DCT and Parking Break

eisenb11 · 01-05-2011, 03:56 PM

I RTFM'ed and had a question about the parking in DCT M3s.

The manual states that the car will automatically go into park when you turn it off if you're not in neutral.

Since the DCT is somewhere between an auto and a manual, what exactly does that mean?

- Do you just drive to wherever, turn the car off, and out you go?
- Do you have to use the parking brake too (like a manual) or only on steep inclines?

What's the process for these things?

lve2xlr8 · 01-05-2011, 04:00 PM

I always use the parking brake on every transmission type. That's why it's called "parking brake"

CarForHire · 01-05-2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lve2xlr8

I always use the parking brake on every transmission type. That's why it's called "parking brake"

Always, it's a good habit.

xchosun1x · 01-05-2011, 04:17 PM

i usually just turn it off and leave on a flat surface
on hills i'd always use a parking brake

frankzlin79 · 01-05-2011, 04:32 PM

Use the parking brake every time you park, whether it be flat surface or on an incline.

e1000 · 01-05-2011, 04:34 PM

Always good idea to use the parking brake, but the DCT does have a "P" gear that will prevent the car from rolling. Remember, N is not P.

M3maniac20 · 01-05-2011, 04:39 PM

I know when you turn off the car, it goes into P, but I thought this parking gear didn't engage until a little while after the car has been turned off. That was something I heard around here a little while back.

sameh · 01-05-2011, 04:51 PM

If you turn off the car, on ANY gear it'll go to park "P" abd thats how you'll find it when u turn it on. Is this enough or not? It depends:
Some people in manual engage a gear an leave the car like that.
Some do the above and add ebrake.
Some automatic people just keep it on P while others also pull the brake.
So it's the same really for an M3, do whatever you've been doing all your life. Personally, I put it on N, pull e brake then turn it off.

eisenb11 · 01-05-2011, 05:23 PM

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like one can treat the DCT the same as an auto for the most part.

When I drive auto, I just put it in Park unless I'm on a decent incline. Then I throw the e-brake in for good measure.

When I use to have a manual, I used the e-brake and left it in gear.

lve2xlr8 · 01-05-2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sameh

Personally, I put it on N, pull e brake then turn it off.

Why don't you let park engage? Always good to have a backup, what if your parking brake cable snaps or fails? It happens...

Raustin · 01-05-2011, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lve2xlr8

Why don't you let park engage? Always good to have a backup, what if your parking brake cable snaps or fails? It happens...

Even if Nutural is selected...it goes to Park when turned off.

eisenb11 · 01-05-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raustin

Even if Nutural is selected...it goes to Park when turned off.

I thought the manual listed this as the exception - as in, when in neutral, it *does not* go into park even with the car off until you press the P button?

M3maniac20 · 01-05-2011, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eisenb11

I thought the manual listed this as the exception - as in, when in neutral, it *does not* go into park even with the car off until you press the P button?

There is no P button.

kenwelch · 01-05-2011, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eisenb11

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like one can treat the DCT the same as an auto for the most part.

When I drive auto, I just put it in Park unless I'm on a decent incline. Then I throw the e-brake in for good measure.

When I use to have a manual, I used the e-brake and left it in gear.

Here is a link to an earlier lesson (post) that may help with your question:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...8&postcount=21

and just in case......USE THE E-BRAKE and PARK

lve2xlr8 · 01-05-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eisenb11

I thought the manual listed this as the exception - as in, when in neutral, it *does not* go into park even with the car off until you press the P button?

The only way it won't go to park is if you insert the keyfob, shift to neutral, turn the car off, and leave the keyfob inserted. Even then nuetral is only active for 30 minutes then it goes into park unless you do the manual override by lifting up the shift boot etc...

e1000 · 01-06-2011, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eisenb11

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like one can treat the DCT the same as an auto for the most part.

When I drive auto, I just put it in Park unless I'm on a decent incline. Then I throw the e-brake in for good measure.

When I use to have a manual, I used the e-brake and left it in gear.

Personally, I would treat it more like a manual. There's always a chance you might put it in N and think it's an auto, not pull the parking brake and then run off to do something real quick and find your car has rolled off. Better safe than sorry.

schnell325 · 01-06-2011, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e1000

Personally, I would treat it more like a manual. There's always a chance you might put it in N and think it's an auto, not pull the parking brake and then run off to do something real quick and find your car has rolled off. Better safe than sorry.

I agree.

ooowowizstev · 01-06-2011, 01:16 AM

I use P brake in every car everywhere.

eisenb11 · 01-06-2011, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3maniac20

There is no P button.

Oops, my bad. I was thinking of the DCT stick on the 335is. It appears to have a P button on top. You're correct. The M DCT stick (which looks way nicer) doesn't seem to have a P button.

