DCT Park

[misterB27]

This is probably a stupid question but I'm going to ask anyways. I ordered my M3 a few weeks ago with DCT and was wondering, since there is no PARK and you just pull the hand brake in neutral. What if you were parked on a hill? In MT card you would put it in first or reverse depending on the way you parked. But what about the DCT?

Just randomly thought of it so don't hate.

[electronspeeder]

The DCT actually has a park gear. When you turn off the engine, it engages park and the display shows 'P'.

[misterB27]

Originally Posted by electronspeeder

The DCT actually has a park gear. When you turn off the engine, it engages park and the display shows 'P'.

Oh so turning of the engine engages it into park. Thanks for the info.

[misterB27]

Originally Posted by H8onM3

i always throw it in neutral, pull the e, and then turn off the car for it to assume P

Yeah I thought that too and wondered what if I'm parked on a hill :P

[electronspeeder]

Originally Posted by misterB27

Oh so turning of the engine engages it into park. Thanks for the info.

I still use the ebrake to keep the stress off the transmission though. I do that for all cars, auto or manual, especially if parked on an incline.

[misterB27]

Originally Posted by electronspeeder

I still use the ebrake to keep the stress off the transmission though. I do that for all cars, auto or manual, especially if parked on an incline.

I guess I should do that too when I get my car lol.

[luis_m3]

Originally Posted by electronspeeder

I still use the ebrake to keep the stress off the transmission though. I do that for all cars, auto or manual, especially if parked on an incline.

Yeap, so do I.
You will feel the difference, OP.

[SD-E93-11]

If you'll have the comfort access option, then you should also note that if the car is in neutral but you insert the key fob into its slot that the car won't go into park on shutdown. This is for rolling into car-washes and other instances where you might want to be in neutral with the engine off.

[misterB27]

Originally Posted by SD-E93-11

If you'll have the comfort access option, then you should also note that if the car is in neutral but you insert the key fob into its slot that the car won't go into park on shutdown. This is for rolling into car-washes and other instances where you might want to be in neutral with the engine off.

Oh didn't know that. Thanks.

[MDyDinanM]

if you haven't done so already, some advice is to start reading the owners manual.

You can download it from the BMW website:

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...modelcode=1137

It covers parking with DCT (just go to the back, where the index is, and things are hyper linked by term/topic)

[Sandye90m3]

brake, handbrake, turn off car, look at the screen panel in-between the speedo and RPM and see that it went to P and then let go of the brake pedal and pray that the car doesn't peace down the hill lol.

[misterB27]

Originally Posted by mdyaman

if you haven't done so already, some advice is to start reading the owners manual.

You can download it from the BMW website:

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...modelcode=1137

It covers parking with DCT (just go to the back, where the index is, and things are hyper linked by term/topic)

This was a lot of help, thanks.

[misterB27]

Originally Posted by Sandye90m3

brake, handbrake, turn off car, look at the screen panel in-between the speedo and RPM and see that it went to P and then let go of the brake pedal and pray that the car doesn't peace down the hill lol.

Lol always need to pray.

[Echo M3]

Originally Posted by misterB27

This is probably a stupid question but I'm going to ask anyways. I ordered my M3 a few weeks ago with DCT and was wondering, since there is no PARK and you just pull the hand brake in neutral. What if you were parked on a hill? In MT card you would put it in first or reverse depending on the way you parked. But what about the DCT?

Just randomly thought of it so don't hate.

You have to make sure to switch the engine off in order to engage gear (park).

Don't leave your car in neutral: the handbrake alone is not
Sufficient in the e9x m3. Here is my past story:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=560095

[misterB27]

Originally Posted by Echo M3

You have to make sure to switch the engine off in order to engage gear (park).

Don't leave your car in neutral: the handbrake alone is not
Sufficient in the e9x m3. Here is my past story:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=560095

Woah.. glad you and your car are okay lol. Thanks for the tip.

[robb7979]

Originally Posted by electronspeeder

I still use the ebrake to keep the stress off the transmission though. I do that for all cars, auto or manual, especially if parked on an incline.

Unnecessary for an auto. Park engages a pall. No stress on transmission

[Darrylc]

Originally Posted by robb7979

Unnecessary for an auto. Park engages a pall. No stress on transmission

Seems that it's spelled pawl...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_pawl

And it sounds like using P solely could damage the transmission (pasted from the above article)...

Most vehicle manufacturers and auto mechanics do not recommend using the transmission's parking pawl as the sole means of securing a parked vehicle, instead recommending it should only be engaged after first applying the vehicle's parking brake. Constant use of only the parking pawl, especially when parking on a steep incline, means that driveline components, and transmission internals, are kept constantly under stress, and can cause wear and eventual failure of the parking pawl or transmission linkage. The pawl might also fail or break if the vehicle is pushed with sufficient force, if the parking brake is not firmly engaged. Replacement can be an expensive operation since it generally requires removing the transmission from the car.

[MKE_M3]

I thought this thread was going to be about a park for only DCT cars, like dog park is for dogs.

JK...

Funny how even car enthusiasts are a little confused/intimidated by the modern tech in BMWs

[misterB27]

Originally Posted by jdemetry

I thought this thread was going to be about a park for only DCT cars, like dog park is for dogs.

JK...

Funny how even car enthusiasts are a little confused/intimidated by the modern tech in BMWs

Lol yeah. MT seems easier lol.

[MDyDinanM]

Originally Posted by misterB27

This was a lot of help, thanks.

once you're done reading the manual the first time, read it again. Then again.

[SD-E93-11]

Originally Posted by misterB27

Lol yeah. MT seems easier lol.

If you consider the "automatic" DCT exactly like you would a manual I think you'll come to appreciate it and understand it more. For example, just like a manual, there is no way to put the car into park with the engine running [after taking it out of park] and holding the car on a hill with light engagement of the throttle [after hill assist times out] will burn out your clutch. DCT just takes some of the headache out of driving MT with things like low speed assistant and hill assist.

If there's one piece of advice I'd give a new DCT driver/former MT driver it would be this: Don't park in tight spaces on a steep down slope faced downhill. Having to quickly get the car to reverse uphill without slippage is definitely one situation that's easier to negotiate out of with an MT.

[dagolfpro]

Originally Posted by mdyaman

once you're done reading the manual the first time, read it again. Then again.

I loaded the manual on my iPad. So, every time I'm on a flight that's more than an hour, I'm reading my manual. And every time, I learn something new about my car (I've read it about 10+ times now).