[Omghi2u]

For the past few weeks, with cooler weather, I notice my brake pedal wont go all the way down when starting my car. In the morning, I step on the brake, it goes down maybe a inch and feels very tight, then I push the start button next. As soon as the engine starts up, the brake pedal goes all the way down like it should. Is this normal or something I should be worried about. Happens on most mornings, and sometimes in the afternoon. Occurs with or without handbrake on, and on flat even ground. car appears to be normal besides that startup issue. its a e92 335i steptronic.

[kociol80]

it happens to me too, and I was about to ask the same question. I hope that helps.

[Wires]

I'm going to say it's normal. Mine does the same.

[3lusive]

I think it's normal. There's a brake mechanism that allows the brake to depress fully when the car is on, kinda like a spring system. When the car is off, you can depress the brake but then when you come back up the air cannot escape the system so the brake pedal cannot be depressed as much.

[VanM3Lover]

Have you driven any cars before? This is NOT because of cold mornings, it's the way it is, before you start the engine up the hydraulic system is not working.

[UberClean]

I dont think Ive ever been in a car that doesnt do that

[DJKhan85]

Pump the peddle whenever the engine is off and the pedal will tighten up as you mention.

[roadkillrob]

It is a defective valve and BMW will fix it as there is a SIB for it. Basically the issue is a small valve that maintains some vacuum after the car is shut off so that you have some power assists when you press the brake after the engine is off and the car sits. The defective valve lets the vacuum bleed off and then the peddle feels very hard when you go to press it the next day. Mine was fine for almost 2 years and then started doing it - there is an updated part, or if you are off warranty, it is $20 and easy to install yourself.

Rob

[Omghi2u]

I drove many cars before and never experances this before. Besides, I got this e92 for almost two years now, and it just started doing this recently. Is this SIB a big deal? dont have anything schdule for my car, and I dont want to drop my car off for a day to fix this if its not prioity.

[C.D.335xi]

The SIB can be found here http://www.bmwtis.com/tsb/bulletins/...p/B340607g.htm

Refer to it/bring a copy with you when you discussing the issue with your service department.

If you search the forum for "brake booster" you will see that for some people replacing the check valve didn't solve the problem - they had to have the entire brake booster replaced.

[Omghi2u]

Thanks for the info, I am still under warranty, guess its time to give my SA a visit with the sib printout.

[Omghi2u]

Bump and update

So I took the car in couple months ago and they confirm the problem plus changed the valve. Anyways, the same issue came back a week later and I just left it as is since.

Recently, my hpfp was dying, so I took it in for replacement, but I took it to another dealership. I brought up this brake issue to them, and they claim this is normal. They even got the foreman inspect it and said its normal for it to be stiff before engine start. My only problem is, ITS INCONSISTENT! If its suppose to stiff like this dealership said, then it should be like that all the time, not some times! they had the car for 2 days, and of couse it wasnt stiff for them, but once i picked the car up, it got stiff agian.

This issue is annoying

[3lusive]

Maybe it has to do with how you leave the car...After you turn the car off (press the stop button) do you pump the brake once or twice?

And even if it is sometimes stiff before the car starts, does it start normally nonetheless?

[Omghi2u]

I do not touch the brakes once i shut her down. here is what i usually do, get to my spot, while stepping on brake, i put the car on park, let brakes go, push and hold the start button for 3 secs to shut her down completely. never touch the brakes afterward.

when i get back to the car, i'll step on the brake, if its stiff, itll go down maybe a inch, push start button and the brakes will then unstiff and go all the way down. once its up and running, no other problems, works like it should. like i said, its inconsistent, which worries me with all the gas padel chaos that toyota is going though

[JFU]

Normal =)

[cn555ic]

Mine has been doing it since the first winter I purchased the car...Have to press the brake harder than normal to start but its not a problem...Its normal to me now and it doesn't bother me as much as when I first bought the car!

[NiVeDh]

Every car I've ever driven does this. It's normal.

[cfabluenose]

Does it really matter as long as the car starts and the brakes operate and feel normal once the car is running?

[hipnotic]

normal

[JayReplay]

its normal. and most other cars are the same.

[3lusive]

Originally Posted by cfabluenose

Does it really matter as long as the car starts and the brakes operate and feel normal once the car is running?

+1
I push the start/stop button for a half a second and it shuts off.

Try not holding it for so long? I seriously doubt it will make a dif though.

[Firefly6]

+1
Just a cold weather thing.

... like the chiming snowflakes and the ejecting headlight washer nozzles.