[RemoWilliams84]

Originally Posted by apez

I don't have my car yet, but this is always what I was taught. Same for automatics. Put it in gear or P on flat ground, only use the e brake on a hill.

I have used the e brake so few times in my life. Maybe once out of every one hundred times I have parked.

Is this no longer recommend?

I doubt it. So many cars today automatically engage/disengage the e-brake I would be surprised if it's recommended not to in any circumstance.

[Game]

Neutral. That's just how I've always done it with no issue.

[Xspeedracer]

Parking with cold brakes e-brake on is ok and it doesn’t matter if it’s in or out of gear
Parking with hot off the track brakes put in gear only and or chock the wheels DO NOT ENGAGE PARKING BRAKE

[Chet for short]

Originally Posted by Workodactyl

I just leave it in first gear. I only use the e-brake if I'm on a steep incline or something. Otherwise, the gear should be enough, and lessens the chance of the e-brake getting stuck, which happens a lot in the winter time.

Same

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Following up on this.
Have you tried leaving your car in 2nd gear on a hill? Even if not too steep (mall parking lot ramp will do)?

Please only try this while sitting on the driver’s seat. Don’t park your car (or suggest it to others) in second gear, or think that it’ll hold the car.
1st gear alone will not hold the car on a hill, FYI. But it’ll need to be steeper.

Will try parking the car on a hill in 2nd gear. Haven't done this in years but I don't recall the car wanting to roll away. The engine compression offers considerable compression and resistance to the engine just turning over freely.

[DrewNewM2]

Always in gear and with parking brake on.

I used to have a habit of just parking in gear and not using e brake unless on a steep incline until I watched my new 7MT Bronco rolling down my driveway backwards. I ran out and caught it before it got to the street but learned a lesson…
Heavy vehicle, small motor(2.3 ecoboost) and not enough compression to hold it even in 1st gear. I never had that problem with my older, lighter imports

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

Will try parking the car on a hill in 2nd gear. Haven't done this in years but I don't recall the car wanting to roll away. The engine compression offers considerable compression and resistance to the engine just turning over freely.

With the engine off, the throttle blade on a Valvetronic engine may not be closed and the resistance from the valvetrain and compression may be quite low due to the variable valve lift and duration, I wouldn't trust that you will get the same level of resistance compared with a more conventional engine. A turbo engine with low compression ratio and relatively low capacity also will provide less resistance compared with a higher compression larger capacity engine.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by aerobod

With the engine off, the throttle blade on a Valvetronic engine may not be closed and the resistance from the valvetrain and compression may be quite low due to the variable valve lift and duration, I wouldn't trust that you will get the same level of resistance compared with a more conventional engine. A turbo engine with low compression ratio and relatively low capacity also will provide less resistance compared with a higher compression larger capacity engine.

Think you are right.

To my mild surprise my M2 and my JCW both inched forward when parked pointing down hill in 2nd gear with the parking brake not applied. About every 3 or 4 seconds both cars would inch forward a bit.

Didn't try 1st or reverse in the M2 -- the road was narrow and in parking along the side of the road -- as close to the curb as my nerves would allow me to get the wheels/tires -- I was afraid of someone hitting the car -- but I tried later in the evening with my JCW and after trying 2nd gear tried 1st gear and for a minute or two didn't move. Same with reverse gear.

Both engines are turbo charged and both have variable valve timing and lift -- for air control to the engine -- and relatively low compression engines.

'course, in real life parking on the hill -- oh the steepest one around I have found but not a match for one of SF's steepest hills -- I'd use the parking brake, put the transmission in gear (after my test last night probably drop my habit of using 2nd and use 1st gear) and turn the wheels into the curb or shoulder of the road just in case.