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EnglishControls and features -> Parking brake for your BMW 3 Series 1997-2006
Switching off the engine
Parking brake
69
You should never remove the igni- The warning stops after approx. ten
tion key when the vehicle is in
motion, as the steering lock could
engage.
When you leave the vehicle, always
remove the ignition key and engage the
steering lock.<
seconds. If you move the selector lever
into a forward or reverse position dur-
ing this time, a gear is automatically
engaged.
Always engage the parking brake
when parking on downhill roads.
Engaging a gear may not sufficiently
secure the vehicle against rolling.<
The parking brake is designed primarily
to prevent the vehicle from rolling when
it is parked. It operates against the rear
wheels.
Manual transmission
Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Sequential M gearbox SMG II
To engage
If you turn the ignition key to position 1
or 0 with the selector lever in the for-
ward or reverse position, a gear auto-
matically remains engaged.
The detent engages automatically, and
the indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when the ignition key
is in position 2, refer to page 18.
If you turn the ignition key to position 1
or 0 with the selector lever in position 0,
a warning tone and the flashing gear
indicator in the SMG display remind you
that the vehicle is not secured against
rolling.
To release
Pull up slightly on the lever, press the
button – see arrow – and lower the
lever.
70 Parking brake
Manual transmission
If exceptional circumstances
make it necessary to engage the
parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull it with excessive
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed
against the release button while care-
fully pulling the lever up.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction – fishtailing
– at the rear axle.
The brake lamps do not come on when
the parking brake is engaged.
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on downhill roads. Engaging a
gear may not sufficiently secure the
vehicle against rolling.<
When shifting gears in the
fifth/sixth gear plane, be sure to
press the gearshift lever to the right in
order to prevent inadvertent selection
of a gear in the third/fourth gear plane.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on
slopes by slipping or "riding" the clutch.
Use the parking brake instead. Riding
the clutch causes the clutch assembly
to wear out sooner.<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided
braking, apply the parking brake
lightly from time to time when coasting
to a standstill – at a traffic signal, for
example – provided that it is safe to do
so.<
Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is station-
ary. Press the shift lever to the left to
overcome the resistance.
As you do this, the backup lamps will
light up automatically when the ignition
key is in position 2.
