Genuine BMW M3 Parking Brake Cable

BMW M3 Parking Brake Cable Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Bowden Cable
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  Q:

  How to remove and install the Parking Brake Cable on BMW M3?

  Posted by Remco L.

  A:

  As you might expect, to change the parking brake components for E30 models, the vehicle must be lifted and supported, the rear tire and wheel assembly as well as the rear brake rotors must be detached. Pull the console back and remove it, you will find the bolt underneath it after lifting the rubber parking brake boot and pulling out the rear ashtray. Screw off the adjuster nuts from the cables and then take out the lever using the given securing bolts. Remove the tower return spring with brake spring pliers and release the retaining springs of the Parking Brake Shoes. Take off the parking brake, and remove the need of separation between the shoes and the backing plates before eliminating the parking brake cable. For the installation, fix the bracket for the parking brake cable, join it to the trailing arm and place the parking brake lever. Screw the cable to the spreader lock, lubricate it, and fix the brake shoes, rotors and the wheel and thereafter, realign the shoes and cables. As for E36 models, the process is quite similar, the first step being to lift the car and then to take off the rear tire, brake disks and muffler. Take off the cover from the parking brake lever, disconnect the lower return spring and the process is similar while reassembling the parking brake components. For adjustment in E30 models, you have to release a lug bolt so as to reach the star adjuster and tighten it to the point where the wheel is immobile before loosening it slightly. Center this lever and cables and check that the wheels can make a round turn though it is very hard to do so. When the lever is released, the indicator lamp should go off. As in the E30 models, it is virtually the same in E36 variants with the only difference of the angle in which the star adjuster is inserted. There are recommendations to polish the parking brake with a view of restoring its performance especially when new shoes or rotors have been fitted into it. This entails pressing the parking brake during normal speed of 25mph and then testing the parking brake's scope and efficiency of the parking brake mechanism.

  Answered by BMW Parts Specialist Adrian / Jan 22, 2026