Parked car using hand brake (standard shift car). Later (approx 2 hours later) handbrake released and car rolled into street. On another occasion, the handbrake released 1 minute after I set it (I was still in the car at the time) and was able to catch it before it rolled away.

- Bethesda, MD, USA

While driving on freeway in downtown los angeles, the rear end of the vehicle began making intermittent noises and shaking. All of a sudden there was a loud band coming from the rear end and the vehicle immediately began to slow (in heavy los angeles traffic). I was able to get the vehicle off of the freeway and pulled to the side of the road. The vehicle would only pull forward or backward for a few feet before stopping. The car was towed to the dealership, steve thomas BMW in camarillo, ca. This happened on Friday. When they finally got around to examining the vehicle on Monday, they said it wasn't covered under warranty as the rear breaks had disintegrated from the emergency brake being on. They accused me of driving the vehicle with the emergency brake on. I never use the emergency brake and am the only driver of the vehicle. The car is 5 months old and has only 5000 miles on it. I told service writer that emergency brake is never used and even if it had been, there would have been a signal and sound warning. He said he checked warning light and sound and it was working. Still accused me of driving with emergency brake on. There is something faulty with the emergency brake that caused this.

- Oxnard, CA, USA