Electronic Handbrake

Scot22

For me it's been an invaluable post.  I will no longer discount a car because of electronic handbrake but look more into operation.  I'm still by default a simple person.

Car_54

dipsomaniac said:

So the conclusion is good when/if you get accustomed.  expensive when it goes wrong or you need to change pads/discs

I've read nothing to suggest "expensive when it goes wrong". And the pad/disc issue seems to be only with an older Passat, and that didn't seem to be related to the handbrake.

dipsomaniac

Car_54 said:

dipsomaniac said:

So the conclusion is good when/if you get accustomed.  expensive when it goes wrong or you need to change pads/discs

I've read nothing to suggest "expensive when it goes wrong". And the pad/disc issue seems to be only with an older Passat, and that didn't seem to be related to the handbrake.

Most people will accept that the system is more complicated so will be more expensive to diagnose and repair. I am assuming you will need software to diagnose the handbrake problem rather than just replace a manual cable (£1.16 eurocarparts for my galaxy) and a electric motor is a lot more expensive than a cable. (I have not replaced the handbrake cable in the 18 years I've had my car)

Changing discs/pads on a car with a manual handbrake is easy.  If you need software to change the discs/pads on a car with electric handbrake it will incur an extra charge and put off a lot of people from doing the job themselves. Disc & pads change (front & rear) cost me £65 recently

Gsaver1

Cost wise for the Passat B6 for me was just under £1000. My uncle had a 15 plate Golf with an electric handbrake. He asked for a quote if it failed and it was £3000. After hearing that he sold it while it still had some manufacturers warranty left on it.

splishsplash

I had an electric handbrake on my last car - a citroen c4 picasso, bought new and kept it for 10 years. 
The handbrake failed and i was quoted huge money to repair it (about €1400 IIRC).  The car developed another problem around the same time so I never got it repaired - just traded it in on my current car. 

I wouldn't be keen on another one, I found I kept forgetting to apply the manual handbrake on my current car for a very long time.