Why are tires that have flat spots from sitting over a year not safe to drive on?

E39 (1997 - 2003)
The BMW 5-Series (E39 chassis) was introduced in the United States as a 1997 model year car and lasted until the 2004 when the E60 chassis was released. The United States saw several variations including the 525i, 528i, 530i and 540i. -- View the E39 Wiki
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soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11
Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage 03 530i brakes locked up help please
03 bmw 530i, was driving it yesterday and the car started to viberate bad, then the car started to slow, it seems the brakes all locked up, and the car slow and then would not move. i could hit the gas and the car would not move at all. let it sit for a few hours went back to it and it drove about a mile and then the same thing happened again. a roll back came and got it, and when they winched it up on all 4 wheels were locked up. when we got to my place i was able to back it off and pull in spot but then locked up again. Any ideas of where to start looking, and what could be the problem? thanks for your help. This car has been nothing but problems, are these cars usually problematic? thanks
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rush_ad
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Location: Tampa Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 59
Mein Auto: 2003 530i
View My Garage Can you describe the lock up in detail? It is hard to believe the brakes are locking up, they are a simple mechanism.

I also have a 2003 530i and I did the brakes yesterday in fact. Are you sure it is not an engine problem?
#3
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11
Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage when the brakes start to lock, and i stop, i can press the gas and the rear tires will spin a little but it wont move. Also when the pulled it onto the roll back, it was in neutral and all 4 tires where locked up and dragged all the way up. but after it sat for 30 mins (i guess they cooled down) and it would move just a little more. hope this helps.
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cn90
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Location: Omaha NE Join Date: Mar 2006
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Mein Auto: 1998 528i 5-sp 140K+
View My Garage First thing first:
Jack each wheel up (don't remove tire), spin the tire, does it spin.

Otherwise what you described above may be a failing transmission.
#5
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
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Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage i dont think its the transmission as the front wheels are locked up and the car is rear wheel drive, so that would take the transmission out of it. i know for a fact the front wheels are locked up.
#6
cn90
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Location: Omaha NE Join Date: Mar 2006
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Mein Auto: 1998 528i 5-sp 140K+
View My Garage If it is truely locked wheels, the only thing I can think of is the caliper seals seized.
But usually this happens one caliper at a time, not all 4.
Last edited by cn90; 12-20-2011 at 08:49 AM.

#7
cn90
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Location: Omaha NE Join Date: Mar 2006
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Mein Auto: 1998 528i 5-sp 140K+
View My Garage Another thought is the Master Cylinder.
#8
rush_ad
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Location: Tampa Join Date: Nov 2011
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Mein Auto: 2003 530i
View My Garage Take off the tires and play around with the brakes. May be you can identify the problem.

Take off the pads and reinstall them...
#9
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
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Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage also when they lock up, the pedal is VERY VERY HARD. can only push it maybe a 1/2-1"
#10
Fudman
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Location: Sudbury, MA Join Date: Apr 2007
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Mein Auto: '02 530i Sport auto
View My Garage Pull your codes. It might be ABS related.
#11
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
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Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage tried the codes, and no codes...
#12
cn90
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Location: Omaha NE Join Date: Mar 2006
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Mein Auto: 1998 528i 5-sp 140K+
View My Garage Quote:
Originally Posted by soloblazer
also when they lock up, the pedal is VERY VERY HARD. can only push it maybe a 1/2-1" Buy a new Master Cylinder. #13
bluebee
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Location: San Jose, California Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 25,236
Mein Auto: 02 BMW 525i M54 auto 130K
View My Garage Quote:
Originally Posted by soloblazer
i know for a fact the front wheels are locked up. If 'my' front wheels were locked up, the very first thing I would do is jack up the car, & spin the wheels by hand.

Then, I'd remove the wheels, and spin the rotor by hand and take a good look at what's happening.

