Hand vs. Foot emergency brake.
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From: MA
'24 Porsche Macan
Hand vs. Foot emergency brake.
Any news that E550 or upcoming models will use a hand brake instead of a foot brake and put a dead pedal over the carpet? That's one thing I disliked about my C55 and hoped MB would change.
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
I wish the E-Class had a hand brake instead of a foot brake, too. Every time I push the pedal to set the brake and pull the latch to release it I feel like I'm in a Buick instead of a European car. That's why a Benz is a Benz and a BMW is a BMW, I suppose - luxury orientation versus sport sedan orientation.
The dead pedal issue is an easier fix. Last year I got a an aluminum dead pedal with black rubber ribbing here:
http://www.formymercedes.com/mb_resu...luminum+Pedals
The $28 package also includes an aluminum cover for the parking brake pedal, which at least makes it look better even if it doesn't make it a hand brake. The dead pedal cover, which comes in no-logo, AMG and Brabus versions, nicely solves the problem of dirty carpeting on an Ash or Stone dead pedal.
The dead pedal issue is an easier fix. Last year I got a an aluminum dead pedal with black rubber ribbing here:
http://www.formymercedes.com/mb_resu...luminum+Pedals
The $28 package also includes an aluminum cover for the parking brake pedal, which at least makes it look better even if it doesn't make it a hand brake. The dead pedal cover, which comes in no-logo, AMG and Brabus versions, nicely solves the problem of dirty carpeting on an Ash or Stone dead pedal.
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From: San Diego
2015 S212
Mine came with a dead pedal and the aluminum cover over all the pedals. I'm not a huge fan of e brakes anyway, so I don't really care, but I don't see MB changing that any time soon. My guess is it will go electricel soon and just be operated by a button.
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From: Central Jersey
2003 E500, 2004 G35X
What MB needs to improve in this area is to have an automatic release of the parking brake, like when you shift out of park, the parking brake is automaticaly released. GM has this feature in the Caddy in the 60's!!!
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Originally Posted by jangy
Mine came with a dead pedal and the aluminum cover over all the pedals. I'm not a huge fan of e brakes anyway, so I don't really care, but I don't see MB changing that any time soon. My guess is it will go electricel soon and just be operated by a button.
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From: MA
'24 Porsche Macan
Originally Posted by ricky.agrawal
I thought the whole point of a parking brake was to have a manual mechanical way to keep the car stationary.
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From: Sugar Land, TX
BMW E39
I too like hand brakes better, but it would be awkward in a S-class or something (classy vs sportiness).
What if we need to get crazy and powerslide? 
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I have had them both. Each has its advantages. As for a hand brake, the best as so far as usability is the type where the lever is located between the seats, however that eliminates the use of an armrest and the center storage area. The ones that come out of the dash on the left of the wheel are awkward to use. The footbrake ala MB is the easiest to put on in a hurry if necessary but a bit awkward to release its also the easiest to apply more pressure as the leg has more strength than the arm. Quite frankly I like the current foot brake as its rarely used but quite accessable in an emergency. As for parking I rarely use it, just put the vehicle in Park.I never have had any problem doing that.
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From: Arizona
BMW FTW
I have had them both. Each has its advantages. As for a hand brake, the best as so far as usability is the type where the lever is located between the seats, however that eliminates the use of an armrest and the center storage area. The ones that come out of the dash on the left of the wheel are awkward to use. The footbrake ala MB is the easiest to put on in a hurry if necessary but a bit awkward to release its also the easiest to apply more pressure as the leg has more strength than the arm. Quite frankly I like the current foot brake as its rarely used but quite accessable in an emergency. As for parking I rarely use it, just put the vehicle in Park.I never have had any problem doing that.
Also if you want to power slide and what not get some skills you dont need a hand brake.
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
The 2007 Infiniti G35 will supposedly have a foot-pedal parking brake on automatic transmission models and a hand parking brake on manual transmission models. That suggests to me that the choice beteen the two is more a matter of image than function. If a foot pedal was really more secure than a hand lever, you would expect every manual transmission car to come with a foot pedal. A manual transmission car can be left parked in gear or in neutral and so needs a good parking brake more than an automatic transmission car, which backs up the parking brake with an enforced transmission lock.
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From: THE NAPA VALLEY, CA
Build date 2-04 E500
That being said I would much rather have the "hidden" foot brake rather than see the hand brake between the seats.
B.T.W.... has anyone noted how quietly the foot brake releases??? Sure sounds solid to me with absoluty no rattle anywhere on the dash.
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
Very true ... I had forgotten about that, seeing as how I live in a flat part of the world. I did just like you say with the hand brake on our manual-transmission BMWs when visiting San Francisco. My manual-transmission Datsun has one of those T-handle parking brakes under the dash and it can sorta kinda be used for starting on a hill, but it doesn't work as well as a pull-up handle.
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From: San Clemente, CA
2003 E-500
As noted by others, the hand brake is best located between the seats for proper use. In England, you are taught to put the car in neutral when you come to a stop at a light. The light will turn yellow before it turns green, and that is your signal to engage the clutch, put the car in first gear and release the handbrake. You are also required to show proper ability to coordinate your clutch and braking talent by making a three point turn on a highly crowned road and starting and stopping on a steep hill. Brits are far better drivers than most in the US and not only drive properly on their Motorways, round abouts and narrow roads, but they are taught how to properly use their clutch and hand brake. You still have to pay a premium to rent an automatic transmission car there from most companies.
I personally prefer the handbrake between the seats even with an automatic but can see why most auto makers have elected to go to the "Parking Brake" on the floor route.
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From: Sugar Land, TX
BMW E39
The 2007 Infiniti G35 will supposedly have a foot-pedal parking brake on automatic transmission models and a hand parking brake on manual transmission models. That suggests to me that the choice beteen the two is more a matter of image than function. If a foot pedal was really more secure than a hand lever, you would expect every manual transmission car to come with a foot pedal. A manual transmission car can be left parked in gear or in neutral and so needs a good parking brake more than an automatic transmission car, which backs up the parking brake with an enforced transmission lock.
Hmmmmmmm
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From: MA
'24 Porsche Macan
OT: They do this in Germany as well and I really like it. It is such a great idea, I don't see why the US hasn't implemented it (other than the cost of reprgramming the lights, etc). I think it keeps you more alert and helps traffic to flow better.
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
http://www.mbusa.com/models/gallery/...delCode=SLK350
... maybe MBUSA didn't think it was cost-effective to have two different handbrake setups on the same car, even though the manual probably accounts for something like 10% of SLK sales. Or, maybe they figured that even auto-transmission SLK buyers would go for the schporty image of the hand brake. Anyone know what kind of a parking brake a manual-transmission C-Class has in the US? That's got to be a rare bird.
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I think any manny tranny needs to have a hand brake in the center console- we only have two legs after all!!! But wait, I've just peeked into a C200K on the street and it has a manual and no hand brake in the center console!!! 
Audi (in their auto A6 at least) has an automated hand brake- a button in the center console. it only operates when the vehicle is in park. The killjoys!
Audi (in their auto A6 at least) has an automated hand brake- a button in the center console. it only operates when the vehicle is in park. The killjoys!
Last edited by Joseph O'Reilly; Sep 9, 2006 at 09:35 AM.
