BMW E46 Parking Brake Adjustment DIY

My mailing address for correspondence or swag of any kind is on my about page.
This video is for entertainment purposes only. 50sKid assumes no liability for any repairs or modifications performed by the viewer as a result of the information contained in this video.

[@JMUDoc]

A tip from me, if you have trouble with the "feel" of the clicks: when you have tightened the adjuster the correct amount, go to the inboard side of the hub and mark one of the teeth on the adjuster with Tippex (and take a picture) - it has TEN teeth, so you can loosen it to where the marked tooth comes back to the same place, and that's exactly ten clicks of loosening😁.

[@s3vR3x]

dude, any time i have any e46 question, i find a video of you explaining it thoroughly. cant thank you enough. great vids. i watch them often!

[@50sKid]

Thanks for watching!

[@patrickwesterhoff4361]

God bless you for making this video, my e- brake is literally junk and I need to do this!

[@mhvdm]

Mine does 10 damn clicks and still doesn't hold the car in an small uphill

[@benoaktv]

To tighten: Left side-move towards back of the car Right side-move towards front of the car

[@Gamrin]

Heads up, someone did a wonky replacement on my car, and I had to move the right side towards the back of the car. It's worth paying attention to the direction of your adjuster.

[@miloregnix_vlogs293]

I guess this is for left hand drive cars

[@alexng704]

8'46" "I think I am gonna leave my car on the jack stands and ride my bike to the auto part store... " LOL, gotta love this line

[@random_cube5440]

If you didn't have second car, ye, you need to go by foot or bike

[@diegabe4166]

@@random_cube5440 fr??

[@random_cube5440]

@@diegabe4166 nah man. I was joking

[@jamesmx7]

I don't often comment on KZbin but I feel compelled to thank you for having the best e46 instructional channel. Thanks from the UK!

[@50sKid]

thanks, man!

[@adycooke5925]

This is just the perfect channel. Having had my E46 330ci for a year now, this had brought the kid out in me. I used to work on my cars years ago but time and age meant i just left it to the garage. Now after finding your channel i now do most myself. The satisfaction and not to mention the money saved from not having garage bills is immense. Thank you so much for all your work in sharing your knowledge. This is like the Bible to me. Keep it up

[@JanetDiaz6152]

I'm a female and i work on my BMW 2003 325I and thanks to all your vids and the E46 fanatic forum for helping me..

[@peterrobson51]

Just EXCELLENT !!!! Thanks. Listening to your videos will save any BMW owner (E46 plus others models) a small fortune, and prevents giving a few paychecks to the local BMW Dealers and expensive repair garages. Owning a wonderful E46 can be expensive, but they are great cars, and we can minimize our basic maintenance costs by listening to videos like your. Thanks again...

[@nenorv11]

Jason, your instruction never gets old. Thanks buddy.

[@taylorgreerphotography4378]

man, i love your videos, super informative and not a single step missed. also the camera angles and lighting are on point! keep doing you man!

[@nicholasfloyd370]

Superb. Precise and to the point. Unlike others how really just talk nonsense. Well done Kid. ...

[@LboogieG12]

just adjusted mine today on my E30. parking brake works perfect again. great tutorial. saved myself $$$. thanks again for the informative vid @50skid !

[@1riwa]

I did this fix successfully the day after your post. You mentioned all the important details. I was well overdue on this one. The wife trusted the parking brake about two weeks ago outside the store. She later found it leveraging in a nearby ditch.

[@50sKid]

Oooph, that's a bad day. Glad I could help out!

[@MongooseTacticool]

Oh dear! I always leave my BMW in gear. I've owned 3, live in a hilly place and the handbrakes are poor in general.

[@1riwa]

Mongoose556 feel free and try giving my wife such instructions.

[@MongooseTacticool]

@@1riwa I know right? :) Good luck!

[@jikwag3415]

You are a master at your craft even if this is a personal hobby. One of the best channels on KZbin. I wish all informative youtubers are as thorough as you on their craft. God bless!!

[@tiberiuradu2996]

Thanks Sir. You have saved my day. Your way of explaining it is just perfect. Chapeau!

[@RoleyChiu]

Thanks for making your e46 vids. Very useful information and I will be using this as reference for my adjustments this weekend. Thanks again 50s kid.

[@Doc1670]

I had two problems on my e46 and ended up finding both solutions on ur videos. Thank you so much

[@driveandsurvive]

Thanks 50s Kid. Did this job today and should have watched your video first as I didn't put enough tension on the park brake cable on the second notch. It's holding a lot better but not good enough, so back onto the stands tomorrow. I would recommend having the park brake warning light adjusted to illuminate on the first notch. As brake drag can heat up your small park brake pads and cause them to expand and drag harder - wearing out the thin pads quite quickly.

