Operating parking brake properly... Question. - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

amtex · 05-06-2012, 12:56 PM

For cars with Steptronic. When parking a car should we apply a parking brake first and then position a shifter into "P" or should we first position a selector at P and then apply a parking brake? Or may be it just doesn't matter...

Desmoduece · 05-06-2012, 01:29 PM

For me, the only time I set the park brake first the select park is when I'm on the incline at the boat ramp, and thats because I don't like the big boom as it goes into drive. I don't think there is an absolute proper way to do this but I could be wrong.

sochermit · 05-06-2012, 01:30 PM

First of all I never (seldom) use the parking brake. Only if I am on a very steep incline. But when I do use it I always apply the brake and then put it in park. Just the way I do it no rational for doing it that way. I guess I feel that the brake should hold the car rather than the transmission. But if the brake goes the trans should hold it. And for the release I put my foot on the brake, release the emergency/parking brake and then shift into gear.

XMetal · 05-06-2012, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sochermit

First of all I never (seldom) use the parking brake. Only if I am on a very steep incline. But when I do use it I always apply the brake and then put it in park. Just the way I do it no rational for doing it that way. I guess I feel that the brake should hold the car rather than the transmission. But if the brake goes the trans should hold it. And for the release I put my foot on the brake, release the emergency/parking brake and then shift into gear.

Yep...I do the same.

Foot on the brake
Put it into park
Set parking brake
Foot off the brake
Shut engine off

On startup:
Foot on the brake
Start engine
Shift into gear
Release parking brake
Foot off the brake

Golden3ye · 05-06-2012, 05:54 PM

Parking brake then shift to park

amtex · 05-06-2012, 08:16 PM

I noticed that if I select Park first and then set parking brake the car moves a little bit as there is slight slope in my garage. It makes me think that the car rests mostly on the transmission rather then on parking brakes.

sochermit · 05-07-2012, 05:19 AM

I would not think that your car would move at all after applying the parking brake.

Taipei-TT · 05-07-2012, 07:48 PM

I've always been taught to set the parking brake first...that way the weight of the car rests on the brakes, not the transmission.

I also select the gear first before releasing the parking brake.

And then I curse the fates that mean I live in a market where BMW does not offer manual cars.

FriedaTakaha · 05-07-2012, 09:15 PM

I don't think there is an absolute proper way to do this but I could be wrong

Jet in Oz · 05-14-2012, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XMetal

Yep...I do the same.

Foot on the brake
Put it into park
Set parking brake
Foot off the brake
Shut engine off

On startup:
Foot on the brake
Start engine
Shift into gear
Release parking brake
Foot off the brake

Agree 99.99% with XM

but personal preference is to switch engine off then take foot off brake (brake always first and last action in both scenarios). Any other way may place unwanted strain on the gearbox. It's also a safety thing ... just in case you thought it was in Park and it wasn't and engine still running when you took your foot off the brake (bingo bango).

StephansonTieu · 05-31-2012, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XMetal

Yep...I do the same.

Foot on the brake
Put it into park
Set parking brake
Foot off the brake
Shut engine off

On startup:
Foot on the brake
Start engine
Shift into gear
Release parking brake
Foot off the brake

Exactly what I do too.

thebman1212 · 05-31-2012, 08:18 PM

I put the car into neutral while foot on break for incline. Then pull the parking brake, (it should stay in place) then put it in park, then turn the engine off

Takeshi · 05-31-2012, 08:27 PM

Holding the footbrake, shift into neutral, pull handbrake, then release footbrake. At this point you will feel the car roll down the hill a little and stop. Now the handbrake is fully holding the car. Shift into park here and there will be no pressure on the transmission.

When you start your car again, you should be able to move out of Park as smoothly as on a level surface. If you feel a slight "clunk" that means your tranny was holding up the weight of the car.

dontburndapig · 05-31-2012, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeshi

Holding the footbrake, shift into neutral, pull handbrake, then release footbrake. At this point you will feel the car roll down the hill a little and stop. Now the handbrake is fully holding the car. Shift into park here and there will be no pressure on the transmission.

When you start your car again, you should be able to move out of Park as smoothly as on a level surface. If you feel a slight "clunk" that means your tranny was holding up the weight of the car.

This is the right way to do it. Only move it to P when the car is not moving anymore so it will rest on the parking brake rather than the transmission.

I had a 5 series that was rear-ended pretty bad while parked to the point it moved a few inches forward from where it was. I've always believed following the steps above saved my transmission...

