BMW Parking Brake Failure Leaves Drivers in Limbo

Had the exact same issue with my 2020 BMW 3 Series Hybrid last month. The electronic parking brake completely failed, along with hill-hold assist and some other driver aids. Got it checked at the garage and turns out the electric motor in the brake caliper was defective. This is a critical safety component that needed immediate attention. Mine showed similar symptoms, warning lights, complete parking brake failure, and no hill-hold function. The repair involved replacing both the electric motor and the control unit for the parking brake system. While it was a serious issue that needed fixing right away, it wasn't uncommon for these electronic brake systems. My advice is to get it checked ASAP at a shop that specifically knows modern BMW electronics. This isn't something you want to leave unattended, especially since it affects multiple safety systems. Don't try any temporary fixes, these electronic brake systems need proper diagnostic equipment to repair correctly.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I had nearly identical symptoms with my BMW 5 last year. Mine turned out to be the same thing, faulty brake caliper motor and control unit. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the full repair? And has everything been working smoothly since then? I'm wondering if any other related issues popped up afterwards.

Hey there! Glad I can follow up about my BMW 3 Series brake issue. Since getting it fixed, everything's been working perfectly, no more parking brake problems at all. The total repair came to 505 € for replacing the electric motor in the brake caliper. Honestly, while it wasn't cheap, it was worth every penny to get the safety systems working properly again. The hill-hold assist and all other driver aids are back to normal too. Haven't had a single problem with any of the electronic brake functions since the repair. I've put about 5,000 km on the car since then, and it's performing just like new. No related issues have popped up, which is a relief. I'd say if you're experiencing similar symptoms, getting it fixed ASAP is definitely the way to go. These electronic systems are complex but once they're properly repaired, they're really reliable. Let me know if you need any other details about the repair!

Thanks for the detailed follow-up! I actually went ahead and got mine fixed last week. Found a really good mechanic who specializes in BMW electronics. The whole experience wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. The repair cost was a bit higher at 650 € since they had to replace both the motor and control unit, but at least it's sorted now. The mechanic was super thorough and even updated some software while they had it hooked up to their diagnostic system. I've driven about 500 km since the fix, and everything's working perfectly, the parking brake engages smoothly, hill-hold assist is back, and all those annoying warning lights are gone. Such a relief to have it properly sorted! Really appreciate everyone's input on this. It definitely helped me make the right decision to get it fixed right away rather than putting it off.