Hi all,

I have just brought a 2007 3 series convertible and I have two issues I was wondering if anyone can help me with.

First when parked on my drive way if it's in neutral with the handbrake on. It rolls back. But if it's in park it's fine. ( iv never had a automatic before) but surly it should hold no matter what? Hill or no hill park or neutral.

Secondly I have like a continuing almost like rubbing/slight grinding sound. The guy from the garage assures me it's just where it has been sat for long periods of time. But the 100 mile trip home didn't change anything. But it's not just when I apply the brake that's what gets me.

Oh and one more question! Am I ok to be putting the roof up and down on my driveway with a bit of a hill. It is flat but on a incline.

Thanks in advance.

Hi mate,

Great choice of car! shame you have a few issues (get used to them)

The parking brake on a 2007 3 series im pretty sure is an electric one (unless someone can correct me) and they are pretty poo, ive heard of lots of weird tricks to help like pumping the brake up 3 times and all sorts , you can either just pull it up HARD or you might need to get it changed, not to difficult or expensive. My hand brake is useless it does hold but it has to be right at the top.

As for the noise could you upload a recording? maybe a youtube vid of the noise, does the noise happen all the time , i.e when idling, at certain RPM , all the time, when braking.. etc..?

enjoy the new car mate

Hi, I have it booked in for a brake check at my local garage. I did try making a video but u can only hear the wind haha. That only when driving the noise happens. I'm thinking it's all down to the pads and discs. I will let you no when they have looked at it. Other than that I'm really happy with the car.

Had a similar problem with my 2007 320i, regarding a slight grinding noise, which i thought was discs and pads, turned out to be the bearings on the rear diff, quite a common problem on the 3 series, the company that repaired my are rebuilding 2 to 3 diffs a week

That doesn't sound good? Is it an expensive job?? What what do you mean by on the rear diff? Not just rear wheel bearings??

Don't know which bearings go exactly, all i can tell you is that my local gearbox specialist rebuilt my diff at a cost of just under £600

Auto boxes will not hold the car on a hill in Neutral. Only Park locks the wheels. As said before the handbrakes are not great as these have disks on the rear. The old brake shoes system always holds better on a handbrake.