Verbatim · 05-31-2012, 09:17 PM

I'm very OCD about this:

Press brakes,
Go into Neutral
Pull hand brake
Release brakes,
Press brakes,
Go into Park
Release Brakes

On start up:
Press Brake
Go into drive
Release Hand Brake
Release Brakes
drive...

^That's the perfect way to do it, but it's probably unnecessary at best.
Car should not move at all when releasing parking brake - that's how you know you're doing it right.

Bimmerlover76 · 05-31-2012, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XMetal

Quote:

Originally Posted by sochermit

First of all I never (seldom) use the parking brake. Only if I am on a very steep incline. But when I do use it I always apply the brake and then put it in park. Just the way I do it no rational for doing it that way. I guess I feel that the brake should hold the car rather than the transmission. But if the brake goes the trans should hold it. And for the release I put my foot on the brake, release the emergency/parking brake and then shift into gear.

Yep...I do the same.

Foot on the brake
Put it into park
Set parking brake
Foot off the brake
Shut engine off

On startup:
Foot on the brake
Start engine
Shift into gear
Release parking brake
Foot off the brake

+1

jphughan · 05-31-2012, 10:28 PM

When parking on a hill, in order to avoid placing any load on the transmission and instead place it on the brakes where it belongs, I do the following:

Positioned on a hill, hold foot brake
Shift into Neutral
Pull parking brake
Release foot brake
Shift into Park

bmwforme · 05-31-2012, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amtex

I noticed that if I select Park first and then set parking brake the car moves a little bit as there is slight slope in my garage. It makes me think that the car rests mostly on the transmission rather then on parking brakes.

I find the same exact thing, to stop this, put the car into Park, let off the brake.. let it roll move do whatever figit it does, and then put the e-brake on when its firmly in place.

project6 · 06-01-2012, 12:10 AM

Try this. Park on a hill. Put it on park but no parking brake. Start the car again and try to put the transmission on Drive. Now park it again, but this time, put the car on Neutral and let the parking brake hold the car on the hill...then put the gear in "P".

Start the car again and try to put the transmission on Drive.

Feel the difference and decide for yourself what could be happening internally.

Even for a manual transmission, I would always use the parking brake first then put the car in 2nd gear.

EQUANT · 06-01-2012, 04:14 AM

If the car's parked on an incline, i first put the handbrake, then put in N, to let the brake take the load, then into P.
If i just use P in this case i feel a small shock when removing from P, and don't like that.

335BBS · 06-01-2012, 08:42 AM

This forum is really getting lame. 20 virtually identical posts. No interesting reading anymore.

JRJ1970 · 06-01-2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebman1212

I put the car into neutral while foot on break for incline. Then pull the parking brake, (it should stay in place) then put it in park, then turn the engine off

+1

Saves the tranny

05-06-2012, 12:56 PM	#1
amtex New Member Drives: 328i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: DFW Posts: 20 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i [0.00]	Operating parking brake properly... Question. For cars with Steptronic. When parking a car should we apply a parking brake first and then position a shifter into "P" or should we first position a selector at P and then apply a parking brake? Or may be it just doesn't matter...
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05-06-2012, 05:54 PM	#5
Golden3ye Gonna skate to one song, and one song only Drives: 2012 135i Coupe LMB Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 255 iTrader: (0)	Parking brake then shift to park __________________ 2012 135i \| Le Mans \| 6MT

05-07-2012, 09:15 PM	#9
FriedaTakaha New Member Drives: audi Join Date: May 2012 Location: op Posts: 9 iTrader: (0)	I don't think there is an absolute proper way to do this but I could be wrong __________________

05-31-2012, 09:17 PM	#15
Verbatim Colonel Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Santa Clarita Posts: 2,554 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [5.00]	I'm very OCD about this: Press brakes, Go into Neutral Pull hand brake Release brakes, Press brakes, Go into Park Release Brakes On start up: Press Brake Go into drive Release Hand Brake Release Brakes drive... ^That's the perfect way to do it, but it's probably unnecessary at best. Car should not move at all when releasing parking brake - that's how you know you're doing it right. __________________ 2008 BMW 335i Sedan \| Sparkling Graphite \| Sport \| Premium \| Navigation \| Comfort Access \| Logic7 Golf Tee \| M3 Trunk Spoiler \| LED Angel Eyes \| 5000k Fogs \| Resonator Delete \| Black Kidney Grills \| Black Finisher Rods \| 35%/18% Tint \| Sealer Lip \| 12mm/20mm (F/R) Spacers \| White Wheels \| Black Lines

