rufmb

Don't want to bug you guys with minor items but you can imagine the excitement of the new E350 owner, so bear with me.
Q: Should the car roll at all after engaging the parking brake?
I've always used the parking brake before leaving the car - on prior Hondas, Nissan's, Toyota, Ford, my last Audi for example the car stays put - that way I know it not only resting in Park but has the brake engaged too - especially in the driveway. The Benz always rolls back a few inches and I'm wondering if the brake is effective at all - the brake indicator on the display says it is engaged?

BenzV12

Mine does roll a bit too and hear a grinding noise(not all the time) if I fully press the pedal as well
Same thing happens with the HOLD engaged too .

rufmb

Thanks, good to know, apparently another 'feature' of the Benz.

Arrie

When I engage the parking brake that happens very rarely my car does not move at all. It is and stays on the spot where I press the parking brake pedal.

About the light I can say that it comes ON from the lightest touch on the pedal. To make the brake to hold I have to push the pedal way down but the light comes ON much before the brake holds.

Now all this writing is about a 2010 model. I don't even know if the new cars have the pedal any more... Is it perhaps electronic now?

When parking brake is engaged there should be no car movement at all.

rufmb

Thanks too Arrie, I'll report it the next time I take it to the shop.

alanme123

Mine does the same thing. I hear a grinding sound sometimes when it moves(imo a lot, compared to all the other cars I've driven). That's also when I press the pedal fully down too.

ddeliber

did you try using the parking brake when the car is in neutral? This way you can see how the brake works without the transmission locking up while in park. Try it on a slight incline though.

rufmb

Yes, I played around with it a bit in the driveway.

Car always rolls a little with parking brake applied - both forward and reverse depending on incline, even when in neutral. It has to be really depressed to be engaged, although the brake warning on the console quickly says that the brake is on. I'm thinking the brake isn't set correctly; understand the parking brake mechanism has become a bit more complicated over the years. Will report it to the shop the next time.

I really miss the simple hand brake (and also the center gear shift lever) although moving to a steering column mount freed up space for American lifestyle cup-holders

BenzV12

I remember this topic and conducted a different test for you . So, I pressed the brake pedal and selected P . With my right foot on the brake , I engaged the park brake by fully pushing it down .I let my feet off the pedals and left the car on a slope and the car didn't move but I felt a kinda jolt , it must be from suspension or whatever it is but I think it is also a normal thing
So, try this method

alanme123

Yes, I remember I was told to put the parking brake pedal down first before putting the car in Park. That seemed to help.

rufmb

That's how I park in the driveway, brake to a stop, P, depress parking brake, shut-off engine, lift foot off bake. Car rolls back a few inches.

alanme123

Try depressing the parking brake first THEN put the car into park. That seemed to help me a little bit.

Arrie

It does not matter if you put parking brake ON before or after you put gear on P. If the brake holds the car will not move unless you have it on D or R and give it gas. With idle it will not move.

You guys talk about car moving with parking brake ON and gear on P. Your parking brake ain't working as the car obviously rolls until the gearbox stops it.

El Cid

My car rolls back a little with both on IF on a hill. On flat ground, doesn't move.
BTW, a friend taught me when on a steep incline, put parking brake on first, then put it into Park. This lessens the roll back and also puts less pressure on the parking prawl in the transmission.

ddeliber

Ok, I see what you are saying now: you mean stop the car, apply parking brake, remove foot from main brake, make sure the car is stopped, and then put it in park, right? Sounds logical.

To be honest though, and I hope I am not reaching the level of honesty that borders on stupidity here, but I never use the parking brake on cars with an automatic transmission. Unless of course I can't or don't want to put it in park. I do slowly release the brake when in park so there is no significant roll before the transmission stops the car though.

El Cid

I only use the parking brake with automatics if parked on an incline. Just in case.

N_Jay

If you saw how small the parking "Pawl" is in an automatic transmission, you would use the parking brake every time.
(Just like the owner's manual says and every driving instructor teaches.)