth on the sector of the parking brake lever are all hacked up, looks someone forced it down without pushing the release button.
I've been looking online for it, 34406774798, https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...y/34406774798/
but know, one seems to have it in stock, not even the wreckers/breakers.
Is this a part that is so much in demand that they can't keep them on the shelf or a part that almost never fails so they don't keep it on the shelf in the first place?
Thanks
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      11-08-2021, 05:34 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grannyknot View Post
Is this a part that is so much in demand that they can't keep them on the shelf or a part that almost never fails so they don't keep it on the shelf in the first place?
I'd say the latter. That's the first time I hear of a brake lever to fail.

But actually there are many things that are on back order these days..
Lately I was waiting for (single use) frame bolts for about 3 months to come. Before covid they'd always been available.
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      11-08-2021, 07:21 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by vt100 View Post
Lately I was waiting for (single use) frame bolts for about 3 months to come. Before covid they'd always been available.
What frame bolts are those? I'm going to be tearing the car down completely next winter so maybe I should put my order in now.
Thanks
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      11-08-2021, 10:28 PM   #4
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What frame bolts are those? I'm going to be tearing the car down completely next winter so maybe I should put my order in now.
Thanks
Those were for 128i - bolts holding the body reinforcement elements (like strut braces and underbody braces).

On Z4M bolts holding the aluminum reinforcement plate and rear reinforcement beams are also single use. Basically all bolts holding these elements are single use I think

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=51_4957


But many just reuse the old ones.
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      11-09-2021, 08:53 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grannyknot View Post
The teeth on the sector of the parking brake lever are all hacked up, looks someone forced it down without pushing the release button.
I've been looking online for it, 34406774798, https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...y/34406774798/
but know, one seems to have it in stock, not even the wreckers/breakers.
Is this a part that is so much in demand that they can't keep them on the shelf or a part that almost never fails so they don't keep it on the shelf in the first place?
Thanks
I've never seen one with stripped teeth, maybe the previous owner was doing a lot of drifting with it and wore it out

Have you checked https://www.car-part.com/ they usually have several Z4 parts cars in my area, I believe all Z4s use the same parking brake assembly.
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      11-09-2021, 10:13 AM   #6
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Got a pic of the bad teeth? Never heard of that happening.
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      11-09-2021, 03:17 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pungo View Post
I've never seen one with stripped teeth, maybe the previous owner was doing a lot of drifting with it and wore it out
.
I wouldn't doubt it, I've found a few things the previous owner did that I wish he had not. Cars always seem to come to me abused, but once they're are with me they find safe sanctuary.

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Originally Posted by kaybat View Post
Got a pic of the bad teeth? Never heard of that happening.
I can get you a pic in the spring, she's in hibernation for the winter now, I just have one more project to finish up and the M coupe can move in to the shop for good.
I started using boat heat shrink on other long term projects and I can tell you it works just as well on cars as it does boats.
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      11-09-2021, 03:25 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vt100 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by grannyknot View Post
What frame bolts are those? I'm going to be tearing the car down completely next winter so maybe I should put my order in now.
Thanks
Those were for 128i - bolts holding the body reinforcement elements (like strut braces and underbody braces).

On Z4M bolts holding the aluminum reinforcement plate and rear reinforcement beams are also single use. Basically all bolts holding these elements are single use I think

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=51_4957


But many just reuse the old ones.
They should be replaced if you stretch the bolts. From another thread, though, it didn't seem that most people did that.
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      11-09-2021, 04:28 PM   #9
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They should be replaced if you stretch the bolts. From another thread, though, it didn't seem that most people did that.
If they didn't stretch the bolts - they didn't torque these bolts to the spec
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      11-12-2021, 09:59 AM   #10
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A few years ago I read a thread or two on the parking brake mechanism teeth wearing down and that replacing the part(s) was a bitch. I've never heard of this happening before, what in the world is BMW making these parts out of?? Maybe it's occurring more in Europe where people often engage the parking brake when stopped at traffic lights? Who knows. Since reading those posts I always push and hold the release button down when pulling up on the parking brake. But really, it's ridiculous.

Here's one thread I found: https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=93188
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      11-13-2021, 02:04 PM   #11
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I think the consensus is that the 'single use' bolts can be safely re-used once, even if they have been correctly torqued. I also think most shops look on the undertrays and braces as regular bolt-on items and completely ignore the fact that they are structural components. Torque them! Keep the car nice and tight.
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      11-14-2021, 08:30 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grannyknot View Post
The teeth on the sector of the parking brake lever are all hacked up, looks someone forced it down without pushing the release button.
I've been looking online for it, 34406774798, https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...y/34406774798/
but know, one seems to have it in stock, not even the wreckers/breakers.
Is this a part that is so much in demand that they can't keep them on the shelf or a part that almost never fails so they don't keep it on the shelf in the first place?
Thanks

Last spring I have to go thru exactly same Issue, end up of buying used hand brake assembly for $100 locally, change assembly was pita, shields, drive shaft, exhaust needs to be removed to get there .
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      10-07-2022, 10:00 PM   #13
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Quote:
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Got a pic of the bad teeth? Never heard of that happening.
So it only took me a year but here it is, I found a used hand brake from a Z4 with an automatic so it looks brand new.
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      10-10-2022, 11:14 PM   #14
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I have the fame of supposedly buying the last handbrake in America a few months back. There have been a few revisions of the component. The teeth are very soft. Driver's with the manuals wear them out easily. The salvage yards don't pull them because you need to pull the drive shaft to get to it. Contact Dan who is parting out Z4 on the forum. He is a super guy. He might pull a good one for you from an automatic. You want one in good shape. A Z friend actually got a metal pick and straightened his bent over teeth while it was in the car. A better fix is to pull it and use a dremel blade to reshape the teeth. It is a huge job to get it out of the car. It comes out the bottom. You have to drop the exhaust and the shaft. I have seen newer cars have a hardened plate at the teeth area that was welded in. So they fixed it years later : ) I see you just answered you original post. Clean up those teeth before you pop that in.
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      10-11-2022, 04:53 AM   #15
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Quote:
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I see you just answered you original post. Clean up those teeth before you pop that in.
Thanks, the pic above is the old hand brake that kaybat wanted to see, it's in the junk pile now.
The new one is like it should be, I'll be pushing the thumb release down when pulling it up from now on.
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      10-11-2022, 02:37 PM   #16
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That's unreal GK, I can't imagine how soft that metal must be....That just shi**y.
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