[gaz26]

Do you use Auto Hold all the time? When I picked my X3 up the dealer said just turn it off when parking

[powertech83]

Originally Posted by gaz26

Do you use Auto Hold all the time? When I picked my X3 up the dealer said just turn it off when parking

I use it all the time, quite useful in stop and go traffic.
I also turn it off when parking since when I am parking I often let the car move without pressing the accelerator.

[Teemo Panda]

Auto Hold is a awesome function in conjunction with auto stop start on tragic lights

[CCL]

Originally Posted by gaz26

Do you use Auto Hold all the time? When I picked my X3 up the dealer said just turn it off when parking

I use it a lot but sometimes it can be a bit irritating. For example, if I am letting the car "slide" in slow moving traffic without pressing the accelerator, the Auto Hold can sometimes kick in and then the car comes to an abrupt halt. The sound of the brakes caused by that sudden stop is not pleasant as well....

Overall, for some reasons, I think it is probably safer to not use it and only use it on hills since your car can slide backwards without Auto Hold.

[gareth3685]

Definitely turn it off when parking - I always think I've hit something when I park with it on as it stops you when you are not expecting it.

[powertech83]

Originally Posted by CCL

.... only use it on hills since your car can slide backwards without Auto Hold.

The car has hill-start assist, so if you are on a hill the car will hold even if auto-hold feature is off.
Hill-start assist will not hold your car permanently like auto-hold does though, it holds for just a few seconds, but more than enough time to move your feet on brake pedal to the accelerator.

[Nahoa]

I think it's a great feature and I use it every day. I do turn it off when parking, as I often move slowly to adjust position precisely in narrow spots and the Auto Hold will sometimes grab to bring the car to a stop.

[dathrilla]

ive been reading quite a few threads on rear brake pads not lasting as long as the fronts...could this be attributed to the auto hold? Id imagine it will accelerate brake pad wear....

[Teemo Panda]

I always use AH, the trick when using it on the city is that you have to break early and slowly/gently when in incoming to a stop light.

[troggy1969]

Autohold shouldn't increase break wear. Brakes don't wear when stopped and autohold doesn't apply when travelling at any speed.

I would guess the biggiest contributer to brake wear is the brake function on cruise which only works on the rear.

I know I'm off track with this one, so to get back on, I love Autohold

[April1]

Originally Posted by troggy1969

Autohold shouldn't increase break wear. Brakes don't wear when stopped and autohold doesn't apply when travelling at any speed.

I would guess the biggiest contributer to brake wear is the brake function on cruise which only works on the rear.

I know I'm off track with this one, so to get back on, I love Autohold

Auto hold does affect the brakes wear as brakes with this feature on are fully released when the speed goes above a small threshold value and net torque is positive on the wheels.

[mibmwx3]

I rarely use auto hold as I rarely see stop-and-go traffic. Used it a few times when traffic was backed up for an accident and a few times at drive-in restaurants. I have never used the cruise control. My brakes appear to be holding up better than most.

[April1]

Auto hold is useful when you stop your car for a while on up slopes where there is a tendency for the car to roll back if brakes are released. It makes no sense to use on a flat or down hill roads.

[brissim]

After 12 months of ownership I would say the auto-hold is probably the most appreciated unexpected feature of our X3. We both have it on the whole time and only complaint is the need to put it on every time we start the car. Wish we could set it on by default (yes I know it probably can with re-coding). Never had an issue with it. Even with the admittidly very rare reverse parking I have done have left it on. Not concerned about possible increased brake pad because pad changes are covered under the service agreement I have on the car.

Tony

[DonC]

I'm getting use to it...

[ReturnZero]

Originally Posted by brissim

After 12 months of ownership I would say the auto-hold is probably the most appreciated unexpected feature of our X3. We both have it on the whole time and only complaint is the need to put it on every time we start the car. Wish we could set it on by default (yes I know it probably can with re-coding). Never had an issue with it. Even with the admittidly very rare reverse parking I have done have left it on. Not concerned about possible increased brake pad because pad changes are covered under the service agreement I have on the car.

Tony

This exactly. I love it. I came from manual transmission cars, and one of the things I hated about automatic cars was that the stupid things start moving forward when you let off the brakes. With auto hold that problem is fixed! I turn it on every day and also wish I could program it to be on all the time. I also like how when I'm parked and done I can just push the start/stop button without having to put it in park or do anything else, it puts it in park sets the parking brake and everything is done. The only time I don't use it is when I'm pulling out of the garage.

I love sitting at a stoplight or wherever without having the hold the brake. It's going to be difficult to go to another car that doesn't have it. Guess I'll just have to get another BMW next.

[CCL]

Originally Posted by powertech83

The car has hill-start assist, so if you are on a hill the car will hold even if auto-hold feature is off.
Hill-start assist will not hold your car permanently like auto-hold does though, it holds for just a few seconds, but more than enough time to move your feet on brake pedal to the accelerator.

How do you turn Hill-start assist on? My X3 was rolling down as if I was driving a manual car.

[Teemo Panda]

Originally Posted by CCL

How do you turn Hill-start assist on? My X3 was rolling down as if I was driving a manual car.

there should be a button that has the car going down image with a speedometer, it should be below the comfort, sport button or next to the transmission lever.

[Nahoa]

The button with the car, slope, and speedo is the Hill Descent Control that helps you descend very steep terrain. Hill-start assist is continuously on, no need to do anything.

[sfax]

It can be useful but it's also annoying when combined with start/stop because you lose your brake pedal control of start/stop and it can end up stopping a lot for <5 seconds at a time, which doesn't actually save you any fuel (or so I've read) but does add unnecessary wear and tear

[n55x3]

Originally Posted by troggy1969

Autohold shouldn't increase break wear. Brakes don't wear when stopped and autohold doesn't apply when travelling at any speed.

Agreed. No measurable brake pad wear from using auto hold function. There may be miniscule loss of pad material but nothing that would warrant accelerated brake pad wear.

Now maybe if AH tried to engage at 30 MPH you might see some wear and tear but since it only engages at less than .5 mph there is not enough friction or heat generated to permit brake pad wear.

I also like the function. It definitely comes in handy at times.

[powertech83]

Originally Posted by CCL

How do you turn Hill-start assist on? My X3 was rolling down as if I was driving a manual car.

Nahoa is correct, it is constantly on, the car should detects that you are on an uphill.
Maybe in your case, the inclination was not steep enough to trigger the hill-start assist sensor? You can tell if hillstart assist is activated if you lift off the brake pedal on an incline (with auto hold feature turned off) and press it again, the pedal will be stiff as if the auto hold is on.