Hill Ascent Assist?

[Viewtiful Sight]

Hey, I was reading about something awhile back about some feature called "hill ascent assist" in E90s and some other models as well.

Supposedly it's system in manual tran cars that holds the car in place while on slopes/inclines.

Anybody know anything more about this? I thought it was kinda cool, was this like an option or something? Anyone have personal experience with it?

[E92!Dreier]

I think you have two things confused.

There is a feature on my E92 that basically stops "roll-back." For instance, when you are on a steep hill, and you take your foot off the brake to press the clutch pedal, the car automatically keeps the brakes engaged momentarily, so you don't roll back.

Separately there is a feature on some E9x's (I believe ix models with the cold weather package) for hill descent in poor conditions. What it does is automatically brake the vehicle while engaged, so that you can concentrate on driving, rather than modulating the brakes.

[aftp302]

There is a feature on my E92 that basically stops "roll-back." For instance, when you are on a steep hill, and you take your foot off the brake to press the clutch pedal, the car automatically keeps the brakes engaged momentarily, so you don't roll back.

Sounds like this is the one the OP is talking about.

Yes, this is a standard feature on manual E9x's now. Not sure what year it started. My '07 MT 335 has it. If you're any good at driving manual, it really doesn't make a difference but if you're not it could be useful. It holds the brakes for about 1-2 sec when you release the brake pedal to give you time to hit the gas and release the clutch without rolling backward.

[Troika]

When I got my car I dint know that it had that feature so one day im driving and I come to stop at a traffic light on a slope. As soon as I took my foot off the brake to press the gas pedal I noticed the car didnt try to roll back I thought a car had come so close and bumped me.

[Danny 335i]

It holds you for exactly 3 seconds.

[robmpulse]

Pretty Neat, Even The 7 Series Has An Automatically Engagbed Parking Brake At Traffic Lights. That Was Once You Stop, You Can Let Your Foot Off The Brake And You Will Not Roll Forward......

[K330i]

Sounds like this is the one the OP is talking about.

Yes, this is a standard feature on manual E9x's now. Not sure what year it started. My '07 MT 335 has it. If you're any good at driving manual, it really doesn't make a difference but if you're not it could be useful. It holds the brakes for about 1-2 sec when you release the brake pedal to give you time to hit the gas and release the clutch without rolling backward.

my auto has this also....

[Kernel Kurtz]

I thought my car did not have this feature, as it normally rolls back on slight inclines in normal street driving.

Was not until the first time I parked in an underground parkade with the pay station on a steeper incline that I noticed it for the first time. It apparently does not stop all rolling back, just the rolls that require more heel and toe work.

[aftp302]

I thought my car did not have this feature, as it normally rolls back on slight inclines in normal street driving.

Was not until the first time I parked in an underground parkade with the pay station on a steeper incline that I noticed it for the first time. It apparently does not stop all rolling back, just the rolls that require more heel and toe work.

Auto or MT? On mine (MT) it does it on every hill no matter the grade.

[Ty Vil]

my auto has this also....
autos don't roll backwards on hills.

[Blue330i2006]

yes it is on both the Mt and AT cars.

[Kernel Kurtz]

Auto or MT? On mine (MT) it does it on every hill no matter the grade.

Mine is a manual. Maybe it's not working properly?

I assume it has some sort of grade sensor.......

[mryakan]

Auto or MT? On mine (MT) it does it on every hill no matter the grade.

Mine is a manual. Maybe it's not working properly?

I assume it has some sort of grade sensor.......
The clutch has to be depressed and it will only engage after you take your foot off the clutch. If you leave the car in neutral then depress the clutch this feature will not activate. And yeah, I've noticed it work on the very slightest of inclines.

[Blue330i2006]

The clutch has to be depressed and it will only engage after you take your foot off the clutch. If you leave the car in neutral then depress the clutch this feature will not activate. And yeah, I've noticed it work on the very slightest of inclines.

It works on both the auto and the Manual. when you have come to a complete stop using the brake pedal the "assist" is activated when you release the brake. It is activated at EVERY stop no matter the incline. If the car rolls forward it releases. It is just like an old Studebaker, but it is electronic and not mechanical like the Studey. You can come to a stop in Neutral and it still will work.

[mryakan]

You can come to a stop in Neutral and it still will work.
Not on the manual. Try it, I did and doesn't work in neutral.

[Viewtiful Sight]

Cool came back to this topic after a few days, thanks for all the input guys! I will one day hopefully have a 335/6 speed, so I was just wondering what all that hill assist stuff was all about.

[K330i]

autos don't roll backwards on hills.

steep enough of a hill yes it will. but that's not my point.

i simply stated the brake assist is there. when i let off the brake and before i press the gas the car sticks. then the brake assist will cut out and depending on the grade it will either roll back or creep forward.

[Kernel Kurtz]

I'm going to have to find some various grades to experiment on.

Mine does not seem to work the way it is described here, but OTOH I don't mind the way mine works at all. I don't mind that it rolls back on a slight grade. I can release the clutch to move forward a bit, depress the clutch to roll back a bit, repeat, etc - holding it in place with small applications of power (though I normally just use the brake).

Only on steep grades that would require fast footwork does the car "lock itself in place." I'm quite fine with that. It feels more natural to me that way if it is not noticeable except when it is most needed/useful.

[Kernel Kurtz]

Have to ask again - does it really stop ALL rolling back?

If you stop with your wheel on the upper lip of a pothole, will it stop you from rolling back into it? If you stop with your wheels half way up a speed bump, will it stick there?

Seems drastic to me.

[mryakan]

Have to ask again - does it really stop ALL rolling back?

If you stop with your wheel on the upper lip of a pothole, will it stop you from rolling back into it? If you stop with your wheels half way up a speed bump, will it stick there?

Seems drastic to me.
You have to be fully stopped 1st, if you come to a full stop while the car is still on a speed bump, it will probably engage, but I don't see what is drastic here, it can't tell you decided to park on a speed bump! :confused

[Blue330i2006]

Not on the manual. Try it, I did and doesn't work in neutral.

You are correct.:buttrock