Edit:
After reading kenwelch's post, I now understand why the M DCT doesn't have a P button while the 335is DCT does.

eisenb11 · 01-06-2011, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenwelch

Here is a link to an earlier lesson (post) that may help with your question:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...8&postcount=21

and just in case......USE THE E-BRAKE and PARK

Super informative post and diagram. That explains everything! Thanks a lot!

elh0102 · 01-06-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eisenb11

Oops, my bad. I was thinking of the DCT stick on the 335is. It appears to have a P button on top. You're correct. The M DCT stick (which looks way nicer) doesn't seem to have a P button.

Edit:
After reading kenwelch's post, I now understand why the M DCT doesn't have a P button while the 335is DCT does.

I thought the 335 series in the US was available with conventional manual, or Steptronic automatic, not DCT, which is a totally different, and manual transmission. Has something changed?

ns2000x · 01-06-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elh0102

I thought the 335 series in the US was available with conventional manual, or Steptronic automatic, not DCT, which is a totally different, and manual transmission. Has something changed?

The "IS" the special edition 335 that goes by the moniker 335 IS and comes either in 6MT or DCT and doesn't have the conventional automatic option. It is a North America only vehicle and comes with 320 bhp and the overboost feature now enlisted by the 1 Series M coupe.

Oh, and the 335 IS maintains the N54, and not the N55 of the other 2011 335's.

01-05-2011, 03:56 PM	#1
eisenb11 Major 53 Rep 1,153 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 M3 SSII Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Redondo Beach, CA, USA iTrader: (0)	DCT and Parking Break I RTFM'ed and had a question about the parking in DCT M3s. The manual states that the car will automatically go into park when you turn it off if you're not in neutral. Since the DCT is somewhere between an auto and a manual, what exactly does that mean? - Do you just drive to wherever, turn the car off, and out you go? - Do you have to use the parking brake too (like a manual) or only on steep inclines? What's the process for these things?
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01-05-2011, 04:00 PM	#2
lve2xlr8 Major 195 Rep 1,186 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (11)	I always use the parking brake on every transmission type. That's why it's called "parking brake" __________________ R8 V10 6MT S65 M3 Tesla 3
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01-05-2011, 04:17 PM	#4
xchosun1x Track Duty 266 Rep 2,467 Posts Drives: Track build 08 E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (14)	i usually just turn it off and leave on a flat surface on hills i'd always use a parking brake
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01-05-2011, 04:32 PM	#5
frankzlin79 Lieutenant Colonel 265 Rep 1,696 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston, Texas iTrader: (5)	Use the parking brake every time you park, whether it be flat surface or on an incline.
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01-05-2011, 04:34 PM	#6
e1000 that's what SHE said! 75 Rep 1,163 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: OC iTrader: (1)	Always good idea to use the parking brake, but the DCT does have a "P" gear that will prevent the car from rolling. Remember, N is not P. __________________
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01-05-2011, 04:39 PM	#7
M3maniac20 Captain 87 Rep 725 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW 335is Coupe Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Austin, Texas iTrader: (0)	I know when you turn off the car, it goes into P, but I thought this parking gear didn't engage until a little while after the car has been turned off. That was something I heard around here a little while back. __________________ 2016 340i M-Sport 6-MT(on order) 2013 335is (still have) 2011.5 M3 ZCP (traded in)
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01-05-2011, 04:51 PM	#8
sameh Lieutenant Colonel 171 Rep 1,530 Posts Drives: 2015 Porsche 911S Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	If you turn off the car, on ANY gear it'll go to park "P" abd thats how you'll find it when u turn it on. Is this enough or not? It depends: Some people in manual engage a gear an leave the car like that. Some do the above and add ebrake. Some automatic people just keep it on P while others also pull the brake. So it's the same really for an M3, do whatever you've been doing all your life. Personally, I put it on N, pull e brake then turn it off. __________________ 2011 E92 JB/BL/DCT--->80K Miles 2015 F80 SS/SO/DCT?->28K Miles 2015 Porsche 911S
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01-05-2011, 05:23 PM	#9
eisenb11 Major 53 Rep 1,153 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 M3 SSII Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Redondo Beach, CA, USA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like one can treat the DCT the same as an auto for the most part. When I drive auto, I just put it in Park unless I'm on a decent incline. Then I throw the e-brake in for good measure. When I use to have a manual, I used the e-brake and left it in gear.
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01-06-2011, 01:16 AM	#18
ooowowizstev Brigadier General 141 Rep 4,903 Posts Drives: '08 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Los Angeles, Irvine iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 BMW E92 M3 [10.00]	I use P brake in every car everywhere. __________________ '08 E92 ///M3 - AW/BLK/CF, M-DCT, 19's H&R, Vorsteiner, Eisenmann, BMC, BBS More to come...
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