Failing parking system

C

Cindyjohnson66

New member
Hi I am new to this forum. I just purchased I just purchased a Z for M 40 I convertible and had an interesting situation. The car was in park I double check it every time because of the new way of having to park a car compared to other cars I’ve had in the past. I had an appointment and during that appointment a person came in to tell me my car had backed into another car in the parking lot. Another gentleman who had witnessed the situation followed me to the car and verified that yes the car was in park. He thought based upon the situation that he could push my car off the car and head back into thinking that the car was a neutral. The car that was in Park could not be pushed. He tried a few times and I kept telling him the car was in park so again he went to verify and saw that yes it was in park. I had to start the car and move the car off the other car in order to finish up to contact my insurance and make this claim. I am concerned that this is a default in the car That is yet to be discovered. I am curious if any other car owner similar to mine have run into the situation. I have to prove that this was not my negligence and is actually an issue with the parking system itself. Any insight that you can provide me would be greatly appreciated. My email address is [email protected]. If you could contact me if you’ve had similar issues I would greatly appreciate it. BMW has informed me that this has never happened before. Thank you
 
Cindyjohnson66 said:
Hi I am new to this forum. I just purchased I just purchased a Z for M 40 I convertible and had an interesting situation. The car was in park I double check it every time because of the new way of having to park a car compared to other cars I’ve had in the past. I had an appointment and during that appointment a person came in to tell me my car had backed into another car in the parking lot. Another gentleman who had witnessed the situation followed me to the car and verified that yes the car was in park. He thought based upon the situation that he could push my car off the car and head back into thinking that the car was a neutral. The car that was in Park could not be pushed. He tried a few times and I kept telling him the car was in park so again he went to verify and saw that yes it was in park. I had to start the car and move the car off the other car in order to finish up to contact my insurance and make this claim. I am concerned that this is a default in the car That is yet to be discovered. I am curious if any other car owner similar to mine have run into the situation. I have to prove that this was not my negligence and is actually an issue with the parking system itself. Any insight that you can provide me would be greatly appreciated. My email address is [email protected]. If you could contact me if you’ve had similar issues I would greatly appreciate it. BMW has informed me that this has never happened before. Thank you
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Good morning and welcome.
This seems a most peculiar situation?
Are you saying the car started itself and reversed? Or rolled back on a slope.
Although you say it's a new way to park a car (not sure quite what you mean), I would still expect the handbrake to function in the same way. Did you apply it? If not, I don't think your claim will get very far.
Does your car have auto stop/start?
My wife has a habit of stopping the car and walking away, forgetting to turn it off, as the engine has already stopped. A couple of times the car has later on started itself while sat on the drive. But that is only if she hasn't locked it.
I would verify that you have carried out everything properly before trying to claim a fault with the car.
 
If an automatic car is left in park then it shouldn't be able to move more than a couple of inches even if the handbrake is off. I think the Z4 reminds you with a bleep if you turn the ignition off and its not in park. Also you cannot get it out of park without the engine running unless you remove the gear stick gaiter and do something underneath it (the manual explains this).
If the engine has incredibly low compression then it might be possible for it to roll down a steep hill whilst in park!
 
Thinking on it. Are you sure your car moved backwards? Not the other guy running in to your car then trying to baffle you with science to get away with it?
 
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