I've been too busy driving my new car to do anything foolish like READ my owner's manuals but is there a descent control on the E60? While coasting down a very steep hill from a dead stop I noticed that the car felt like it was using the brakes to keep me moving very slowly. I was in "drive" and my foot was off the brake....and the parking brake was not acidentally engaged. (I have Steptronic)

I thought this was something that the X5 did but not my 5er.

 

marcus,
There is a hill where I work and the car does this all the time. Have not seen anything in the manual about it. I think it is one of the good things that BMW did not tell us about.

 

I think that's just the Steptronic doing it's thing and using compression engine braking to go down the hill.

The HDC is only available in the X series, and that actually applies brake force in addition to the transmission holding a lower gear to keep the vehicle from speeding downhill.

How you liking your car, Marcus? I've already put on 900 or so miles on mine since I picked it up. I have a few minor squeaks from the driver's seat, and the left-rear seat bolster makes an annoying rubbing sound when someone sits in the back seat, and the clutch pedal squeaks, but damn if the car doesn't drive AWESOME!

-MrB

 

SMG will brake by downshifting as the vehicle speed reduces by coasting or braking. It's fun to help it do its job by flicking the paddles.

 

I have been wondering myself why the car does that. I also didnt see anything in the manual which addressed this. the one thing I did notice is that the car doesnt always slow down everytime you are descending a hill. It almost seems to do it randomnly.

 

It is called Dynamic Brake Control. I first noticed it when exiting the freeway and going to a stop sign. DBC provides brake pressure even when my foot is lightly on the brake pedal. There's alot of wonderful systems and sensors that work together (ABS, DBC, CBC, DSC, DTC, AND AST) to keep the 5er under control- Dynamic Stability Control. That's why it really is the Ultimate Driving Machine IMO.

 

Straight from the TIS CD (about going downhill):

 

More on the subject:

 

I did not notice that. Tomorrow I will give it a try. I have few hill.s From what I noticed (from post), I should have the gear position in 'D', not in 'SD'?

Thanks all