S650 with Performance Pack "Emergency Brake"

[DCS]

A traditional cable driven emergency brake can be used to slow and stop a car when there is a brake failure in the hydraulic system. The "Parking brake" I have can also be used as a Drift brake IF that option is turned on.
Here's my question. Can this hand brake be used to slow the car in motion or will it simply lock up the rear wheels as if I was parking?

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[DukeCLR]

I tried it the other night while going really slow, it grabbed really hard after a short delay.

 

[samson]

I don't know they answer but that's a really good question. Since it is an electronic brake I'm guessing it can't be used incrementally to slow the car, in the same way my switch activated parking brake is simply an on or off switch.

 

[DCS]

I tried it the other night while going really slow, it grabbed really hard after a short delay.

That's what I was afraid of. Glad you tested it!

 

[GhastlyTT]

Yeah, no linearity to it. There's also no mention of emergency brake in the manual, just parking brake. At least dragging the rears in an emergency will help you come to a stop faster than free spinning wheels.

 

[DCS]

Yeah, no linearity to it. There's also no mention of emergency brake in the manual, just parking brake. At least dragging the rears in an emergency will help you come to a stop faster than free spinning wheels.

Then why the handle on the performance pack vehicles? Might as well just have the pull/push button. Or is it all for show?

 

[Sofa King]

In drift mode, I believe it is variable by how much you pull on it... leave the drift mode on while driving just in case? lol.

 

[DCS]

In drift mode, I believe it is variable by how much you pull on it... leave the drift mode on while driving just in case? lol.

Now that makes more sense! I'll have to try it.

 

[GhastlyTT]

In drift mode, I believe it is variable by how much you pull on it... leave the drift mode on while driving just in case? lol.

Here's what the manual says about "Drift brake":
Note:When the feature is on, the brake
handle applies braking to the rear wheels
only and locks up the rear wheels. When the
feature is off, the brake handle works like
the foot brake and applies braking to all four
wheels.

I haven't tried it myself but when I had the console apart to do my shifter it looked like a fancy switch rather than a potentiometer or hall effect based axis. I didn't look all too closely so I'd be happily surprised.

 

[DCS]

Here's what the manual says about "Drift brake":
Note:When the feature is on, the brake
handle applies braking to the rear wheels
only and locks up the rear wheels. When the
feature is off, the brake handle works like
the foot brake and applies braking to all four
wheels.

I haven't tried it myself but when I had the console apart to do my shifter it looked like a fancy switch rather than a potentiometer or hall effect based axis. I didn't look all too closely so I'd be happily surprised.

Either way it's a switch, so not good as an "emergency brake".

 

[Sofa King]

While I have not tried the drift brake so can't say for sure... (I have never thought my tires had too much rubber on them, lol). I just remembered some of the comments from the early drifting videos, that said they had to figure out how much brake to get a good drift... so maybe that only meant where and how long you hold it, but they made it sound as it were variable.

 

[Karguy]

I dont understand why OEMs try to reinvent the wheel and make stuff worse....Like Touchscreens that have no buttons to turn or push and probably stay dark after ten years...Steering wheels like the squercle on the Corvette or electric instead of cable operated hand brakes that do all or nothing...Leave good enough or perfect alone instead of making things worse for news sake or to save a buck !!!

 

[roadpilot]

I dont understand why OEMs try to reinvent the wheel and make stuff worse....Like Touchscreens that have no buttons to turn or push and probably stay dark after ten years...Steering wheels like the squercle on the Corvette or electric instead of cable operated hand brakes that do all or nothing...Leave good enough or perfect alone instead of making things worse for news sake or to save a buck !!!

Cars with touchscreens have been around far, far longer than 10 years and I can't say I've ever heard of the virtual buttons "staying dark" ...

 

[samson]

As much as people hate against electronic handbrakes ... for a daily driver they're perfect.
The one in my Mercedes works so well you forget that cars have handbrakes at all as i never have to interact with it. It does it's thing in the background and it's totally seamless.
I've never felt the need to do a handbrake turn so i don't mis it at all.

Agree and this is one of the reasons I didn't get the PP. I like the simple switch. A big ugly handle reminds me of my old 1982 Civic. Button looks better and doesn't take up space. I like either a button or a foot operated emergency brake like my Grand Cherokee. Unless you drift, you don't need a handle anymore.

 

[Wiley Marmot]

Hhhhhmmmm?????? Need to keep a closer eye on this bunch. Some of them are showing definite signs of youthful over exuberance and anti social driving tendencies.

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