First gear and e-brake, cause it's what my Dad taught me years ago.

 

I put it in whatever gear I'll be using when I drive out. Pulled into the garage, it goes in reverse. Backed into a parking spot, it goes into first. And I always use the E-Brake (unless it's really cold out).

 

A friend of my wife asked me last weekend if I park the MCS in neutral so it can be pushed around as need be by the horrible parking SUVs here in SF. I had to laugh. This ain't Paris 1960! Touch not!

 

THAT'S what I was concerned about. The transmission being loaded with the weight of the car. Then, with it loaded, pulling it out of gear & doing damage. 10 years of manual cars & I've never been concerned, but now I want to make sure I'm as nice as possible to my MINI.

 

This makes complete sense to me. As I haven't driven a manual much in the past 10 years, I am still a bit antsy about re-learning the basics on my baby and putting him at risk. Something like the car lunging forward 1 foot and dinging something is exactly what I'll be worried about along with stalls for the first week or so.

Good thread, thanks for the input all.

 

I haven't noticed if the back up lights come on on start up.

To my knowlege, BMW/MINI dosesn't use the drum/disk setup.

 

Mine's always in 1st... I park on level ground. Any incline and the hand brake is on too.

 

I question whether it's an issue about using the E brake because it may warp the rotors if applied when/if rear brakes are hot. The E brake activates the rear brakes, and under normal driving the fronts take the brunt of stopping force, not the rears. So unless you're doing a few dozen handbrake turns before you park the car and apply the E brake, I don't think it's a problem, under normal usage. I always put my car in gear, usually first, and apply the E brake, just to keep the bases covered. Jimbo

 

But when you are at the track maxing out the capibilities of the stock braking system all four are braking, constantly remember the alphabet brakes distrubute the force so even if the bias is in front the rears can still get a work out there have been many times in the 5 minutes to the gas station on an early morning get out begin to pump gas and I feel the heat rising out from the rear wheels. alot has to do with your driving style, and in every day driving it is usually not a concern, but when going to the track it is a concern.

 

Gee, sounds like the best thing would be some airplane chocks, or would those be MINI chocks???!!!

 

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manual_...ving_technique ,

"For extra security, especially when parking on hills, the transmission may be placed into first or reverse gear after the parking brake is engaged. It doesn't matter which one, although if the driver knows which of the two has a lower gear ratio, that one should be preferred, since it is in the lowest gear ratio that the engine will provide the most resistance to the movement of the car."

I think that means 1st gear, but 1st & reverse are close enough that it doesn't matter, I used to do the opposite gear of the direction it would roll in thing, but according to that page, that's useless.

 

I'm seriously considering bring some blocks of wood the next time I go, would take much to cut them in chocks and paint the MINI logo on them, good idea!

 

Me too. Done this for years, never lost a tranny yet

 

I do first gear and ebrake when flat and nose pointing up, otherwise R & ebrake when nose pointing down....

 

It never even occurred to me to leave it in neutral. I was taught always 1st and E-brake.

 

First and e-brake, and it doesn't matter which way I'm pointing. I've gotten into the habit of putting the clutch and brake in, then drop to neutral, and then disengage the e-brake. That way I don't rev and run into a car immediately.

 

Great big gobs of superglue under each tire. No rolling!

 

Another gear junkie here. I'll generally use just the gear to park, and if on an incline, use the e-brake and then leave it in gear for good measure, also with the front wheels turned so that if the car does roll, they will hit the curb rather than let it roll away.

 

Parking in gear should be fine until you get towed... then its good luck to ya

 

Emergency brake and _any_ gear does just fine. The only time I don't set the e-brake is in the winter when the temps drop below freezing, and I've driven through moisture such as rain, snow, or slush. I've had more than one e-brake cable freeze up overnight leaving me stranded in the AM.

 

If i'm at home in the garage or parked in a level spot I usually just pull the e-brake. If I'm on any kind of incline at all I put it in Reverse.

 

I make sure to put the car into first then with the clutch in I pull the ebrake and then turn the car off so it's still in first. Trust me I've had other cars roll down the driveway and across the street on me with just the ebrake before. Quite embarrassing when a neighbor knocks on the door to tell you that your car is sitting across the street in the middle of the road!!

 

I only use the E Brake on hills
I am so thpe "A" that in my driveway (a very slight incline) I set in gear and have a block of wood to place behind the wheel.

 

The E Brake is a cam actuated on the disc piston ...
your brakes are your E Brakes

 

I never leave the car in gear. My father does and everytime I go to start his car I stall it. =P