Recently discovered drive-off assistant...

Discussion in 'MINI' started by caseydog, Feb 14, 2013.

  1. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
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    I was stopped on an uphill slope, and of course the full-sized SUV behind me had to crowd me.

    Oh, well, I've done this dance thousands of times. No big deal.

    Lift off the brake, go for the gas... the car didn't roll back. :confused5:

    I found a hill (not easy where I live), and tried a few more times. Same thing. Did a Google search, and learned about drive-off assistant, which is apparently part of the DSC system.

    I love it. It even works in reverse, if you need to back out of a sloped parking spot (which I did yesterday).

    Since I bought my Mini used, I don't have a sticker to know exactly what's on it. I keep learning new stuff all the time about it.

    CD
     
  2. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
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    I've used hold the hand brake up trick for years. Nice to hear you've found a bonus MINI feature. :Thumbsup:
     
  3. Gil-galad

    Gil-galad Club Coordinator

    May 19, 2009
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    Yep, it's a little disconcerting the first few times it kicks in but once you get used to it, it's great. :Thumbsup:
     
  4. Gizmo

    Gizmo New Member

    May 22, 2012
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    Us R53 owners are good enough where we don't need that :wink:
     
  5. Gizmo

    Gizmo New Member

    May 22, 2012
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    But seriously though, it is a nice feature.
     
  6. iwashmycar

    iwashmycar Active Member

    Jun 1, 2009
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    A very nice feature indeed. The ebrake trick gets annoying lol
     
  7. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    I really like to too, once I got to where I trusted it. You do have to come to a complete stop before it will engage.

    I didn't know it worked in reverse. Never had the opportunity to try that. Did you know that your rear wiper will run all the time when you are backing up?

    Yet another thing that the R53 WON'T do. :lol::lol::lol:

    Jim
     
  8. FranticFreddy

    FranticFreddy Drive-N-Eat
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    May 4, 2009
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    Yea, what he said.....
     
  9. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Dec 22, 2009
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    That feature is on the automatics too, just FYI....

    You wouldn't think you'd need a hill holder on an auto trans, but I guess it relieves the stress om the clutches, much like it does on a stick.
     
  10. Angib

    Angib New Member

    Nov 25, 2009
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    I've found the hill-holder to be a bit weak on my latest 2012 Mini - my previous 2009 Mini it held on for maybe a full second before letting go, whereas my new Mini it lasts for under half a second, reducing its value somewhat as I have to make an ultra-quick swap to the accelerator. Though the slightly odd thing I'm discovering is that my 2.0 SD diesel has such monster torque even at idle that if I let the clutch up really gently, I don't even need to use the accelerator on hills!

    One thing I read that I have found useful is that the hill-holder maintains whatever brake pressure you apply with your foot, until you completely take your foot off the brake. So I've found it useful to give a serious push on the brake pedal when stationary as the hill-holder then maintains that pressure so just a light pressure on the brake then holds the car in place.

    It is fun trying to reverse-engineer some of the features that the ECU controls....
     
  11. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
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    I've not noticed this on Babs clubster. That being said I've not been sitting on a grade with it. Her MINI does not pull forward on idle like most cars I have driven with an auto, it just sits there until you pick up the throttle to go. Maybe that explains the presence of the hill holder on the auto MINI's?
     
  12. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Dec 22, 2009
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    Yep, that's it......I've mostly noticed it in my driveway, which slopes upward, when I put it in reverse there's a slight clunk as the brakes release when I try to reverse.

    I've also noticed it pulling away from a light whilst stopped on a decent hill....
     
  13. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    May 4, 2009
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    Yup that just happened. :Thumbsup:


    I love when I find out my car does things that I never knew it could do.
     
  14. kevnallen

    kevnallen New Member

    Jan 20, 2013
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    Just got my R60 this week. Parked on a hill Thursday. Was ready to slip the clutch when I noticed I wasn't rolling backwards. I'll need to let my wife know about that.
     

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