F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > Technical Forums > Suspension | Chassis | Brakes > Low speed complete brake failure. pedal locked & no braking?
Extreme Powerhouse
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      05-20-2013, 01:36 PM   #1
sqweak
Private
United_States
7
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: 2013 328i M-Sport
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Westside, SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Low speed complete brake failure. pedal locked & no braking?

My wife spent Saturday in the 328i for her first extended seat time. She told me when she got home that she was upset and distrusting of the car after the brakes acted weird on her in a parking lot. The best that she could verbalize is that they stopped working when she was in a parking lot pulling into a spot, and as a result she wasn't able to stop before the front end scraped over a parking block.

I didn't understand what she was talking about and was preoccupied this weekend at the track in my other car. This morning, I stopped for breakfast at a drive thru and experienced what must have happened to her.

While going at low speed stop and go, on two seperate occasions separated by just a few moments, the brakes completely and totally failed on me. Stepping on the pedal gave a completely rock hard pedal, with no to minimal travel at all. (There are no floor mats installed, or anything else that could be stuck under the pedal) The car slowly creeped to a stop, it was like the brakes were just barely applied. Pushing harder gave no additional travel or stopping power, neither did pumping the brakes. I almost tapped a guy ahead of me in the drive thru line when it happened the first time. The second time it happened there was nobody in front of me but it confirmed the odd behavior. After getting out of the drive thru I tried a few more stops and the behavior return to normal long pedal travel/stopping power.

I'm sure I don't have to say that this is exceptionally concerning behavior on a brand new car with less than 400 miles on it. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I tried searching but didn't see any results that seemed to echo this symptom. I will get it into the dealer ASAP.
__________________
Current: 2013 F30 328i M-Sport 8AT (daily) | 2012 997 Targa 4 S (wife's daily) | 1976 911S w/ 84 3.2 (weekend/track)

Past: 2008 E90 Sparkling Graphite Metallic M3 Sedan 6MT | 2005 Boxster 5MT no options (wife) | 2008 E90 Silverstone II M3 Sedan 6MT | 2001 E46 M3 Cab 6MT

Last edited by sqweak; 05-20-2013 at 03:02 PM..
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2013, 01:39 PM   #2
scott@bmwhn
Major
131
Rep
1,245
Posts

Drives: Msport X3
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Houston

iTrader: (3)

wow this is the first I've heard of this...not good. I assume your bringing it to your nearest dealership to be diagnosed, keep us updated.
__________________
03' 525iT stick, 22' 530i

Previous: 20' X3 M40i, 19' 740i Msport, 17' 430i GC, 15' Msport X3 28i, 15' Sportline X1 28i, 13' Msport 328i, 09' Msport 335i, 07' Msport 335i
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2013, 03:58 PM   #3
mikew2069
Lieutenant Colonel
mikew2069's Avatar
413
Rep
1,975
Posts

Drives: F30 335i MSport
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Houston

iTrader: (2)

There was another thread a while back w/ a similar issue but the guy was driving at a moderately slow speed and had to crash into a tree or something.
__________________
2013 F30 335i ///M-Sport
Forgestar/Challenge/BMS JB4
Wagner/Evo Race/M-Performance
2016 F15 50i ///M-Sport
BM3/H&R/Borla
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2013, 04:21 PM   #4
ScarecrowBoat
Zooombie attaaack!!
ScarecrowBoat's Avatar
United_States
136
Rep
1,179
Posts

Drives: 328
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Santa Monica

iTrader: (2)

Yeah couple people complaining about hard pedal, one guy said his brakes failed and he "had to drift into a tree". Your issue seems to be similar to the other guys though, I think they had a booster replaced or something.
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2013, 09:39 PM   #5
sqweak
Private
United_States
7
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: 2013 328i M-Sport
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Westside, SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Can anyone provide links to the other threads where this has been reported?

It happened 3 more times on my less than 1> mile drive home. Observations:

It's always a low speed, multiple use/feathering of the brakes. Once coming out of my office garage and creeping out of the driveway. The second time turning left at a non-arrow green, requiring creeping out into the intersection to turn.

After the second occasion, the engine restarted so I thought it may be connected to A.S.S. so I turned it off. I couldn't then reproduce it at a stop sign or pulling into my complex driveway and waiting for the gate to open. Unfortunately, it happened again just a few moments later (with A.S.S. still deactivated) as I pulled into a parking spot and creeped forward while watching PDC display.

I am calling my CA at the dealership first thing in the morning. I'm not pleased to have to take a 2 week old car in on a major safety issue that sounds like it may be part of a pattern of similar issues.
__________________
Current: 2013 F30 328i M-Sport 8AT (daily) | 2012 997 Targa 4 S (wife's daily) | 1976 911S w/ 84 3.2 (weekend/track)

Past: 2008 E90 Sparkling Graphite Metallic M3 Sedan 6MT | 2005 Boxster 5MT no options (wife) | 2008 E90 Silverstone II M3 Sedan 6MT | 2001 E46 M3 Cab 6MT
Appreciate 0
      05-21-2013, 09:12 AM   #6
ScarecrowBoat
Zooombie attaaack!!
ScarecrowBoat's Avatar
United_States
136
Rep
1,179
Posts

Drives: 328
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Santa Monica

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by sqweak View Post
Can anyone provide links to the other threads where this has been reported?

It happened 3 more times on my less than 1> mile drive home. Observations:

It's always a low speed, multiple use/feathering of the brakes. Once coming out of my office garage and creeping out of the driveway. The second time turning left at a non-arrow green, requiring creeping out into the intersection to turn.

After the second occasion, the engine restarted so I thought it may be connected to A.S.S. so I turned it off. I couldn't then reproduce it at a stop sign or pulling into my complex driveway and waiting for the gate to open. Unfortunately, it happened again just a few moments later (with A.S.S. still deactivated) as I pulled into a parking spot and creeped forward while watching PDC display.

I am calling my CA at the dealership first thing in the morning. I'm not pleased to have to take a 2 week old car in on a major safety issue that sounds like it may be part of a pattern of similar issues.
If what you're describing is actually happening like you say, you should not be driving your car. Have them come tow it back.
Appreciate 0
      05-21-2013, 09:34 AM   #7
sqweak
Private
United_States
7
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: 2013 328i M-Sport
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Westside, SoCal

iTrader: (0)

agreed Scarecrow. I will request a loaner be delivered and flatbad pick up my car.
__________________
Current: 2013 F30 328i M-Sport 8AT (daily) | 2012 997 Targa 4 S (wife's daily) | 1976 911S w/ 84 3.2 (weekend/track)

Past: 2008 E90 Sparkling Graphite Metallic M3 Sedan 6MT | 2005 Boxster 5MT no options (wife) | 2008 E90 Silverstone II M3 Sedan 6MT | 2001 E46 M3 Cab 6MT
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:33 AM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST