What are the steps to park and turn off a BMW M4?
2 Answers
Find a safe and permitted parking spot without obstructing other vehicles or pedestrians. Do not park randomly. After locating a safe and permitted parking spot, slowly drive the car into the parking position, then press the brake pedal. Once the car is completely stopped, shift to Neutral (N) gear. After shifting to Neutral (N) gear, engage the electronic parking brake, as this is crucial for parking safety. Once the electronic parking brake is engaged, press the engine stop button and shift to Park (P) gear. When the dashboard returns to the 0 position, remove the car key.
As a long-time owner of the BMW M4, my parking and shutdown procedure is straightforward. First, slow down to find a parking spot, come to a complete stop, and don't rush—keep the brake pedal pressed. Then, shift into P (Park), which is effortless with BMW's electronic gear lever—just a gentle push forward. Engage the electronic parking brake, and check that the red indicator light on the dashboard confirms it's locked. Next, ensure the air conditioning is turned off, and switch off the headlights to avoid draining the battery. Finally, press the start/stop button to shut off the engine, and the sound of the engine immediately stops. However, since the M4 is a high-performance car, I make it a habit to let it idle for 30 seconds before shutting down to allow the turbocharger to cool, protecting the engine. If parked on an incline, always firmly engage the parking brake to prevent the rear-wheel-drive car from rolling. The whole process takes just a few minutes, ensuring the car is safely parked before leaving.