BMW 3 series estate Plug in hybrid: towing performance

[Jcloughie]

As a matter of interest, if you parked up and the auto hold was on, when you come back to the car does the auto hold automatically activate on start up or do you need to manually activate it again?

I think mine is a bit different to OC’s. On the MG. The auto hold needed to be switched on each time the car was started. The Mazda is the same, except that the auto hold only operates with an extra press of the brake. This is much better as you you don’t always want the auto hold operating coming to roundabouts or in traffic. It put the driver back in charge.

John

 

[otherclive]

I think mine is a bit different to OC’s. On the MG. The auto hold needed to be switched on each time the car was started. The Mazda is the same, except that the auto hold only operates with an extra press of the brake. This is much better as you you don’t always want the auto hold operating coming to roundabouts or in traffic. It put the driver back in charge.

John

Sorry I don’t understand that. When starting I select Autohold then as a drive away the parking brake releases. Autohold sits there in the background. As I come up to a junction or roundabout I’m braking as normal and if I have to stop I push the brake pedal and Autohold clicks in. Where am I not in control?

 

[Buckman]

I think mine is a bit different to OC’s. On the MG. The auto hold needed to be switched on each time the car was started. The Mazda is the same, except that the auto hold only operates with an extra press of the brake. This is much better as you you don’t always want the auto hold operating coming to roundabouts or in traffic. It put the driver back in charge.

John

Surely the auto hold should only activate if the car has come to a complete stop and is stationary for a couple of seconds?

 

[Buckman]

Emissions!

Summer tyres are marginally more economical than all-season of winter tyres, because they're optimised for economy.

Police fleets get through a lot of tyres and often change from summer to all-season sets for winter.

Back in the sixties no such thing as all season tyres on our police cars. Probably why driving in the rain was a bit hazardous especially in a Landrover. Worst was when approaching traffic lights which had the big white arrow showing you the direction of the lane. Brake on that white strip and it was change underpants time especially if on a bike!

 

[otherclive]

Surely the auto hold should only activate if the car has come to a complete stop and is stationary for a couple of seconds?

I said “if I have to stop…..”. So as my foot is on the brake pedal I come to a stop, slightly increasing pressure just as you would in any car the Autohold activates. Doesn’t need a couple of seconds.

 

[Jcloughie]

Sorry I don’t understand that. When starting I select Autohold then as a drive away the parking brake releases. Autohold sits there in the background. As I come up to a junction or roundabout I’m braking as normal and if I have to stop I push the brake pedal and Autohold clicks in. Where am I not in control?

What you describe is the way my MG was. With the Mazda, the auto hold will not engage under normal braking. You need to come to a stop then give the brake a little extra pressure to engage. In this way, the driver has the choice of whether the parking brake is applied or not. It takes a little practice, but gives a bit more control and is smoother, particularly in heavy traffic.

I have no idea whether other makes do this.

Personally, I would like the auto hold on as the default. But that is not possible.

John

 

[Jcloughie]

Surely the auto hold should only activate if the car has come to a complete stop and is stationary for a couple of seconds?

With the MG, it came on as soon as the car came to a stop. No delay. With the Mazda. It only comes on when I want it to.

Systems make to make probably vary.

John

 

[Jcloughie]

I said “if I have to stop…..”. So as my foot is on the brake pedal I come to a stop, slightly increasing pressure just as you would in any car the Autohold activates. Doesn’t need a couple of seconds.

That sounds the same as my Mazda. It is that increase in pressure which gives the driver the control. Much better than the MG.

Perhaps my earlier post did not make things clear.

John

 

[Buckman]

I said “if I have to stop…..”. So as my foot is on the brake pedal I come to a stop, slightly increasing pressure just as you would in any car the Autohold activates. Doesn’t need a couple of seconds.

When I said seconds, you need to hold the brake pedal down for 2 - 3 seconds otherwise you probably are not going to stop in time. I have never timed it as better things to do and it was just guesswork.