[@bobvansand6346]

Great thanks, you answered my doubt in which way to turn...now i saw clearly that the adjuster is sort of a rocketshape that points in the air, and u have to them clockwise, on eather side to expand the break, thats my way to get it my brain...you explained it good in yr words, driverside away from the car, passengerside in the other direction, very clear display bro! Thx bob from belgium!

[@austinmoshiogola]

I will definitely work on this tomorrow. Thanks for all the tips. Totally informative and helpful.

[@vviiper]

This video couldn't have been posted at a better time, I literally need to do this myself. Thanks!

[@donroome3789]

you is the man ever time my 2.8ci 2000 reg has a little problem you got a vid for it 9 times out of 10 with out you the e46 car world would be lost,big thanks to you please keep it up

[@andyg9421]

You Sir are a legend this has to be the best explained video! Thank you.

[@DavidB-rx3km]

A good tip for finding the adjuster with the brake caliper on, is to sight it through the nut hole with a torch, and then make a line in white paint on the caliper aligned to the adjuster ring., so you'll always know where it is.

[@joemeschke]

Well done! Thanks for showing how to properly do this with easy instructions!

[@muredamitten]

Very helpful video as always! I was able to get my CCV system and OFHG replaced with the help of your awesome videos, this is next! Thank you for what you do!!

[@ilzak]

Perfect video. Well explained, well shown absolutly no questions left.

[@Ochtone]

Your videos on e46s are without doubt the best

[@hariseldon144]

I've done this a few times, but keep forgetting which way to tighten...so thank you very much!

[@AD-cn2uw]

Thank you so much for the informative videos , you explain everything in such great detail . If ever I need to know how do do something I often watch your videos . Great job thank you .

[@adaohd2538]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I am fixing many things in my 328 thanks to your videos... thank you very much for your good will to teach us

[@duckiehoot4831]

Good bless your soul kid ! You save me over 900 dollars to change my cooling system as well my brakes! Your awesome.

[@hectorheath9742]

Many thanks, nice and clear. This explains why my friendly garage only charged me $13 to adjust the parking brake.

[@albertmoyeskin7841]

I had to take off the brake disc so I could manipulate the adjuster. I just could not see it and adjust it with accuracy through the tiny hole. But thank you for the terrific instructional video. Much appreciation for your time and efforts!

[@Puterized]

Beautiful video man. Quick, clear, precise Thank you :-)

[@condemn1214]

Thanks 50s kids! I love your videos. I’ve fixed mine. Works well!

[@chrismartin_101]

Thank you for the video. It took me 1 and a half hours to complete this job, seems to work just fine.

[@dmitrygear]

One of my E46s needs exactly this! Thanks man!

[@lefora87]

clean and quick job,,,awesome mechanic and helper you are👌

[@madjoemak]

quick note: When doing the final adjustment make sure the transmission is in neutral otherwise, as you saw in the video, when you spin one wheel, the other wheel also spinns. This means that the first wheel you adjust will work but the second one will seem like its already in the perfect position because youre actually feeling the brake on the other side! Just remember to put in back in gear when lowering the car back down.

[@reggierws]

Great job! Going to do this over the weekend.

[@vw_mods_4711]

Great vid, many thanks just did mine the shoe material had completely came off the metal just swapped them and adjusted my handbrake thanks to this tutorial 👊👊👊

[@jomamma1271]

What an easy and well explained video. Thank you so much.

[@Guanakito503fcb]

Thank you much 50skid thanks to you i was able to tackle this job today😬

[@gregfogle]

Great video! Thank you! I will say on my 2003 330ci the passenger side adjuster needed to be turned opposite from what you showed. I was having issue adjusting so I took off the disc and observed. Sure enough I was turning the wrong way. Wish my Jeep was this easy.

[@50sKid]

I do mention in the video that you need to turn the passenger side the opposite way from the driver side. I show both in this video. If yours was not like that, it's possible somebody put the adjuster in backward.

[@TheCowgirlNiamh]

Best DIY I've seen on this Jason!

[@50sKid]

Thanks! ;-)

[@sbmallik2]

You made this real easy!! Thank a ton!

[@wirenchangoer4101]

Thanks voor making this video. My handbrake has to go 4 or even 5 notches too stop the car from moving on a slope. Gonna do this DIY shortly.

[@yehiagenina]

Thanks alot for your detailed DIY .. that was really helpful

[@russdevey9129]

Many thanks buddy!! Clear and concise. Top video!!

[@ThomasADH]

Huge thanks from Bordeaux, France !

[@crack2595]

really good video men, congrats and thank you!!!

[@willager5569]

This matches the BMW TIS instructions to a T. Great video!

