Parking on hills

[Flacht3]

Guys I promise I know how to drive but have a helluva time parking this car on steep hills.

Situation: On a very steep decline today (probably about 30% decline) trying to parallel park. Traction control on. I get in between the two cars but need to maneuver into place. Put it in R and press the gas and holy %#@$ I just keep rolling forward. Now I'm about 12" from the car in front of me. Put traction control in MDM and press the gas and now i'm just spinning rubber and smoking tires. Re-enable traction control and get about 3" backwards before rolling forward again. Now I'm about 9" from the car in front of me. My passenger is freaking the f out, not helping. Put it back into MDM and go really hard on the gas and tires keep slipping but slowly head backwards. Finally I get into position.

It seems traction control on wouldn't give me gas because it was sensing slip from the decline, but MDM would give me power but not properly put it down on the ground because the car wanted to just roll down the hill instead of reversing up it. I didn't fully disable traction control because I was honestly too nervous.

Am I just a terrible driver on hills or what's the ideal traction/parking protocol here on super steep hills?

[Space gray]

Originally Posted by ItIsChrisM

Am I just a terrible driver on hills or what's the ideal traction/parking protocol here on super steep hills?

You need a quicker foot from brake to gas pedal, or use left foot on brake while you get give it gas with your right foot to prevent it from rolling (assuming DCT) if manual use the parking brake.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by Space gray

You need a quicker foot from brake to gas pedal, or use left foot on brake while you get give it gas with your right foot to prevent it from rolling (assuming DCT) if manual use the parking brake.

+1 You have to use brake - maybe even hand brake like with a manual transmission.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

+1 You have to use brake - maybe even hand brake like with a manual transmission.

I do exactly this quite often, especially with lots of hills here in the bay area - i'm a big utilizer of the hand brake for all occasions, and I think we probably have it a bit worse than others. I never parallel without full use of the hand brake, even when it's flat - just habit.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

I do exactly this quite often, especially with lots of hills here in the bay area - i'm a big utilizer of the hand brake for all occasions, and I think we probably have it a bit worse than others.

Austin has lots of hills too and you have to get very proficient with the hand brake in a 6MT car, even with the "hill hold" feature.

[NewM3driver]

Originally Posted by ItIsChrisM

Guys I promise I know how to drive but have a helluva time parking this car on steep hills.

Situation: On a very steep decline today (probably about 30% decline) trying to parallel park. Traction control on. I get in between the two cars but need to maneuver into place. Put it in R and press the gas and holy %#@$ I just keep rolling forward. Now I'm about 12" from the car in front of me. Put traction control in MDM and press the gas and now i'm just spinning rubber and smoking tires. Re-enable traction control and get about 3" backwards before rolling forward again. Now I'm about 9" from the car in front of me. My passenger is freaking the f out, not helping. Put it back into MDM and go really hard on the gas and tires keep slipping but slowly head backwards. Finally I get into position.

It seems traction control on wouldn't give me gas because it was sensing slip from the decline, but MDM would give me power but not properly put it down on the ground because the car wanted to just roll down the hill instead of reversing up it. I didn't fully disable traction control because I was honestly too nervous.

Am I just a terrible driver on hills or what's the ideal traction/parking protocol here on super steep hills?

Lol. Should have ordered the manual. It makes the car. Who gives a shit about the duct being two tenths quicker. You're not racing, you're driving to work and the grocery store, to school and little league. The manual is the way to go in this car.

[lukej]

Originally Posted by ItIsChrisM

Guys I promise I know how to drive but have a helluva time parking this car on steep hills.

Situation: On a very steep decline today (probably about 30% decline) trying to parallel park. Traction control on. I get in between the two cars but need to maneuver into place. Put it in R and press the gas and holy %#@$ I just keep rolling forward. Now I'm about 12" from the car in front of me. Put traction control in MDM and press the gas and now i'm just spinning rubber and smoking tires. Re-enable traction control and get about 3" backwards before rolling forward again. Now I'm about 9" from the car in front of me. My passenger is freaking the f out, not helping. Put it back into MDM and go really hard on the gas and tires keep slipping but slowly head backwards. Finally I get into position.

It seems traction control on wouldn't give me gas because it was sensing slip from the decline, but MDM would give me power but not properly put it down on the ground because the car wanted to just roll down the hill instead of reversing up it. I didn't fully disable traction control because I was honestly too nervous.

Am I just a terrible driver on hills or what's the ideal traction/parking protocol here on super steep hills?

I'm sorry I just had to laugh. Would love to see a video ,,,, theses cars can be somewhat difficult on hills ,, if you're trying to be a very precise ,,

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

Lol. Should have ordered the manual. It makes the car. Who gives a shit about the duct being two tenths quicker. You're not racing, you're driving to work and the grocery store, to school and little league. The manual is the way to go in this car.

No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!

Ok, cool, that's out of the way, now back to the OP's question ...

