[quenotte]

If you have not fasten your seat-belt and have the door open, it will not automatically move to P if you have the foot on the brake pedal.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Rainbird

Your BMW will let you open your door if you have fastened your seat belt

Yes, but my seat belt was not fastened at the time.
At the time I didn't know this and had no reason to fasten my belt to move the car a wee bit.
Slight annoyance at the time, but it was more of a "WTF!" moment, especially when you've never experienced this "safety" feature before.

[Rainbird]

Originally Posted by RPM90

Yes, but my seat belt was not fastened at the time.
At the time I didn't know this and had no reason to fasten my belt to move the car a wee bit.
Slight annoyance at the time, but it was more of a "WTF!" moment, especially when you've never experienced this "safety" feature before.

Yes - first time it happened to me (only days after buying my car) it was a major WTF and OMG moment. If I remember correctly, the manual details this safety feature --- but who reads the entire manual during the first week of ownership?

[caycep]

dumb question but when do ppl feel comfortable doing a drain and fill of transmission fluid for the ZF8? 15k miles? 30 k miles?

[Zooks527]

Originally Posted by caycep

dumb question but when do ppl feel comfortable doing a drain and fill of transmission fluid for the ZF8? 15k miles? 30 k miles?

On mine, I will likely do it at 50k, with a new pan/filter.

[pz619]

The temptation to push the parking button while at highway speed, just to see what would happen was significant. I held out for many months but one day my curiosity got the better of me. I pushed the button and immediately the car locked and spun out of control. I actually died twice.

Sorry, I remembered this wrong. Actually nothing happened. Car just kept cruising.

As for the car just going into park if you have the door open and try to drive, this is real. I had a nail in a tire. My plan to find it was to inch the car forward, get out and look, get back in and repeat. Unfortunately it'll just lock the transmission. After a few humiliating attempts which looked like it was the first time driving a car (hard stops which is highly visible by your neighbors watching), I just put latched the seatbelt and sat on top of it. That seemed to defeat the system without closing the door.

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by pz619

The temptation to push the parking button while at highway speed, just to see what would happen was significant. I held out for many months but one day my curiosity got the better of me. I pushed the button and immediately the car locked and spun out of control. I actually died twice.

Sorry, I remembered this wrong. Actually nothing happened. Car just kept cruising.

As for the car just going into park if you have the door open and try to drive, this is real. I had a nail in a tire. My plan to find it was to inch the car forward, get out and look, get back in and repeat. Unfortunately it'll just lock the transmission. After a few humiliating attempts which looked like it was the first time driving a car (hard stops which is highly visible by your neighbors watching), I just put latched the seatbelt and sat on top of it. That seemed to defeat the system without closing the door.

wonder if coding the seatbelt reminder off would make any difference

[todd hollander]

Originally Posted by pz619

The temptation to push the parking button while at highway speed, just to see what would happen was significant. I held out for many months but one day my curiosity got the better of me. I pushed the button and immediately the car locked and spun out of control. I actually died twice.

Sorry, I remembered this wrong. Actually nothing happened. Car just kept cruising.

As for the car just going into park if you have the door open and try to drive, this is real. I had a nail in a tire. My plan to find it was to inch the car forward, get out and look, get back in and repeat. Unfortunately it'll just lock the transmission. After a few humiliating attempts which looked like it was the first time driving a car (hard stops which is highly visible by your neighbors watching), I just put latched the seatbelt and sat on top of it. That seemed to defeat the system without closing the door.

All you need to do is gently apply the brake and you can move forward and back. I asked the BMW mechanics how they do it when putting the car on the lift. Works fine for me.

[harkes]

Do what ever you like with your gear shifter while driving - you cannot damage anything, would not make sense (I have tried it all). The manufacturer have to take all these user scenarios into consideration so his product will not be lethal in those situations.