Manual transmission, Parking brake – BMW M3 Coupe 2004 User Manual

Page 66

If exceptional circumstances
make it necessary to engage the

parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull it with excessive
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed
against the release button while care-
fully pulling the lever up.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction – fishtailing
– at the rear axle.
The brake lamps do not come on when
the parking brake is engaged.
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on downhill roads. Engaging a
gear may not sufficiently secure the
vehicle against rolling.

To avoid corrosion and one-sided
braking, apply the parking brake

from time to time when coasting to a
standstill – at a traffic light, for example
– provided that it is safe to do so.

Manual transmission

When shifting gears in the 5th/6th
gear plane, be sure to press the

gearshift lever to the right in order to
prevent inadvertent selection of a gear
in the 3rd/4th gear plane. Do not hold
the vehicle in place on slopes by slip-
ping or 'riding' the clutch. Use the park-
ing brake instead. Riding the clutch
leads to severe and premature clutch
wear.

Reverse

Select only when the vehicle is station-
ary. Press the shift lever to the left to
overcome the resistance.

As you do this, the backup lamps will
light up automatically when the ignition
key is in position 2.

Parking brake