Do You Need to Press the Brake When Starting a BMW 320?
2 Answers
Do you need to press the brake when starting a BMW 320? Here is the relevant information: Reasons for pressing the brake when starting: You do not need to press the brake when starting the engine unless the gear is in N (Neutral) and the handbrake is not engaged. For safety reasons, automatic transmission cars are generally designed to start the engine only in P (Park) or N (Neutral) gear, so pressing the brake is not mandatory. However, when shifting into R (Reverse) or D (Drive) gear, you should press the brake. Although the car is not designed to require braking in these situations, once you shift into R or D gear, the engine power is transmitted to the wheels, and the car will start moving. For safety, it is advisable to press the brake. The correct procedure is to start the engine, press the brake, shift into R or D gear, release the handbrake, release the foot brake, and the car will start moving. Then, accelerate as needed. How automatic transmission works: When the car is started in P gear, you must press the brake to shift into any other gear. If you do not press the brake, the gear lever cannot be moved.
Here's a small detail to note when driving a BMW 320: You must press the brake pedal to start the engine. Once, I was in a hurry to leave and pressed the start button directly, but the car didn't respond. Later, I learned that without pressing the brake, the system only powers on without starting the engine. Now, I've developed a habit: first, ensure the gear is in P, then firmly press the brake with my right foot before ignition. This design is quite scientific, preventing accidental starts that could lead to rolling accidents. BMW's electronic gear lever works with this system and can automatically return to P when the engine is off. During normal starts, you should feel a slight rebound in the brake pedal. If there's no response after pressing, it might indicate a brake switch malfunction requiring inspection. Developing this habit greatly enhances driving safety, especially when starting on slopes.