BMW X5 Parking Brake Failure Causes Multiple System Alerts

I had the exact same issue with my 2015 BMW X3 35i last year. The electronic parking brake completely failed, triggering multiple warning lights and disabling several driver assistance features. The problem was diagnosed as a defective electric motor in the brake caliper. Both rear brake calipers had to be replaced because the electronic parking brake motors were integrated into them. It wasn't just a minor repair, the whole unit needed replacement. My BMW tech told me this is actually a known issue with these electronic parking brake systems. Once they start failing, they usually affect multiple vehicle systems because everything's connected through the car's electronics network. The fix took about a day in the shop. While it was an expensive repair, it completely resolved all the warning lights and restored full functionality to all driver assistance features. Haven't had any issues since then. Make sure you get it checked soon, driving without a working parking brake isn't safe, and those disabled assistance features are important safety systems too.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I've actually been meaning to ask, would you mind telling me how much you ended up paying for the repair? I'm trying to get a rough idea of what I might be looking at cost-wise. Also, just curious, have you had any other electrical gremlins pop up since getting it fixed? Really hoping this won't turn into a recurring issue with my X5.

Hey! Glad to help with those details. I spent exactly 505 € to fix my X3's electronic parking brake issue. The mechanic replaced the faulty electric motor in the brake caliper, and I'm happy to report it's been working perfectly since the repair. The best part? All those annoying warning lights disappeared, and every driver assistance feature came back online immediately after the fix. It's been over a year now, and I haven't had a single electrical gremlin or any other related problems pop up. The car runs just like new. I know it wasn't exactly cheap, but considering how many systems were affected, I'd say it was worth every penny to get it properly sorted. If your symptoms match what I experienced, you're probably looking at a similar repair and cost. Better to get it fixed sooner rather than later, these things tend to only get worse if you wait too long. Trust me, you'll feel so much better once it's fixed. No more stress about the parking brake or those warning lights staring at you from the dash!

Thanks for breaking down the costs and sharing your follow-up experience! After hearing about your positive outcome, I bit the bullet and took my X5 to a certified BMW mechanic yesterday. Turns out you were spot on, it was the same issue with the brake caliper motors. The repair cost was a bit higher than what you paid, but they got everything sorted in just one day. What a relief! The parking brake works perfectly now, all those annoying warning lights are gone, and my driver assistance features are back to normal. The mechanic even did a thorough system check to make sure there weren't any lingering issues. It's such a weight off my mind to have this fixed properly. I can finally park on hills again without stressing! Really appreciate you helping me avoid another frustrating experience with the wrong mechanic. Sometimes it's worth paying a bit more to get things done right the first time.