If I still needed information, I'd have a light person sit in the vehicle to gently press on the brakes as I spun the wheels

What happened when you did that?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fudman
Pull your codes. It might be ABSrelated. Just one caveat: Not all ABS faults show an error code using a 'typical' run-of-the-mill code scanner.

One test of the ABS that 'might' work is simply to disconnect the ABS control module harness to see if that changes anything.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cn90
Buy a new Master Cylinder. I don't disagree that it could be the master cylinder ... but wouldn't that usually affect all four wheels? Last edited by bluebee; 12-20-2011 at 10:29 AM.
#14
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
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Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage Just to clear things up, all 4 wheels lock up when this happens...
#15
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
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Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage just looked at codes and have the p0600 code only.. any ideas?
#16
bluebee
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Location: San Jose, California Join Date: Mar 2008
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Mein Auto: 02 BMW 525i M54 auto 130K
View My Garage Quote:
Originally Posted by soloblazer
just looked at codes and have the p0600 code only.. any ideas? I, for one, don't memorize Pcodes, especially since some are specific to the engine computer model, version, & date.

What's the description for the P0600 fault code for your particular engine computer? #17
cn90
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Location: Omaha NE Join Date: Mar 2006
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Mein Auto: 1998 528i 5-sp 140K+
View My Garage Quote:
Originally Posted by soloblazer
just looked at codes and have the p0600 code only.. any ideas? Have you tried google?

Kind of sounds like a front end alignment needed.

Things to check (in order of likelihood):

1. Fluid level and condition in rear differential;
2. Drive shaft center bearing;
3. Rear outer bearings;
4. Front bearings (have they been packed with grease in the past three years?);
5. U-Joints
6. Tires (separating tread, flat spots, etc.)

The vehicle has probably been stationary for over a year if there are flat spots. But flat spots do not make the vehicle completely unsafe to drive. So long as the tires are not flat you may drive it slowly; keep it under 60 km/h (40 mph) and buy some new tires. Once you hit that speed the vibration will remind you to keep it slow.

Thump + hiss, moving, is a very bad sign.
why not get the car inspected by an ASE tech, mech.
?????
we can not do noise here. only real ears, (in stereo) work.
and lots of other checks.
get is serviced , it might not be safe to drive it.
or is about ready to have a cascade failure.

You might be able to pour a small amount of fuel in carb. A little at at time to get it primed. Once started get some fuel system cleaner into fuel to clear out any condensation and build up from sitting. Other things - do an oil change, check steering and suspension bushings, replace fuel filter, pull and visually inspect spark plugs, let car fully warm up before attempting to move - let transmission fully warm up and change trans fluid at earliest convenience, Make sure tires are safe- pressure and check for weather cracking and flat spots. Check all belts and hoses. This should get you started.

Check your tires, you may have a bad tire and make sure it's at proper tire pressure 32psi. Also check all the linkage like the sway bar end links, the bushings could be worn and moving around. Best thing to do is spend some money and have a tire shop rebalanced the wheels $15.00 each at most places and have them inspect the front suspension for any damaged or worn parts causing the noise you have. You can try rotating the front to rear wheels to see if the noise moves from the front to the rear to eliminate the tires as the cause of the noise, just make sure there all at 32psi. Good luck and be safe.

Have your tires checked for flat spots. My Car does the same and i hade the same work done and is still shakin. The guys at the garage found a flat spot on one of my rear tires which was the cause. Good Luck.

This could be one of three things , either you have an alignment issue , bad suspension parts or just the lack of tire rotation. If the flat spots are at an angle from outside edge to inside edge then the problem is with your rear struts. If the flat spots are either on the out side edge or inside edge then the you have an alignment issue. If the flat spot are consistent all around the tire then you have a tire balance issue or bad rear struts.

Replace all your fluids including the gas. Even if the gas looks good it can still be bad and will make the car run horrible. Oil needs to be changed just sitting everything has broken down same with tranny fluid. Change the tires and check the suspension and the shocks. Very nice car though. Just do the normal maintance on it. Filter, oil, tranny fluid, spark plugs, tires normal