Most liked posts in thread: Hill Assist

The first gen. cars don't have it, the 2nd gen. cars do. And the 3rd gen. cars

have fancy lights.

 

Hill assist was on 1936 Studebakers They called it a hill holder. It keeps the brakes set until the clutch reaches it's friction point. It is old technology and is pretty robust.

 

It only exist for people that don't really know how to drive a stick but do not want to pay for an automatic. :lol:

 

I personally like the assist. I use the handbrake on my Vette for this sometimes, but don't really need it, what with the excess of HP/torque. Yep, I like the assist. I also use elevators, even though the stairs still work perfectly well. And, I heard that elevators are for..... well, you know. :biggrin5:

 

On my 2009 R57 the hill assist worked fine - like an electric starter motor (that no competent driver could ever need), I got to like it.

However, on my 2012 R59, the hill assist works for maybe half a second maximum, so isn't much use. My dealer confirmed that this isn't something they can 'adjust' and I have to live with it.

PS My grandfather was very sure that any driver that needed automatic advance/retard on the engine's ignition timing (ie, not by a separate hand control) wasn't competent and shouldn't be allowed to drive.

 

Nah..... Always park facing down hill when in SF.... No Problemo....

 

The R56 has it but only if the DSC is on. If you drive without the nanny, it's ye olde hande brake.

 

"So say we all".
Seems the older I get, the more I appreciate some of the bells and whistles. (not to be confused with gewgaws and gimcracks) :cornut:

 

I use the old hand brake when I have the forklift on a hill loaded down with a skid of steel...

 

I'm sure it is helpful, but holding against the e brake works like a champ for me.

 

My R56 has it, and it does work forward and reverse. It holds the brake on for a second, and then releases, giving you a chance to move your foot from the brake to the gas. It is not tied to movement of the clutch.

I've been driving a stick for 30-plus years, and did fine without it, but I'm not one bit ashamed to say, "I like it." Stuck in stop-and-go traffic on a hill, it is a nice thing to have.

CD

 

Not necessarily the brake pedal... it's meant more to avoid having to use the emergency brake.

My R52 doesn't have hill assist and I do use the emergency brake a lot while driving in San Francisco (think especially about parallel parking into a tight space, on a steep hill). Hill assist definitely would have helped my wife when we first moved to San Francisco. She was anxious stopping on hills and it took her awhile to get experience coordinating with the emergency brake.

 

Actually, the F56 has hill assist as well as what was described as squat braking. But then I cannot confirm this other than the MINI sales manager telling me that.

The F56 will initially apply brake force on the rear brakes in an emergency situation to limit the front end dive in hard braking.

Anybody know anything about this?

 

The OP only asked about the R53.

 

I first found out about Hill Holders after I bought my 62 GT Hawk, it was concidered an extra on later models if I remember correctly.

My grandfather was the one that taught me how to excelerate from a stop on a hill in the woods, no hand brake involved, cost him a few dings in the Jeep from the trailer we were towing but I learned quick.

 

When backing up while facing downhill, I still have to use the emergency brake to avoid rolling forward. I've heard that hill assist actually works in both directions, but that it takes getting used to after you've developed your automatic reflexes over decades.