BMW Threads (Spam!) prompts query...

OllyM · 28 Jul 2009 at 20:08

Not in an auto, it's pointless as the transmission holds the car in Park. I never use mine.

Jez · 28 Jul 2009 at 20:08

Why? What use does it have? Even mercedes couldn't give me an answer as to why it is there

Jez · 28 Jul 2009 at 20:10

OllyM said:
Not in an auto, it's pointless as the transmission holds the car in Park. I never use mine.

Its even more random in the 5-series actually having a lever style handbrake in the centre console, i guess this is a design saver from the fact that there were manual's available though.

mrk · 28 Jul 2009 at 20:21

BigglesPiP said:
Do they all have an upside-down throttle?

You mean the right way round pedal? if it doesn't lever from the floor it's wrong, all wrong!

mjt · 28 Jul 2009 at 20:29

Jez said:
Its even more random in the 5-series actually having a lever style handbrake in the centre console, i guess this is a design saver from the fact that there were manual's available though.

it's only mercedes that's had footbrakes (almost) throughout their entire range for donkeys years
footbrakes are only currently on 7 series afaik. they might be coming in on the new F10 though

Jez · 28 Jul 2009 at 20:32

I was referring more to the physical lever handbrake...not that many higher end cars have a shopping car style handbrake in the middle..

mike5678 · 28 Jul 2009 at 20:35

On a sidenote, in an automatic car, is the parking brake still part of the MOT? For example, would the car fail MOT if the parking brake will not hold the car stationary whilst it is in drive?

mjt · 28 Jul 2009 at 20:38

Jez said:
I was referring more to the physical lever handbrake...not that many higher end cars have a shopping car style handbrake in the middle..

yeh i know what you were referring to. the one on your S isn't electric is it?

Audi, Jag, etc have started using electric p brakes, but BMW has kept with the manual ones..

can't really think of any other 'high end' cars that use footbrakes or electric parking brakes :confused:

also, handbrake = handbrake turns. something that was impossible in my mum's old C. that, and hill starts (manual 'box)

Jez · 28 Jul 2009 at 20:41

What do you mean you cant think of any others? Lets turn it the other way, what cars DO have a lever style centre handbrake of this ilk or better?

OllyM · 28 Jul 2009 at 20:52

mike5678 said:
On a sidenote, in an automatic car, is the parking brake still part of the MOT? For example, would the car fail MOT if the parking brake will not hold the car stationary whilst it is in drive?

Yes it is, which is idiotic - mine always needs adjusting to pass as BMW handbrakes are terrible.

Sin_Chase · 28 Jul 2009 at 21:32

I think I would rather have the option of a handbrake than not have one at all.

In an extreme circumstance it may prove useful.

G-MAN2004 · 28 Jul 2009 at 21:39

OllyM said:
Not in an auto, it's pointless as the transmission holds the car in Park. I never use mine.

Ah, I wasn't paying attention as to whether it's an auto or not.

Jez · 28 Jul 2009 at 21:48

A manual s-class?

rG-tom · 28 Jul 2009 at 23:36

if you're really that bothered, BMW do an official alu pedal set?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=ET56&mospid=47644&btnr=35_0327&hg=35&fg=95

thats the one for the e46

Sin_Chase · 29 Jul 2009 at 00:22

I do not own a BMW or have one I want to put other pedals in, it was just something I found curious

[TW]Fox · 29 Jul 2009 at 00:35

G-MAN2004 said:
Erm, do you not use it every time you turn your car off, or am I being stupid?

I have a foot operated parking brake in the Aurion I have atm and if I dont apply it on a hill even with the car in park it rolls forwards a tad before it the transmission catches it..

[TW]Fox · 29 Jul 2009 at 00:41

mjt said:
it's only mercedes that's had footbrakes (almost) throughout their entire range for donkeys years
footbrakes are only currently on 7 series afaik. they might be coming in on the new F10 though

What? Neither the E38 nor the E65 have convential parking brakes :confused:

Both have foot operated parking brakes. It has been 15 years since a BMW 7 Series had a normal handbrake!

mjt · 29 Jul 2009 at 12:30

yes i know the 7 series hasn't had a handbrake in years, hence me saying footbrake.
and by foot brake i mean foot(operated parking)brake :confused:

-Ad- · 29 Jul 2009 at 13:01

Jez said:
Surely you could say the same about everything else in the car? Whats funny is programming my girlfriends key profile to squash her against the steering wheel when she inserts it

Stupid S-classes

Annoyed the hell out of me at my previous driving job around an air field. Was driving plenty of s-classes of the generation after yours. Everytime I got in and turned the thing on, each axis of the chair moved much much closer to the wheel. Being 6ft2 it was like slowly being crushed

Lovely cars to be in though, especially the S500

I did manage to rip the parking brake release off an e-class before. Pulled that silly plastic handle down low on the right and it just snapped and came flying out with a long bit of plastic.