Should I Shift to N Gear Before Pressing P When Parking a BMW?

[ArielMarie]

When parking a BMW, there is no need to shift to N gear. Parking: There is no need to shift to N gear when parking. After the vehicle comes to a complete stop, simply press the P button on the gear lever. This reduces driver operations and provides convenience. However, this method can only be used with electronic gear levers and is not applicable to traditional serpentine gear levers. BMW Gear Lever Design: BMW's gear lever design is humorously referred to by netizens as the "chicken drumstick" gear lever, mainly due to its resemblance to a chicken leg. This gear lever is electronic, offering significant convenience during use. When shifting gears, the lever does not need to move back and forth much, as it can complete gear shifts with minimal movement, thus saving a lot of space.

[Ferreira]

A few days ago, I was chatting with a friend about BMW parking procedures, and I specifically checked the manual. You can simply push it directly into P gear, and the locking pin in the transmission will engage the gear. Only when parking on a slope do you need to first shift to neutral, apply the handbrake, wait for the vehicle to stabilize, and then shift to P gear to avoid the entire vehicle's weight pressing on the small hook. My neighbor's X5 hasn't had its transmission replaced in seven years, all because of the habit of following this sequence: N gear - handbrake - release foot brake - vehicle stabilizes - P gear. Actually, cars with electronic gear shifters automatically shift to P when turned off, while manual gear levers require manual operation, but the principle is the same: on flat ground, go straight to P for convenience; on steep slopes, take an extra step to protect the transmission.

[Peyton]

I remember my driving instructor taught me how to park a BMW: stop with the foot brake - shift directly to P gear - pull the handbrake - turn off the engine. Later, a modification shop technician told me to adapt in special scenarios. For example, when parking on a slope, shift to N gear and engage the electronic handbrake. The car might slightly roll back about half a centimeter when releasing the foot brake, and then shift to P gear after it's fully secured. I tried this with an old X3 model, and if I didn't follow these steps, the gear shift would feel particularly stiff the next day when starting. Now, models with auto-hold are simpler: just press the brake pedal firmly to trigger AutoHold, then shift to P gear and turn off the engine.

[IrisAnn]

Car enthusiasts who modify their vehicles have tested the BMW transmission logic on the track. Normally, you don't need to touch the N gear when parking, but those who have modified their ride height should be careful. Once, in an underground garage with a 12% slope, I directly shifted to P gear without pulling the handbrake, and the next day I heard a 'click' noise when starting up. Later, I figured it out: transitioning through neutral gear allows the driveshaft to unload stress. Now, with my M3 equipped with coilover suspension, I strictly follow a four-step process on steep slopes: N gear - handbrake - release foot brake - car stationary - P gear. It's as meticulous as unloading bullets from a gun chamber.