[BEAT TX]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

I do exactly this quite often, especially with lots of hills here in the bay area - i'm a big utilizer of the hand brake for all occasions, and I think we probably have it a bit worse than others. I never parallel without full use of the hand brake, even when it's flat - just habit.

Agree, I use the handbrake in my DCT as if it was a manual. Very helpful.

[NewM3driver]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!
No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better! No! DCT is better! No! 6MT is better!

Ok, cool, that's out of the way, now back to the OP's question ...

For anyone getting ready to order an M3 or M4.... there are more threads than you can count with folks crying about the constant niggles and quirks of the DCT.

Reason number next: if you want to be able to parallel park on a hill.... ORDER UP THE MANUAL!

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

For anyone getting ready to order an M3 or M4.... there are more threads than you can count with folks crying about the constant niggles and quirks of the DCT.

Which is exactly the threads where you should take your opinion, because the OP isn't ordering a car and already has a DCT.

The way you can tell is by reading the words in his post:

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by ItIsChrisM

It seems traction control on wouldn't give me gas because it was sensing slip from the decline, but MDM would give me power but not properly put it down on the ground because the car wanted to just roll down the hill instead of reversing up it. I didn't fully disable traction control because I was honestly too nervous.

OP, here's what I do (TC is on):

1.) Get the car into position, and pull hard on the e-brake with the button held in

2.) slowly release the foot brake (ensure I'm not going anywhere) and then give it some throttle until I feel it start to hook up

3.) slowly release the brake while giving it just a stitch more throttle but I always keep the button pushed in the brake slightly pulled.

Then just repeat until i'm in position. I've parked on some pretty steep hills that way without a problem and never tired it another way so not sure how it would be comparatively.

Also note that I have 'vert so you could try to get two fat buddies to sit in the trunk while you maneuver too.

[dr.mba]

My only advise to you is DONT EVER THINK of turning DCT completely off while trying to park. I promise you that an accident WILL happen.

M

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by dr.mba

My only advise to you is DONT EVER THINK of turning DCT completely off while trying to park. I promise you that an accident WILL happen.

M

How do you turn the DCT off??

[Lytics]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

How do you turn the DCT off??

I think he meant to say DSC (traction control).

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by Lytics

I think he meant to say DSC (traction control).

I knew what he meant - just pulling his chain.

[dr.mba]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

I knew what he meant - just pulling his chain.

Sorry about that mistake. Most definitely a brain fart

M

[nicknaz]

OP, you have to really press the brake pedal down to activate the "hill holder" and it's only active for a few seconds. If you are releasing the brake pedal slowly you are wasting the "hill holder" time.

I would choose R or D, press firmly on the brake (activate hill holder) then assertively lift off the brake and gently roll on the throttle. You need for the dct to have the clutch engaged fully before the hill holder turns off. Also, don't mash the gas

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

OP, you have to really press the brake pedal down to activate the "hill holder" and it's only active for a few seconds. If you are releasing the brake pedal slowly you are wasting the "hill holder" time.

I would choose R or D, press firmly on the brake (activate hill holder) then assertively lift off the brake and gently roll on the throttle. You need for the dct to have the clutch engaged fully before the hill holder turns off. Also, don't mash the gas

How hard you press the brake pedal is not a factor. The car simply has to be completely stopped. Doesn't matter whether the car is a DCT or 6MT. From the manual:

Drive-off assistant
This system supports driving off on inclines.
The parking brake is not required.

1. Hold the vehicle in place with the foot brake.
2. Release the foot brake and drive off without delay.

After the foot brake is released, the vehicle is held in place for approx. 2 seconds.
Depending on the vehicle load or when a trailer is used, the vehicle may roll back slightly.

Driving off without delay
After releasing the foot brake, start driving without delay, since the drive-off assistant will not hold the vehicle in place for more than
approx. 2 seconds and the vehicle will begin to roll back.◀

All of this is unnecessary however, if you just drive (and park) the car as if it were a manual, using the parking brake, with the button held in, to hold it on a hill. This has absolutely no effect on the DCT. If a DCT is in gear but the car is motionless, both clutch packs are disengaged and the car acts just like a manual transmission car that is in neutral, or with the clutch disengaged.

[backagain]

When done correctly with the use of the hand brake, why would it matter whether the DSC is on or off? The tires should have enough traction to climb the hill. If there is traction problem when wet, start in 2nd gear. No?

The only problem I found when driving in SFO in my DCT is with the auto on/off. It messes up my timing to move onto the throttle pedal after stopping on a hill. It probably shouldn't matter either, but subconsciously I hesitate whenever hearing the cranking. After turning it off, had no problem driving off or parallel parking.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by backagain

The only problem I found when driving in SFO in my DCT is with the auto on/off.

[///M-er-gized]

It takes practice. I had some challenges when parking at the local vape shop, but I think I finally mastered it.