Bimmerlink failing to activate EPB service mode?

[FlyinLowSD]

2017 F06 640i. Servicing rear brakes. Turned off parking brake, plugged in BimmerLink and selected to activate EPB service mode. Heard all the correct noise for several seconds despite the fact that Bimmerlink immediately put up a red banner stating “Service mode not activated. The service mode could not be activated. Please try again.” So I tried again. Silence. Reversed everything, set parking brake, heard it wind back up again. Started whole process again and same thing.

Can I go ahead and assume that service mode was actually activated despite this red banner warning?

[Oris4]

I had this exact issue happen and if you heard all the right noises it is in fact deactivated, at least it was for me. I even tried it twice got same error but no noises so I figured I’d roll the dice and it was deactivated upon doing brake job. I believe I got a similar error when activated but again worked and is working now. If you read up this is a common issue others have hosted with various cars

[Opie55]

Same issue here. The noise is the motor running. It can't be anything else. Mine was in the correct position even though it said it was not. It has to be some bug in Bimmmerlink.

[Opie55]

And it's not hard to manually look and see if it worked. If you can move the pads away from the disc so you can easily get them out, then it worked.

[FlyinLowSD]

Thanks for your input gentlemen! I actually searched the error across the web and didn’t find a particular mention. I figured when I get in there with the piston compressor it will be pretty obvious. Had to put the whole thing on hold anyway… waiting for a slim 15 mm wrench from Amazon (!!).
Will see if I can’t send screenshots and comments to BimmerLink.
Cheers!

[arucano]

I did it a few weeks ago with my M6. heard the motors buzzing and then got the same message. The pads were fully retracted however. After replacing the pads, I put on the parking brake to wind the pads back onto the disks. Release the parking brake all was normal. Try putting on the parking brake and then do the EPB service mode activation again. You should hear the motors winding out. Check the pads to confirm they are "retracted".

[Luftpost]

I did notice the other day that my Bimmerlink had an update available, which I did. Not familiar with the above mentioned issue, or if it corrected it, but you might want to see that you have the most recent version.

L

[kgelfen360]

Hey guys I am getting same error in BimmerLink but do hear the noise of EPB unwinding? Safe to proceed ?
I event activate arrive mode in the car by pressing Start button 3 times rapidly then did BimmerLink. Heard motor unwind then error message. I then wound the epb back with BimmerLink. Got error message again restarted the car. Everything seemed fine.

Didn’t change the pads but just wanted to confirm this what’s happening?

[Opie55]

What is "arrive mode?" Never heard of that. As for you question, yes, it is working correctly so just ignore the message. But it's not an issue of being "safe" to proceed. Even if it did not work you just have to remove the parking brake motor and spin it out manually with an allen wrench.

[arucano]

I had the safe issue but the EPB was completely retracted. I went ahead based on the sound of the motors winding when I activated it. Just put on the hand brake after the job is done.

[Trelle]

Originally Posted by FlyinLowSD

Thanks for your input gentlemen! I actually searched the error across the web and didn’t find a particular mention. I figured when I get in there with the piston compressor it will be pretty obvious. Had to put the whole thing on hold anyway… waiting for a slim 15 mm wrench from Amazon (!!).
Will see if I can’t send screenshots and comments to BimmerLink.
Cheers!

Just ordered new brakes and rotors, just curious was the slim 15mm wrench needed or do you think I could get away with a normal profile wrench? Thanks!

[D'Mann]

Originally Posted by Trelle

Just ordered new brakes and rotors, just curious was the slim 15mm wrench needed or do you think I could get away with a normal profile wrench? Thanks!

I had a 5/8" sorta-slim fit that worked. It was slightly loose compared to a 15mm, but not enough to worry about. If you don't have a slim fit you might be able to use some channel locks or vice grips to hold the nut/dustcover attached washer while you loosen the guide pin.

If they used locktight on the guide pin I would recommend a slim fit wrench.

[D'Mann]

Originally Posted by D'Mann

I had a 5/8" sorta-slim fit that worked. It was slightly loose compared to a 15mm, but not enough to worry about. If you don't have a slim fit you might be able to use some channel locks or vice grips to hold the nut/dustcover attached washer while you loosen the guide pin.

If they used locktight on the guide pin I would recommend a slim fit wrench.

The thing that got me was the External Torx 16 on the rear caliper bracket. I forgot where my ET sockets were, and had to locate one.

[Bluefoz]

Originally Posted by Trelle

Just ordered new brakes and rotors, just curious was the slim 15mm wrench needed or do you think I could get away with a normal profile wrench? Thanks!

The slim 15mm spanner / wrench I use is the multi tool spanner thingy you get with bicycles (or at least you do in the U.K.!)- it’s the thin, odd shaped flat metal multi tool that’s got a range of sizes of spanner etc on it. All my “proper” spanners are too thick - all you need it for is to briefly hold the nut in place and it’s a low torque.

[SWFLf10]

Originally Posted by Trelle

Just ordered new brakes and rotors, just curious was the slim 15mm wrench needed or do you think I could get away with a normal profile wrench? Thanks!

Certain brands are just thin enough to work. I ordered a set of metric thin combo wrenches for the next time I do my own brakes or a friends, just to be safe.

[FlyinLowSD]

Originally Posted by D'Mann

I had a 5/8" sorta-slim fit that worked. It was slightly loose compared to a 15mm, but not enough to worry about. If you don't have a slim fit you might be able to use some channel locks or vice grips to hold the nut/dustcover attached washer while you loosen the guide pin.

If they used locktight on the guide pin I would recommend a slim fit wrench.

THIS.

Amazon delivery was delayed so I tried a smallish needle-nose-like vice grip that worked perfectly! Those things are so handy. Probably didn’t need to be the pointy one, though.