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How do I use the parking brake in my BMW with BMW Operating System 7 and newer?

The parking brake is used to prevent the vehicle from rolling away when it is parked. 

 

Depending on which BMW Operating System your vehicle has, perform the following steps.

 

BMW iDrive 7 and BMW Operating System 8:

Setting the parking brake:

With a stationary vehicle:

  1. Pull the (P) switch. The LED illuminates.
  2. The indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates red. The parking brake is set. 

Use while driving serves as an emergency braking function:

  1. Pull the (P) switch and hold it. The vehicle brakes hard while the switch is being pulled.
  2. The indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates red, a signal sounds, and the brake lights illuminate.
  3. A Check Control message is displayed.
  4. The parking brake is engaged when the vehicle is stationary. 

With Emergency Stop Assistant:

  • Pull the switch briefly to activate the emergency stop function. 

 

Releasing the parking brake manually:

  1. Turn on drive-ready state.
  2. Steptronic transmission: press the switch while the brake is depressed or selector lever position P is set.
  3. The LED and the indicator light go out.
  4. The parking brake is released. 

Releasing the parking brake automatically:

  • The parking brake is released automatically when you drive off. The LED and the indicator light go out. 

 

BMW Operating System 8.5:

Setting the parking brake:

With a stationary vehicle:

  1. Pull the (P) switch. The LED illuminates.
  2. The indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates red. The parking brake is set. 

Use while driving serves as an emergency braking function:

  1. Pull the (P) switch and hold it. The vehicle brakes hard while the switch is being pulled.
  2. The indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates red, a signal sounds, and the brake lights illuminate.
  3. A Check Control message is displayed.
  4. The parking brake is engaged when the vehicle is stationary. 

Engaging the parking brake automatically:

In some situations, the parking brake is engaged automatically, e.g., through Automatic Hold. Additionally, the system can be set to automatically engaging the parking brake when the drive-ready state is turned off.

  1. Apps menu
  2. "Vehicle"
  3. "Driving settings"
  4. "Drivetrain and chassis"
  5. "Parking brake"
  6. Select the desired setting.
    • In selector lever position N, the parking brake will not be engaged automatically. 

Releasing the parking brake manually:

  1. Turn on drive-ready state.
  2. Press the (P) switch while stepping on the brake pedal or selector lever position P is set.
  3. The LED and the indicator light go out.
  4. The parking brake is released. 

Releasing the parking brake automatically:

  • The parking brake is released automatically when you drive off. The LED and the indicator light go out. 

Using the parking brake via iDrive:

The parking brake can also be engaged or disengaged via iDrive. Additionally, further information is displayed.

  1. Apps menu
  2. "Vehicle"
  3. "Driving settings"
  4. "Drivetrain and chassis"
  5. "Parking brake"
  6. Select the desired setting. 

Malfunction:

If the parking brake fails or malfunctions, secure the vehicle so that it does not roll away before you exit. A Check Control message is displayed. Secure the vehicle against rolling away, for instance with a wheel chock, after getting out of the vehicle. 

After a power interruption:

To reestablish parking brake operability after a power interruption, an initialization may be required.

  1. Turn on standby state.
  2. Pull the (P) switch while stepping on the brake pedal or selector lever position P is set and then push.
    • This process may take a few seconds. Some mechanical sounds associated with this process are normal.
    • The indicator light is no longer illuminated as soon as the parking brake is ready for operation again. 

 

BMW Operating System 9:

Setting the parking brake:

With a stationary vehicle:

  1. To engage the parking brake, press the parking brake button on the center console.
  2. The LED illuminates.
  3. The indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates red.
  4. The parking brake is engaged and transmission lock is engaged. 

While driving:
Using the parking brake while driving serves as emergency braking.

  1. To brake the vehicle, press and hold the parking brake button on the center console. The vehicle brakes hard for as long as the button is pressed.
  2. The indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates red, a signal sounds, and the brake lights illuminate.
  3. A Check Control message is displayed.
  4. The parking brake is engaged and the transmission lock is set when the vehicle is stationary. 

Engaging the parking brake automatically:

In some situations, the parking brake is engaged automatically, e.g., through Automatic Hold. To apply the parking brake automatically when drive-ready state is turned off, configure the system: 1. Go through the menu as follows via iDrive:

  1. Apps menu
  2. "Vehicle"
  3. "Driving settings"
  4. "Drivetrain and chassis"
  5. "Apply parking brake"
  6. Select the desired setting.
    • In selector lever position N, the parking brake does not engage automatically. 

Releasing the parking brake manually:

To manually release the parking brake, do as follows:

  1. Switch on drive-ready state.
  2. Push the parking brake button on the center console while pressing the brake pedal.
  3. The LED and the indicator light go out.
  4. The parking brake is released.
  5. The transmission lock remains engaged until a gear position is selected. 

Releasing the parking brake automatically:

  • The parking brake is released automatically when you drive off. The LED and the indicator light go out. 

Using the parking brake via iDrive:
The parking brake can also be engaged or disengaged via iDrive. Additional information is also displayed. Go through the menu as follows via iDrive:

  1. Apps menu
  2. "Vehicle"
  3. "Driving settings"
  4. "Drivetrain and chassis"
  5. "Apply parking brake"
  6. Select the desired setting. 

Malfunction:

If the parking brake fails or malfunctions, secure the vehicle so that it does not roll away before you exit. A Check Control message is displayed. Secure the vehicle against rolling away, for instance with a wheel chock, after getting out of the vehicle. 

After a power interruption:

To reestablish parking brake operability after a power interruption, an initialization may be required.

  1. Turn on standby state.
  2. Pull the (P) switch while stepping on the brake pedal or selector lever position P is set and then push.
    • This process may take a few seconds. Some mechanical sounds associated with this process are normal.
    • The indicator light is no longer illuminated as soon as the parking brake is ready for operation again. 
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