BMW E-Brake Failure Creates Multiple Warning Lights

I had the exact same issue with my 2011 BMW 5 Series last month. The electric motor in the brake caliper was completely dead, causing the electronic parking brake to fail. Also got those warning lights for hill-start assist and other systems. The mechanics diagnosed it as a defective brake actuator motor. They had to replace both rear brake actuators since one was failing and the other was showing signs of wear. It's a common problem with these systems after years of use. The job took about 4-5 hours since they needed to remove the rear calipers completely. While they were at it, they also cleaned and lubricated the whole mechanism. After the fix, all the warning lights disappeared and the parking brake works perfectly now. I'd suggest finding a shop that specializes in European cars, particularly BMWs. This isn't something you want a general mechanic to handle since it involves both mechanical and electronic components. It's a serious repair that needs proper diagnostic equipment and expertise.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful since my symptoms match exactly what you described. Glad to hear you got it sorted out properly. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? And has everything been working smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other issues popping up?

Hey there! Just wanted to follow up, the repair has been absolutely worth every penny. I paid 505 € for fixing the electric motor in the brake caliper, and I haven't had a single issue since then. The electronic parking brake works like a charm now, and all those annoying warning lights on the dash have completely disappeared. It's been such a relief, the car feels like new again when it comes to the braking system. The mechanics did a really thorough job diagnosing and replacing the faulty components. Trust me, once you get it fixed by someone who knows what they're doing, you won't have to worry about it anymore. My advice would be to bite the bullet and get it done sooner rather than later. These things don't fix themselves, and you don't want to risk any safety issues. Since the repair, my 5 Series has been running perfectly, no more electronic gremlins or brake-related warnings. Best money I've spent on the car this year!

Perfect, Thanks so much for the detailed info! Just got back from getting it fixed actually. You were spot on, it was the brake actuator motors causing all the trouble. Found a specialized BMW shop and they sorted everything out. Cost me a bit more than yours at 680 €, but they replaced both actuators and did a full system check. Took my car for a good test drive yesterday and everything's working perfectly now. No more warning lights, and the electronic parking brake engages smoothly every time. Such a relief to have it sorted! Best part is how quiet the mechanism is now, didn't realize how noisy it had gotten before the fix. Really grateful for your advice about going to a specialist. They knew exactly what they were dealing with and got it done right the first time. No more anxiety about parking on hills or dealing with those annoying dashboard warnings. Money well spent for sure!