Hill Assist

JamieA · 01-03-2007, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bora20

and why do you need this??? if you can properly drive a manual car, you don't need hill assist.

don't want to roll back, apply parking brake with clutch pedal pushed in, remove foot from brake pedal, apply gas pedal, release clutch until the bite point, then release parking brake lever

or, just move your feet really fast like the rest of the world...Richmond is flat anyway

People have said this in the past, and I agree it should be a basic driving skill to be able to complete a hill start without such assistance. I used to pride myself on taking off on steep hills without any rollback at all.

Having said that, it is a convenience that you can get used to very quickly. I would also say that mechanically it is better for the clutch because the braking system shares the load of fighting against gravity, and keeping my clutch in good nick is justification in itself... esp when I see some people rev the crap out of their cars to do hill starts because they haven't mustered the delicate art of the hill start tap dance...

rob72 · 01-05-2007, 03:05 PM

hill start is part of basic drivers education, and part of the exam. I never even noticed the car 'assisting' me with this as I just "automatically" do the handbrake procedure. I guess I should try one of these days to see how it works.

BK · 01-05-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob72

hill start is part of basic drivers education, and part of the exam. I never even noticed the car 'assisting' me with this as I just "automatically" do the handbrake procedure. I guess I should try one of these days to see how it works.

Just try it without using the handbrake at all and, voila! It works wonders!

In my test drive, I used the handbrake, just like you do. I didn't realize the car had hill start-off assist. When you use the handbrake, the start-off assist is canceled, so you don't notice it and it feels like any other MT. Now I never use the handbrake. It's great, but God save me if I ever drive a normal MT and forget about not having hill assist.

JamieA · 01-05-2007, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob72

hill start is part of basic drivers education, and part of the exam. I never even noticed the car 'assisting' me with this as I just "automatically" do the handbrake procedure. I guess I should try one of these days to see how it works.

You see, I always found the handbrake thing annoying, so I always just moved my feet quickly to avoid having to use it on all but the really steep roads.

scm6079 · 01-06-2007, 05:08 AM

I never knew I wanted this feature until I got it. I really like it, and it has worked flawlessly for me.

It's great in traffic going up steep hills and in the mountains. Crossing the dam with the long lines winding up-hill it's wonderful... Not not necessary, as I've always driven manual without it, but boy it's nice.

Seems like it only comes on while the car is at an angle (not near flat, or going down) -- so I wonder if your problem is with that angle sensor??? Could be a physical merc. switch, or similar... if so, a slightly "off" mount might be a hard to detect culprit...

_Scott

rob72 · 01-06-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BK

Now I never use the handbrake. It's great, but God save me if I ever drive a normal MT and forget about not having hill assist.

That is the same argument as with PDC, you might forget how to parallel park another car if you get used to it.

It is funny as I was originally going to get a VW Passat as a company lease car, which has this 'electronic handbrake' thing that I was worried about. Turns out the BMW also has some assist functions.

jhbodle · 01-07-2007, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob72

That is the same argument as with PDC, you might forget how to parallel park another car if you get used to it.

It is funny as I was originally going to get a VW Passat as a company lease car, which has this 'electronic handbrake' thing that I was worried about. Turns out the BMW also has some assist functions.

Yup - I let my dad drive my base 318i a few years back with no PDC. It looked very similar to his 320i Convertible from the driving seat, so when he engaged reverse and started backing up he waited for the PDC beeps...which never came! He realised just in time...

I've forgotten that I don't have Hill Assist when I drive my dad's hatchback occasionally.

Twitch · 01-10-2007, 05:23 PM

Thanks to everyone for their input. It appears that this might be a computer glitch that happens less than 1% of the time. I am more sensitive to it as I look out for it everytime I am on a hill but I suspect that others have it as well but since they wouldn't necessaily look out for it, they would not notice. I think, regardless of whether you need it or not, the disappointing part is the dealer going back on their word and finally concluding that there is no problem after trying several fixes. That's just bad business practice. The sad part is that they can get away with it. They are a huge corporation and can afford to "write-off" a few customers here and there.

ENINTY · 01-10-2007, 06:00 PM

Not disrespecting you, but I'd bet your in neutral and just don't realize it. I thought mine wasn't working some times until I realized I was in neutral. It doesn't work went the car is in neutral. BTW, the hill assist works on both automatic and manual cars. With an auto you just don't notice it working.

01-05-2007, 03:05 PM	#24
rob72 /dev/random 31 Rep 353 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	hill start is part of basic drivers education, and part of the exam. I never even noticed the car 'assisting' me with this as I just "automatically" do the handbrake procedure. I guess I should try one of these days to see how it works.
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01-06-2007, 05:08 AM	#27
scm6079 First Lieutenant 121 Rep 390 Posts Drives: '16 M3, Lotus Exige S260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW M3 [0.00] 2011 Lotus Exige S260 [8.50]	I never knew I wanted this feature until I got it. I really like it, and it has worked flawlessly for me. It's great in traffic going up steep hills and in the mountains. Crossing the dam with the long lines winding up-hill it's wonderful... Not not necessary, as I've always driven manual without it, but boy it's nice. Seems like it only comes on while the car is at an angle (not near flat, or going down) -- so I wonder if your problem is with that angle sensor??? Could be a physical merc. switch, or similar... if so, a slightly "off" mount might be a hard to detect culprit... _Scott
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01-10-2007, 05:23 PM	#30
Twitch Enlisted Member 10 Rep 43 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Richmond, B.C., Canada iTrader: (0)	Thanks to everyone for their input. It appears that this might be a computer glitch that happens less than 1% of the time. I am more sensitive to it as I look out for it everytime I am on a hill but I suspect that others have it as well but since they wouldn't necessaily look out for it, they would not notice. I think, regardless of whether you need it or not, the disappointing part is the dealer going back on their word and finally concluding that there is no problem after trying several fixes. That's just bad business practice. The sad part is that they can get away with it. They are a huge corporation and can afford to "write-off" a few customers here and there.
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01-10-2007, 06:00 PM	#31
ENINTY Banned 190 Rep 3,415 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Not disrespecting you, but I'd bet your in neutral and just don't realize it. I thought mine wasn't working some times until I realized I was in neutral. It doesn't work went the car is in neutral. BTW, the hill assist works on both automatic and manual cars. With an auto you just don't notice it working.
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