BMW E46 handbrake ratchet fix!

I mistakenly referred to this as an E36 in the video but I later corrected myself which isn't really important, how I fixed it is though.
BMW doesn't carry a rebuild kit they will only sell you the whole assembly for $160. Although this isn't very expensive as BMW parts go, I wanted to fix it just because it aggravated me and I wanted the challenge.
As it turned out it wasn't much of a challenge, not any more than sharpening a pencil.
Like Red Green says, "if the women can't find you handsome they should at least find you handy".

[@torgrimandersen2079]

Good video, you saved me a lot of time. One minute fix, you don't need to disassemble. Stretch the spring, and remember to bend the little tab up, so you lock the mekanisme again.

[@ghellaful]

I've just fiddled around with mine. Same scenario, hook had slipped out somehow. I've slipped it back in, stretched the spring and the magical racheting can be heard again, cheers for the video

[@TimStrempfer]

Great video revealing how the parts work together. Thank you!

[@stearman]

The tab I pointed to at the 6:57 time mark was bent outward rather than at a 90 degree angle underneath that stamped steel housing. This allowed the “hook” looking end of the button rod to become disengaged from the rounded end of the locking pawl (lever) that most of this crappy rush job video is about. When my son jerked the handle up like he was trying to keep it from going over a cliff, the button, rod and all popped out and rendered the brake useless. I stretched the spring slightly for a little more tension, put the parts of this simple yet cheaply made mechanism back in their proper order and put it back into service. That car was totaled this summer in a flash flood. BMW electronics and water DO NOT get along. AT ALL.

[@ats-jannopihu8275]

Great video! Easy to follow, explains everything, got my problem fixed in no time!

[@tarassu]

If I was an algorithm I would tell that this was written by a robot to hype the video.

[@tarassu]

A robot trying to make revenue to this video.

[@stearman]

None of my videos are revenue earning or monetized. They are free informational attempts, by me, to help those with the problems these are intended to help solve.

[@jbrian53]

@@stearman The effort is much appreciated. I was able to diagnose and determine whether mine was repairable.

[@jbrian53]

The problem for some (including me) is that the plastic on the hook end of the rod disintegrates and falls off. So, it's no longer thick enough to hook/catch and stay on the end of the boomerang shaped piece.

[@medianetwork7972]

Same issue here as well.

[@jbrian53]

@@medianetwork7972 I was able to remove the rod, wrap the hook end in electrical tape, and after some experimentation and luck, was able to get it back into the right orientation in the mechanism. I now have a replacement e-brake sitting on the shelf, but but the temporary fix is holding up. I'm careful to fully press the button, pull the lever, and then release. As long as it catches, it's good. It's not relying on the electrical tape for anything other than holding the rod in place when the brake is not engaged.

[@amana1480]

Thanks for this video. My E46 handbrake was holding fine yesterday then a sudden bang and the car started rolling away down the drive and into the road... now the handbrake lever doesn't hold past the 2nd click... I took the handbrake out and sure enough the first 4 ratchet teeth have worn flat over time.... it is a silly design...I had to buy a new handbrake lever for £85

[@GMRone]

Nice

[@GMRone]

That was really.cool.to.fix

[@amana1480]

How did you fix your handbrake exactly. What was wrong with yours?