Is there a knack to the W204 foot operated parking brake?

[gmaz]

My first post in the Mercedes section as I've just put a deposit on a 2014 W204 Coupé which I'm pretty happy with.

The only thing is how to use the foot operated parking brake in day to day driving. It's a manual car so I have 4 pedals to orchestrate while doing a hill start or reverse parallel parking on a gradient.

So, how do you do it?

Edited by gmaz on Monday 30th January 15:58

[krisdelta]

It may have hill-hold assist fitted alongside the manual foot(hand) brake - it would require you (I think!) to depress the brakes and clutch, you'll see "HOLD" come up on the dash, then as you fed the clutch and accellerator back in, it would release the foot brake. Worth a hunt through the user manual and asking the salesman when you do the handover to show you.

[buggalugs]

The brakes will have hill hold, also the handbrake release is by hand so just the clutch and accelerator to worry about feet wise.

[JimmyR1]

It will have "Hill Start assist" ie holds the car momentarily when you move foot from brake to accelerator, as in doing a hill start in a manual. There is also a Hold feature ie you are on an incline, with your foot on the brake holding the car. You can then give extra push on brake pedal to activate it, a Hold symbol comes up on the dash, and you can then remove your foot from the brake completely. Hold will be deactivated when you apply accelerator (and release clutch in a manual).
Only time you need to use the (foot operated) "handbrake" is when parking the car on an incline.

[mike_e]

I was this exact same position a few years back, seems ludicrous on the face of it but you hit the nail on the head when you said parking brake, you only need the foot/hand operated brake for parking. Others have described the other two features which, once mastered, makes it an absolute doddle to use. Double dab of the brake pedal to HOLD the car then drive of as normal, brakes release automatically as you pull away, and very smoothly too, far better than my Jag with the same feature

[MX-5 Lazza]

I wasn't sure at first either but now I love it. The foot operated parking brake is for parking only. It never gets used at any other time. There is hill assist which holds the foot brake for a couple of seconds and there is a hold function which you activate with a double-pump on the foot brake which holds the brake in until you drive off or press the brake again.

[jet_noise]

Does this feature illuminate the brake lights while active?

[MX-5 Lazza]

I think so. I'm always in the car at the time though 😉
It's only for remaining stationary for a while though, such as sitting at traffic lights, not for longer stopping/parking. No different to sitting with your foot on the brake pedal.

[jet_noise]

That's what I thought. Always been reluctant to use it for any length of time for that reason.

[mike_e]

I don't think it does on my C63, the double tap operates the ABC valve which holds the brakes on, the brake lights operate from the pedal which should be fully up when using the hold feature.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I'm sure I've seen the high level brake light on in the rear window with the brake hold set. That's on a 2011 facelift C220 CDI.