Acceleration pedal sitting lower than brake

Acceleration pedal sitting lower than brake

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Discussion

klaxhu

Original Poster:

2 posts

71 months

Friday 20th April 2018
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Hi all,

New to the forum but I have been reading it on and off.
I got a few months ago a new BMW X3 and it has a "design feature" which really bothers me on longer drives. I do use cruise control as much as possible however this is still an issue for me.

The accelerator hinged pedal sits way lower than the brake and no matter how I set my seat this seems to create pain in my lower foot because I have to lift my foot quite a bit to hit the break. Had BMW's and other cars before but it never felt this bad.

Are there any risers I could use (please not something ugly as the ones that short people have to use) or do I have to DIY something here?


thecremeegg

1,951 posts

202 months

Friday 20th April 2018
quotequote all
You've probably got more chance of moving the brake pedal I would think? Might have been badly adjusted at some point and can be moved back.
Or get one of those metal covers for the accelerator that will give it some more height?

CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

197 months

Friday 20th April 2018
quotequote all
It should do, otherwise you couldn't heel & toe. In most modern cars the brake pedal is too low, I find.
I dunno if they'll be adjustable on production cars tbh.

Car-Matt

1,923 posts

137 months

Friday 20th April 2018
quotequote all
I doub't you can heel and toe in an X3 anyway.......most modern ECU's in run of the mill non sports cars dont like throttle and brake together and just cut the throttle input.

The last road car i could heel & toe and left foot brake was a y-plate Fiesta Z-S

syl

693 posts

74 months

Friday 20th April 2018
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I'm not a fan of "organ" style accelerator pedals myself, but perhaps down to the few cars I've driven that have had them.

Donbot

3,892 posts

126 months

Friday 20th April 2018
quotequote all
Car-Matt said:
I doub't you can heel and toe in an X3 anyway.......most modern ECU's in run of the mill non sports cars dont like throttle and brake together and just cut the throttle input.

The last road car i could heel & toe and left foot brake was a y-plate Fiesta Z-S
This is just a drive by wire thing isn't it? Or do modern cars all have electronic throttles now?

CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

197 months

Friday 20th April 2018
quotequote all
Car-Matt said:
I doub't you can heel and toe in an X3 anyway.......most modern ECU's in run of the mill non sports cars dont like throttle and brake together and just cut the throttle input.

The last road car i could heel & toe and left foot brake was a y-plate Fiesta Z-S
I don't know if "most" is true. I know that some do. My alfa doesn't though, for example.

scotty_e46

5 posts

100 months

Friday 20th April 2018
quotequote all
Shirley the idea is that if you have to panic brake... you will hit the brake before you touch the throttle
Maybe im old school....

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Friday 20th April 2018
quotequote all
Audis are even more exaggerated.

I can't drive them as I get cramp in my calf if stuck in traffic.



Redline88

381 posts

105 months

Friday 20th April 2018
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It’s an auto so not much heel and toe likely to be going on no matter what height the pedals are...

Contract Killer

4,381 posts

182 months

Friday 20th April 2018
quotequote all
Learn to left foot brake. That's what i do in auto’s.


Car-Matt

1,923 posts

137 months

Friday 20th April 2018
quotequote all
Contract Killer said:
Learn to left foot brake. That's what i do in auto’s.
Why on earth would you bother

Lfb is only really useful for balancing weight distribution whilst still on throttle, unlikely to be of much use in an X3 lolololol

Car-Matt

1,923 posts

137 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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As I said rather pointless without purpose

Flibble

6,470 posts

180 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Car-Matt said:
I doub't you can heel and toe in an X3 anyway.......most modern ECU's in run of the mill non sports cars dont like throttle and brake together and just cut the throttle input.

The last road car i could heel & toe and left foot brake was a y-plate Fiesta Z-S
I have heard this myth many times, and yet no road car I've driven has cut the power under braking. A lot are awkward to h&t due to pedal layout, but never due to lock out.

giantdefy

684 posts

112 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Flibble said:
I have heard this myth many times, and yet no road car I've driven has cut the power under braking.
My last 5 cars, the ones with instantaneous petrol consumption displays, have all cut the fuel to the engine and thus any power when braking

Shiv_P

2,724 posts

104 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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BMW with a problem on PH? Not allowed

Car-Matt

1,923 posts

137 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Nanook said:
Car-Matt said:
As I said rather pointless without purpose
Why is it pointless?

Can you explain? Braking generally, is not pointless, so why is it pointless to use your left foot?
Unless you’re using throttle too then it’s much more natural to use your right foot and if you have an unexpected situation and reflex takes over its best to be using the foot you’d naturally use without thought.

Each to their own but imo LFB just for the sake of it is fairly pointless

457892345

406 posts

75 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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The brake pedal has a rather thick rubber sleeve over its metal part wheras the accelerator at least in mine is just one piece of plastic, you can get metal cover for them for £10-£20 on ebay, drill them on, looks better and feels much better too.

Edited by 457892345 on Saturday 21st April 12:44

fausTVR

1,442 posts

149 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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The OP could try sporting the platform shoes favoured by Elton John circa 1974 for criusing along, a quick change into deck shoes before braking, problem solved. smile

klaxhu

Original Poster:

2 posts

71 months

Monday 23rd April 2018
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thanks all for responses. I've counter two on the actual subject and the rest seem to go into a separate topic of what is the best way to drive in traffic. A point well made was to talk to BMW and tell them about the issue, maybe they can adjust the break pedal

will come back with feedback once I tried a few avenues.