[andyoesq]

Is there a computer override which would prevent putting the parking brake on or putting the car in park while driving?
I am assuming it won't let you put the car in park accidentally while driving, but I dropped my blackberry while driving this morning, and almost hit the "park" button on top of the gear shift, and had visions of the transmission falling out of the bottom of my car.

[XRP]

i dont think the computer will let it... but i don't want to try myself...

[fedinand]

Originally Posted by XRP

i dont think the computer will let it... but i don't want to try myself...

This is one case where I will assume it does...but won't test it myself!

[tuco44]

A better question might be why were you using your Blackberry and driving??

[andyoesq]

I was using the reflection from the blackberry screen to help me shave while I was driving, while eating pizza with my other hand, without my contact lenses in, while driving in a blizzard.

But thank you for adding to the discussion with a relevant point.

[pokerface]

i hit it during a test drive (and yes I asked my CA if I could do it)... i was doing above 15kmh when i hit it. What I got instead was a warning on the idrive screen and a gong.

Note - I did not see what would happen if I tapped the Start/Stop button.

[andyoesq]

that makes sense, and would be what I would assume would happen.
Is it the same for the parking brake? I kind of liked the knowledge that, if anything happened to the brakes, the old version had the "oh crap" handle where you could apply the parking break in an emergency. Would the new parking brake activate while you are driving?

[Lotus7]

Originally Posted by andyoesq

that makes sense, and would be what I would assume would happen.
Is it the same for the parking brake? I kind of liked the knowledge that, if anything happened to the brakes, the old version had the "oh crap" handle where you could apply the parking break in an emergency. Would the new parking brake activate while you are driving?

The electrically activated parking brake will activate while the X3 is moving at any speed. However it will not "lock" on unless the car is moving less then 3kph/2mph. You must pull up on the brake switch and HOLD it to keep the brakes on. The brakes activate at about a 50-60% level on dry pavement and can be modulated by pulling and releasing the switch. Once the car stops moving, the parking brake will lock on normally.

It's not as controllable as an old-fashioned lever, but does work pretty well (I tried it).

Haven't had a chance to try it on snow or glare ice, but assume the vehicle ABS will pulse the brakes and allow a controlled stop.

It's interesting that when Porsche slipped in the electronic parking brake activation on the Cayenne and the Panamera models no one in the press seemed to take any notice. Now that they've announced that electrically operated parking/emergency brakes will be standard on 2012 model year 911's there is press and owner outrage before anyone has even had a chance to try them.

[andyoesq]

Thanks Lotus!
Good to know