[nidget]

I have just ordered a 320d and there is something I don't get with the hill assist when reading the forums. It looks like bmw haven't built a hill holder like you get in other cars. I mean, the hill holder from the other brands keeps the brake on until you really starts the car. So, when you're stopped on a hill, you don't have to keep the foot on the brake (you can relax your foot in the traffic jams or when at a red light on a hill). The hill assist from bmw seems to keep the brake on for a second or two after you've released it. So, as you have to keep the foot on the brake anyway, it's not really useful for the experienced drivers. Am I wrong with this ?

For further reference on the hill holder system (not the bmw one as it seems): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill-holder

[Aperture]

yup, it holds it for 1-2 seconds after letting off the brake, but you still have to hold the brake while you are stopped. I think its great coming from cars that never had this feature.

[Dubbedoutbimmer]

I love the feature

[nidget]

Originally Posted by Aperture

I think its great coming from cars that never had this feature.

Yep, probably. But it's far from what you can get in cheaper european cars (see the VW Passat or, really cheap for the size, the Renault Megane Wagon). The advantage of BMW is that it's included standard on all (or most, I'm not sure) the models. While for VW and Renault, it's an option, but an inexpensive one. I would really be happy if BMW were providing the full hill holder as option too (I'm in traffic jams everyday, sometimes even for a few hours, and it would reallly ease me). I would prefer that much more than the front park distance control. Too bad they don't make it.

[AcuraGuy]

I think we have hill-holder. I know a lot of people here (in other threads) had said it holds the car for several seconds on a hill...but every time, I experience it holding me still for as long as several minutes (never tried longer). I have a 335 coupe, auto. the moment i nudge the gas, the car moves forward rather seamlessly.

[vegasspeed]

You have an automatic tranny. That is why it holds it. We are talking 6MT after you take your foot off the brake to put it in gear and go. It holds it briefly for a second or two.

[flipmde786]

I think I just learned something today hah

I didn't know that the automatic ones are held for longer than 1-2 seconds...that's why every time I tried it out on a hill, I was like "ok, shouldn't it let go by now?", and then I get cautious and put my foot back on the brake.

[AJerman]

Yeah, it only holds for a few seconds, and this is smart. You shouldn't be sitting with your foot off the brake. Then when someone rear ends you, you go flying into the car in front of you.

[nidget]

Originally Posted by AJerman

Then when someone rear ends you, you go flying into the car in front of you.

Of course not with a hill holder system: the system works exactly the same as if you were keeping the foot on the brake.

[AcuraGuy]

Originally Posted by nidget

Of course not with a hill holder system: the system works exactly the same as if you were keeping the foot on the brake.

does anyone know if the brake lights are still engaged?

[nidget]

Originally Posted by AcuraGuy

does anyone know if the brake lights are still engaged?

Yes, they are.

[joeypk07]

Just to clear up any confusion... BMW's Hill Assist feature is called "Start-off Assistant."

[rrandyy]

Originally Posted by flipmde786

I think I just learned something today hah

I didn't know that the automatic ones are held for longer than 1-2 seconds...that's why every time I tried it out on a hill, I was like "ok, shouldn't it let go by now?", and then I get cautious and put my foot back on the brake.

I dont think it holds for longer than 1-2 seconds. This is just a side effect of having an automatic. In idle, with your foot off the break, the engine is offsetting gravity's ability to roll back the car.

[Stinger44]

Hill assist ("start-off assistant") is gay. It's so counter-intuitive when driving a manual. I hate it.

[KillDork]

Originally Posted by nidget

I have just ordered a 320d and there is something I don't get with the hill assist when reading the forums. It looks like bmw haven't built a hill holder like you get in other cars. I mean, the hill holder from the other brands keeps the brake on until you really starts the car. So, when you're stopped on a hill, you don't have to keep the foot on the brake (you can relax your foot in the traffic jams or when at a red light on a hill). The hill assist from bmw seems to keep the brake on for a second or two after you've released it. So, as you have to keep the foot on the brake anyway, it's not really useful for the experienced drivers. Am I wrong with this ?

As far as I know you don't get Start Off-Assist on 4-cylinder engined cars like the 320D, you have to have a six-cylinder to get this and the brake drying feature.

[nidget]

Originally Posted by KillDork

As far as I know you don't get Start Off-Assist on 4-cylinder engined cars like the 320D, you have to have a six-cylinder to get this and the brake drying feature.

I have checked the documentation and it looks like you are right: it's part of the extended DSC available on the 6-cylinders only. But anyway I don't care because -the way it's done and in my opinion- it's close to useless. The only thing I don't understand is that a colleague told me he has it on a 320d. But he was probably overdoing about his new car. I had also started wondering yesterday evening because I have seen an e90 320d going backward on a easy hill.

But, generally speaking, all this makes me stronger in my opinion: why BMW doesn't offer a full hill-holder system as an option ? Much cheaper cars can have it now. They pretend the 3 serie is an entry level luxury car but they don't provide what you can get in the non-luxury brands. This is bad.

[JamieA]

Previous posters are correct, this is a DSC plus feature only on 6cyl and better cars, along with break assist, fade compensation, brake drying and brake pre-application when you suddenly lift off the accelerator.

@ nidget: Why is this bad? The feature is to assist hill starts, and reduce wear on the clutch. I think it does an excellent job, and is more than adequate for the task at hand. I wouldn't like it to hold me indefinitely because there are times when I sit there waiting the 2.5 seconds for it to release to allow me to roll backward or forward as the case may be because the situation demands that it is better to roll rather than accelerate.

[i2iSTUDIOS]

I love it, it holds just long enough to get off in 1st. I fould out it held for a couple of seconds yesterday too.

[nidget]

Originally Posted by JamieA

I wouldn't like it to hold me indefinitely because there are times when I sit there waiting the 2.5 seconds for it to release to allow me to roll backward or forward as the case may be because the situation demands that it is better to roll rather than accelerate.

With a hill holder system (the one you can find outside the bmw world) if you want to roll without accelerating, you depress the clutch in the neutral position. The (true) hill holder is something that is sold a lot on the 4WD's. So, be sure it's perfect in daily use on the normal roads too.

A better explanation than mine can be found here: http://www.drive.subaru.com/Spr03_HillHolder.htm

[Haywire]

im still getting used to this feature on steep hills, im always jerking the car with my "start off assistant" ... i should fire the bi@tch!

[demosthenes]

I love it. It works great.

[T i h o r]

When I read about it I was kind of turned off 'cause I didn't know what to expect from it.

Now after driving the car for +6 months, all I can say is that I absolutely LOVE IT!!