[@Fantic156]

Many thanks! I know it's a while since you made this video, but thanks. I made a booboo and put the adjuster on upside down, so thought you'd got it wrong with the direction to turn it! Happy to say it was my mistake .. 😜 Incidentally, changed discs/Rotors, brake pads and handbrake shoes and cables all as one. The wheels don't turn absolutely freely when everything is new!! I'm taking it apart again next week for a wheel bearing change so will have more miles by then and I'll change the adjusters so they're to spec!!

[@brettsmrz9072]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. Very helpful to me.

[@nannuk321]

Brilliant!! Very helpful and well explained. :)

[@shahzeboy1609]

thank you, my handbrake is trash, I park my car on a slight hill and have to rely on the transmission and dont want to do that anymore, cant beleave the shop's quoted me $100 for this easy as hell adjustment, thanks

[@nickknight8065]

Very well done, 50s

[@feliperh]

Many thanks for your helpful videos!! :)

[@chris-oy9jn]

Your videos are awsome.

[@marcoaurelio6941]

This kid needs to do this !! thanks uncle!!

[@bagofspanners72]

Brilliant video.. very helpful as always. 👍

[@duskshadowpaws4434]

I could not have found this video at a better time, I recently bought myself a 316ti and the handbrake is so bad that I nearly hit people rolling back down a hill

[@jeffbirrell9529]

You are the bomb. Again, saved me large $. Thanks!

[@cparente7]

Thanks much for this useful DIY video

[@HI_grade]

Love your videos, very detailed

[@jayb6769]

Thanks 1000 times, been watching your vids since i purchased my 02 e46 coupe, your advice, knowledge, recommendations have been phenomenal. Ive done countless repairs with the help of the videos you posts. Very thorough. Thanks a 1000 times. Boston, Ma, says Hi!

[@mustangj0hn]

Thanks so much for that video, spot on buddy, cheers.

[@DonBMW]

Just finished this job. Fought the star for a little bit as it would not move more than 2 clicks. Disassembled the brake drum to find the star wheel rusty and seized. Cleaned it up and lubed w copper grease. Adjustment was a snap after that!

[@HI_grade]

Your the man, you make the best videos

[@louisbryant2302]

Thank you for such a good tutorial

[@TheBrokenBMW]

Thanks for info :) will have a go myself later today!

[@blackpassenger]

excellent, many thanks. ive always wondered how to do this

[@danielsalazarprieto8338]

Great video like always. Just in case I looked the calibration in the e46 manual and it's correct 👍

[@chentfds]

thank you! clear and good indications, nice!

[@austinfic166]

Thanks man helped me do it on my 01’ 330i e46, I did one side perfect but had troubles its the other side when i change my breaks ill perfect the tricky side

[@markowen2128]

50's Kid: Thank God you're not a lazy Gen X'er or Millennial cause if/when one of them would do this video, they wouldn't bother to remove the brake rotor to reveal the adjustment wheel/spring mechanism and now I don't need to 'visualize' it in my mind! Good stuff! Thanks Kid!

[@hl5557]

🙌🙌🙌 thank you, worked on my car!!

[@TedSchoenling]

Disk brake grease is good also a good anti-squeal compound on the pads help dampen vibrations.

[@rembson]

Thanks for this. Super clear stuff.

[@spotlesscarpetcleaningmove1348]

Great job,thanks for this video

[@emilsbernans7308]

Thanks a lot. very useful video 👍

[@utahyork3338]

I'll do this this weekend. I pull my brake lever all the way up and on a steep incline the car will slowly roll back if not in gear. Thanks for the info.

[@seancrocker2796]

Man, you are teaching me stuff.

[@NoToBigBro]

Thanks for this video. Subscribed.

[@danielsetareh3513]

Just finished! Thanks!

[@LboogieG12]

@50skid awesome video cant wait to adjust mine. i'm assuming this is the same for an E30?

[@henrylj2660]

for that brake chatter you need the oem brake shoe/pad shims they are those metal retainers that come with the pads. I think that'll do it or look brake pads that come with good ones!

[@gegervary]

Thanks for the help! Does it matter if the gear adjuster sits the other way? Yours facing down but I put mine on with the gear on the top side. Also, what is the idea of loosening the cables from inside the parking brake booth?

[@roxanasantiago6838]

thank u 👍👍

[@perspolis1818]

Jason is a legend

[@DexStory04]

Thank You for video! I was struglle 4 hours and no way to put back The spring😅

[@OldCrow3V]

Thanks for this video. Got my ebrake working again in my 2001 330ci. I can park on my driveway now! LoL

[@timwilliams2302]

Good video as always

[@antonyskrebys5466]

50’s kid HERO!

[@chadriddle3517]

Outstanding tutorial! What I wanna know is how does your wheels spin so easily?! Even with rotor off mine have resistance in neutral?

[@sakthitharankaneshalingam5962]

good explained. Thanks

[@ThunderbirdRocket]

Super helpful ! Thanks

[@EnergyShotStudios]

Hi! Great vid. Does this work on the e39?