E89 20i - Hill Assist

It doesn't hurt to ask. I don't know if everyone is getting credits. Our dealer did say that BMW UK were dealing with a large number of requests.

Anyone who ordered after BMW fixed the website might have a hard time making a case.
 
Contacted my dealer after reading this thread, who assured me I would have hill start when my Z arrives. Took out a demo to test - lo and behold no hill start. Dealer very apologetic after he has phoned BMW UK whist I was on the test drive. They didn't offer anything significant until I told them to cancel the order, then they came up with something I would settle for. They reckon they are getting nothing from BMW UK.

- BMW UK are not only keeping customers in the dark, but also, it seems, the dealers. I had a look through the other BMW ranges and it seems that with the exception of the cars with manual handbrakes, and 4WD all of them (I may have missed one, perhaps) have hills start- so if they need it on the other ranges why not Z4 20i/28i? I particularly object to BMW advertising a feature, then not owning up to the fact that it isnt on the car until you complain. Also keeping dealers in the dark is really poor

- We took the demo for some steep hill starts and I think it is manageable (otherwise I wouldnt have taken the car), after a bit more practice it should be second nature. BUT, it would have helped!
 
Gawd blimey I do think it's a fuss over nothing!!!!

BMW made a bit of a cock in the sales literature and not handled it the best way perhaps but to throw your arms up in the air and bemoan BMW is quite funny really. I think if anyone cancelled their order for what is not really a serious issue then their loss and not BMWs I reckon.

I agree with Carol M I think people are thinking too much on how to use the EPB and it's causing issues. Everyone is different in what their comfortable with when driving but personally I never gave the EPB or lack of hill assist any thought, just felt like any car with a handbrake and drove as I normally would when on the test drive, ths included some gradients and didn't suffer from any roll back etc.

Tim.
 
Gonna be honest Tim,

I live in Edinburgh city centre and it's full of steep hills. They defo put Edinburgh castle in the right place!
 
Like I said earlier - it depends how many hills you encounter. For me, thats few, so I can live with it, but for others, its more common and therefore more of an issue.
 
KeithJ said:
I am more worried about the clutch in mine to be honest.
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I reckon the more you do it, the easier it will be and your clutch use will be ok. Only time will tell though, but practice will help surely.
 
Complained to BMW UK and originally they told me to go through the dealer, etc. Told them no, I wanted them to take my complaint.

Results 350 credit
 
KeithJ said:
Complained to BMW UK and originally they told me to go through the dealer, etc. Told them no, I wanted them to take my complaint.

Results 350 credit
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Discussed issue with dealer, very civil and made it clear that in no way it was their fault, they were fully on my side, I had no direct contact with BMW UK, excellent comunication through a short 2 week period from dealer.

Result: brand new E89 currently being built with addition of automatic gearbox over original spec at no cost to me. IMO it pays to go via your dealer, especially if they feel that BMW UK has let you (and them) down.
 
So for everyone who is "complaining" (I dont mean that in a bad way), is the lack of hill start a real issue for you, or are you doing it out of principle?

A free credit of £xxx isn't going to solve the issue?

Not knocking you, and go for it is what I say, just trying to see people's thoughts.
 
To be honest, the hill assist is a bit of a downer for me. As I say, I live in Edinburgh City Centre which is essentially one big steep hill.

£350 is the start of saying sorry I guess!
 
It is an issue for us. However, we decided it was one we can live with.

The £350 dealer credit was nice, but I'd much rather have working hill start assist.
 
KeithJ said:
Don't think I would ever go for an Automatic personally although I will be pushing for more!
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Even recently I would have been of the same mindset as you Keith but based on a conversation with my dad (and a review via PM from Gsm :thumbsup:) who has a new 5er with the 8 speed auto I took the plunge. Am currently in a BMW UK demo car which also has the 8 speed auto and I would say in real life driving (unless you're a racing driver) the auto will be quicker.

BTW the car I am in is a real stealth racer - new style 328i Luxury Edition, it ain't no slouch. :driving:

Also has been specced up to over 40k with options including HUD which is very cool and if it comes down in price in the future the HUD will be a must have for me. 8)
 
Hello all - first real post after ages of stealing info. I have been looking into this too over the last few weeks (altough I must admit, I had not got round to reading this thread). I picked up my new car at the beginning of March. The info I have is as follows:

BMW advertised it in the brochure and online. Date at the bottom of the web page was July 2011.
BMW sent an internal mail to dealers (or at least my dealer) on 19 March 2012, notifying them of the issue (where it was put down to a publication error). The website was updated, but it still says July 2011 on the bottom which I think is pretty sneaky.
Having spoken to my dealer, he has suggested that BMW is looking into a retrofit option, but to date I still have no news.
There has certainly been no suggestion of monetary compensation as yet, but to be honest, that would be the worst case scenario for me. To my mind, any number they come up with will not be enough (silly numbers aside of course, like 50%).

I spoke to trading standards when I first realised the issue - they suggested that I was within my rights to be upset, and suggested that BMW should rectify the issue, provide monetary compensation, or that I return the car. This outcome should be mutually agreeable. Clearly Option 1 is the best to my mind, and I don't understand how the might of BMW can't figure it out.

Will keep you all posted with my little crusade.
 
Has anyone got an auto yet? And if so, what is the verdict?

We've been offered an auto due to the hill assist problem, but the car is for my partner and she is not keen as she has never driven an auto before. We have to make a decision quickly as our car will be here very soon, and changing to an auto will put the whole process back again.

It's a good offer to get it for free,and to me the 20i is more of a cruiser than a racer so couldwell be suited to it, but it's a big decision to make having never driven it. You do have the flappy paddles for manual changes as well.

We are going to have a drive in a friends new 23i auto this weekend, which is the six speed I know but should give my o/h a good idea as to how it drives.

Decisions, decisions........
 
I've been awarded the same £350 credit as others and I'm happy enough with this as I personally would refuse the option of an auto 'box. Great come resale time but I wouldn't enjoy the driving experience as much as with a manual 'box - its all personal taste. I 'complained' out of principle really as the car should never have been advertised with a feature it didn't have and I expect a brand such as BMW UK to go about their business in a more professional manor.

Having now covered 1100ish miles in the car, the lack of hill start assistant is not noticeable at all. It’s simply a matter of judging how long it takes the handbrake to disengage and applying power at the right time (which is now done without thinking). I honestly don't find it difficult or dangerous and doesn’t cause any more wear to the drivetrain or brakes than using a normal (non-electronic) handbrake.
During the first 200-300 miles starting on a gradient was difficult but might have been a matter of getting used to the car as a whole not struggling because of a missing feature. Cant be sure.

I'm not defending the lack of a supposedly standard feature and we should all be compensated in some way as the product was mis-sold. It just seems that people might be over-thinking the process of releasing the handbrake and driving off... :? Maybe it’s more of an issue if you have become used to a 'hill start assistant' in a previous car but I can’t comment on that.

Regardless of this issue, I hope nobody is letting this spoil the enjoyment of their new car. :thumbsup:
 
kevinmarkwhite said:
Obviously, if the foot brake NEEDS to be pressed, then you wont be able to get the clutch to biting point whilst applying some revs.
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I realise that this has now proven not to be the case, but even if it were then it would be easily achievable by using Heel & Toe.

One question for those of you who have the EPB - how difficult is it to achieve a controlled handbrake turn when using the EPB? I imagine that the on/off nature of it makes your timing much more critical?
 
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