The BMW E36 designation is comprised of the entire BMW 3 series lineup from 1992 through 1998. Like all cars, E36s are equipped with a number of required safety devices including the emergency brake. The emergency brake system is controlled by a brake lever located between the seats that operates an individual brake on each of the rear wheels. The emergency brake is necessary when parking on steep grades to prevent rolling, as well as a backup should your primary brakes fail while driving.
Locate the emergency brake lever between the seats and separate the leather boot from the center console by firmly pulling the boot up and over the lever to expose the inner workings. You will see two nuts on opposite sides of the bottom of the brake lever facing rearward; these are the adjustment nuts. The left nut adjusts the left wheel brake; the right nut adjusts the right wheel.
Lift the parking brake lever and take note of where it stops. It should not exceed a 45-degree angle.
Adjust both nuts equally using a 12-mm wrench until the lever tightens at about 25 or 30 degrees. This adjustment point will prevent you from over- or under-adjusting the emergency brake. There should be little or no tension for the first 15 degrees of pull, then a gradually increasing resistance as you approach the 25 to 30 degree mark.