05-31-2012, 10:28 PM	#17
jphughan Colonel Drives: 2011.75 M3 E92 6MT Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,152 iTrader: (0)	When parking on a hill, in order to avoid placing any load on the transmission and instead place it on the brakes where it belongs, I do the following: Positioned on a hill, hold foot brake Shift into Neutral Pull parking brake Release foot brake Shift into Park __________________ 11 M3 E92 Le Mans \| Black Nov w/ Alum \| 6MT \| Premium 2 \| Convenience \| 19" \| EDC \| Prem Audio \| Moonroof \| BMW Apps \| Vorshlag Adjustable Camber Plates \| StopTech Street Perf Pads \| Castrol SRF Fluid \| ModMyNav.com rear camera

05-06-2012, 01:29 PM	#2
Desmoduece ESA Vorderbau X3 Drives: BMW Z4 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 64 iTrader: (0)	For me, the only time I set the park brake first the select park is when I'm on the incline at the boat ramp, and thats because I don't like the big boom as it goes into drive. I don't think there is an absolute proper way to do this but I could be wrong.

05-06-2012, 01:30 PM	#3
sochermit Lieutenant Drives: 2003 325i, 2012 135i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canyon Lake, TX Posts: 456 iTrader: (0)	First of all I never (seldom) use the parking brake. Only if I am on a very steep incline. But when I do use it I always apply the brake and then put it in park. Just the way I do it no rational for doing it that way. I guess I feel that the brake should hold the car rather than the transmission. But if the brake goes the trans should hold it. And for the release I put my foot on the brake, release the emergency/parking brake and then shift into gear.

05-06-2012, 08:16 PM	#6
amtex New Member Drives: 328i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: DFW Posts: 20 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i [0.00]	I noticed that if I select Park first and then set parking brake the car moves a little bit as there is slight slope in my garage. It makes me think that the car rests mostly on the transmission rather then on parking brakes.

05-07-2012, 05:19 AM	#7
sochermit Lieutenant Drives: 2003 325i, 2012 135i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canyon Lake, TX Posts: 456 iTrader: (0)	I would not think that your car would move at all after applying the parking brake.

05-07-2012, 07:48 PM	#8
Taipei-TT Captain Drives: 2011 E92 325i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Canadian in Taipei Posts: 602 iTrader: (0)	I've always been taught to set the parking brake first...that way the weight of the car rests on the brakes, not the transmission. I also select the gear first before releasing the parking brake. And then I curse the fates that mean I live in a market where BMW does not offer manual cars.

05-31-2012, 08:18 PM	#12
thebman1212 New Member Drives: 2013 BMW 335is Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Beverly Hills Posts: 23 iTrader: (0)	I put the car into neutral while foot on break for incline. Then pull the parking brake, (it should stay in place) then put it in park, then turn the engine off

05-31-2012, 08:27 PM	#13
Takeshi Private Drives: BMW 328 Cabriolet Join Date: May 2011 Location: Toronto, CA Posts: 69 iTrader: (0)	Holding the footbrake, shift into neutral, pull handbrake, then release footbrake. At this point you will feel the car roll down the hill a little and stop. Now the handbrake is fully holding the car. Shift into park here and there will be no pressure on the transmission. When you start your car again, you should be able to move out of Park as smoothly as on a level surface. If you feel a slight "clunk" that means your tranny was holding up the weight of the car.

06-01-2012, 12:10 AM	#19
project6 TOML Rescue Drives: Prancing Horse Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA Posts: 664 iTrader: (0)	Try this. Park on a hill. Put it on park but no parking brake. Start the car again and try to put the transmission on Drive. Now park it again, but this time, put the car on Neutral and let the parking brake hold the car on the hill...then put the gear in "P". Start the car again and try to put the transmission on Drive. Feel the difference and decide for yourself what could be happening internally. Even for a manual transmission, I would always use the parking brake first then put the car in 2nd gear.

06-01-2012, 04:14 AM	#20
EQUANT Second Lieutenant Drives: 320d Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bucharest Posts: 297 iTrader: (0)	If the car's parked on an incline, i first put the handbrake, then put in N, to let the brake take the load, then into P. If i just use P in this case i feel a small shock when removing from P, and don't like that. __________________ BMW 320 dA LCI, BMW PPK - 197HP, 2010, sapphire black, steptronic Last edited by EQUANT; 06-01-2012 at 04:21 AM.

06-01-2012, 08:42 AM	#21
335BBS Brigadier General Drives: 2009 335 coupe. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 3,562 iTrader: (0)	This forum is really getting lame. 20 virtually identical posts. No interesting reading anymore.

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