[michaelalex17]

i just read somewhere and i am not sure if this is true or not, but it said the drying brake function only works when the wipers are on the fastest setting (not auto). not sure if this is true or not, but i only use auto so maybe that is why i am having this issue.

[Goat Rodeo]

I have the same problem on a 2008.

When driving in heavy rain on the highway, initial application of brakes (even very light) causes the car to want to go 2 ft. to the right. It is very scary. Pumping the brakes and gripping the wheel eliminates the issue after about the third brake application. Issue will then present itself ten minutes later.

Seems it affects many more X-drive models than the 3-series, X1 too:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=672290

also:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...15&postcount=5

[psmitty95]

Pretty sure i've had the same thing happen too...

[MDecals]

Possibly caused by improper alignment, different tire pressure between your tires or maybe even a difference in tread or wear.

[evoix]

my friends car did the same thing and one of his calipers was sticking and gripping more than the other. He changed the caliper and was fine. he sold so idk how well it held up

[firemanjust1]

My car would end up pulling to the right under at first hard braking, then it progressed any time used the brake, ended up being lower control arm bushings.

[pits200]

I think a couple things we can rule out are:

1.) Alignment. This is not a slight drift to one side or the other on brake, it is a hard pull on initial braking and only in wet weather. If it was an alignment it would happen no matter the weather. Also, we'd hear about this issue on the i models if it was alignment.

2.) Tires. Just as above, since this issue seems to be limited to xi models I'd imagine we'd be hearing about this problem on the i models also.

So we need to figure out why this only happens on xi models. I think this is something we should file with the nhsta since it could be catastrophic if someone were driving the car and wasn't prepared for this kind of pull.

[Goat Rodeo]

Originally Posted by MDecals

Possibly caused by improper alignment, different tire pressure between your tires or maybe even a difference in tread or wear.

I see this repeated in the threads I can find on this issue but I highly doubt this is the cause.

I have a recent alignment, all matching tires purchased at the same time, good pads and rotors all in great condition. Dry braking is perfect and wet braking is fine after pumping the brakes -- the only issue is the initial brake application.

My car (2008 335xi) jumps one to two feet to the right under light brake application on the highway in the wet. It is dramatic and I have never experienced this with any other vehicle.

From what I have read this has been a cause of major discussion on French and German BMW forums, starting with E46 X-drive models to present.

[Chad20]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

Alignment, Tire Pressure.. for starters.

Otherwise, you have a very interesting situation. Possibly just related to the conditions of the road, i.e. maybe less water on one tire vs another, causing a rapid reduction in braking force on one side vs another. Eh?

On point with this one. My alignment is slightly off and tire pressure was low just filled up the tires. These cars are very sensitive to these kinds of things

[riguy]

Just to chime in here, mine has done the same thing since day 1. It did it twice on my drive home last night, the car really lurches to the side. I thought I was going to hit the guy next to me. Fine when dry, only when the car/tires are wet and only if I haven't touched the brakes in awhile.

So I guess no has had any success getting this fixed? My lease end in October...thinking I'll just continue to live with it.

[Sparafucile]

OK, there are a few things we can rule out -- to a 100% level of certainty:

1) It's not an alignment issue: This problem is only apparent during *initial* braking in very wet road conditions. If it were an alignment issue, not only would it evidence tiself during dry road conditions, it would occur during *every* braking attempt -- not just the first one (after 5+ minutes of no-braking).

2) It's not a road-condition / tire / inflation issue: Same reason as #1.

3) It's not a wear-related issue. In addition to the observation in #1, a number of people have reported this behavior "from day one".


So what might it be? Let's run through the symptoms I observe:

- Hard pull to the right on initial braking in wet-to-very-wet road conditions.
- Happens at all speeds (though most terrifying at high speed)
- No standing water. Varied road conditions.
- No pull (at all) on immediate second-braking attempts, or with sustained braking.
- Applying light brake pressure periodically (manually heating and drying the brakes) eliminates the problem.
- Happens with wipers on, off, on full, on auto, and every other setting.

My suspicion: Any brake-drying system appears to not be symmetric in its operation, by either bad design, insufficient outgoing QC, or component failure, and there's no sensor-based indication that corrects it.

BMW - **WHERE ARE YOU** ????

This appears to be a known problem, that is potentially deadly!! Worst, it's a problem that surfaces when a driver can least-afford to encounter one -- at-speed in wet weather.

[My Ride - '08 335x1 sedan]

[Philip.mongeon]

Hey guys, new to the forum, was looking for answers with regards to the uneven braking and steering sway (lurching).

One thing that i did notice this morning (heavy rain, where normally the car is all over the place).... I disabled traction control... well H0LY Sh!t, no more steering sway, no more brake lurching... the car is driving the way IT SHOULD.

Spoke to BMW service, they have yet to get back to me, but i think the issue may be related to some kind of loss of calibration in the traction control system... Thoughts ?

[Sparafucile]

Great observation! I can't wait for the next sustained rain to add your observation to my testing.

[frenchi]

Seems to be an old thread, but maybe will be useful for members, my friend is sale manager Bmw France and they are aware of the problem - drying brake function only works when the wipers are on AUTO not fast or slow.... strange but this is how it works and programming was not possible at least on my XI. So I used them only on auto and problem almost disappear!!! At least you can try

[fructus]

Reviving this old thread. Just wanted to see if anyone was able to definitively identify what exactly is causing this issue. Would disabling DCT improve handling in the wet? It is very unsettling when it happens and makes it regret not getting an S5 instead. I remember my S4 was like a tank through any weather at any speed.

[zipstic]

The forecast here in Minneapolis calls for some rain tomorrow (although it keeps changing) so I'm going to try going DTC and see what happens.

I have the same symptoms as others have posted:

1) When traveling on the highway at higher speeds the car pulls to one side (can't remember which side or if it varies) when I initially hit the brakes with some force.

2) When traveling on the highway at higher speeds if I gently touch the brakes and then a few seconds later hit the brakes with the same force as I did above, the car will not pull to one side.

3) This does not happen in dry or slightly wet conditions.

4) Car has non-runflat summer tires.

5) PSI is good all around.

6) Wipers are in Auto mode

7) Seemingly no alignment issues from what I can tell. (i.e. tracks straight and tire wear is normal.)

[zipstic]

Just to give an update, it did rain yesterday, but it was a light rain. Therefore, I didn't get an opportunity to test DTC.

[Bulldog_335xi]

I hate this and have just learned to live with it. Each lurch either side can get your hearth beating. Only in heavy rain. There is an old post that discusses this.

I have not read all of the responses here but I remember this is to do with the brake drying system on the xi. Someone here had no luck fixing it with the dealer either.

If you simply pump the brake every now and then, they will be there ready and functional when needed.

[fructus]

Yes, I find lightly touching the brakes helps. It really sucks that this is occurring and is ignored by BMW.

[zipstic]

Bumping this thread.

Anyone have any solutions they have found that work?

I've tried DTC a couple times. It may have helped slightly, but the symptoms are still present.

[ucdbiendog]

also interested in results here.

[xray1]

I had the same issue on my 09 335xi tonight. I've had before but seemed to be more severe tonight. Has anyone been able to identify root cause?