I opted for DSC for my R56 Cooper manual. The DSC came with a Hill-start Assist function. It works well for me for many times but I had a few embarassing moments on steeper ramps. The engine stalled and I had to pull out the key, push in again before I could press to start.

I wonder if you guys have an experience in this regard? Could the "auto hand brake" be exerting the same or more pressure on a steeper slope, compared to a more gentle slope ? Or is it the timing of release of the "auto hand brake" can be different ? Thanks for any advice on this mechanical aspect.

On steeper hills surely it would be better to use the handbrake rather than the footbrake, therefore not needing to call in the use of the hill assist :puzzled:

I quite like having the hill assist (now I know I have it :p) but dont rely on it, I just notice it on the odd occasion.

On steeper hills surely it would be better to use the handbrake rather than the footbrake, therefore not needing to call in the use of the hill assist :puzzled:

I quite like having the hill assist (now I know I have it :p) but dont rely on it, I just notice it on the odd occasion.

Or if you own a Factory JCW car, then you could just dump the clutch at 6000rpm and hang on for dear life....right Jo! :biggrin:

stalls because you gave it no throttle when pulling off on a hill ?

I love the function and not sure what your getting at

Hill assist is brilliant and works perfectly on the steepest of hills provided you give the car the appropriate amount of throttle to move off.

Are you talking about auto cars only here?
I have a manual and DSC what does that mean, I presume its only for autos lol.

Are you talking about auto cars only here?
I have a manual and DSC what does that mean, I presume its only for autos lol.

No all manual cars with DSC after a certain production date have hill start assist - my car is a June 2008 manual Cooper D and it has it.

How do I know if I have it is the a special button? Mine is a feb 2008 so might be too early??

Sorry just looked it up in the handbook and I have got it but never really noticed it before, I will try it tomo providing theres no one up my bumper :)

Thanks, Rochie

Thanks for your feedback guys. I gather that it should be the throttle that was causing my problem, as I was usually very light on my throttle. My right foot must step a little harder than I used to. BTW, my car is manual.

Hi there
to engage the hill start you must ensure that your you push the brake pedal down as far as it will go and hold it firmly. just pushing the brake pedal will not register with the car and will presume you are on a flat. this way you shouldn't have to worry too much about throttle (but obviously enough to pull away, instead of some welly)
hope this helps

With Hill-start Assist / DSC and Auto trans, has anyone ever felt a slight RESISTANCE for a split second just after you stepped on the throttle to pull away? The sensation is best described as similar to pulling off with the handbrake left on, but only for a fraction of a second.

i quite like it, taken a while to get used to it. However its still taking me ages to be happy with the auto start/stop.

No all manual cars with DSC after a certain production date have hill start assist - my car is a June 2008 manual Cooper D and it has it.

my cooper was one of the first batch ever built (my VIN number is a load of 0's then "13" !), and it has Hill Assist. it's wonderful, especially in multi storey carparks :D

anyway... hillstart works great provided you give it the required amount of throttle to pull away. it's the same as if you had used the handbrake instead - you still have to provide the car with enough power to pull itself up the hill or you will stall.

I love this on my JCW... it's really natural to use.

If you're stalling then the solution is simple... you just need to give it more revs to set off :)

Yes, I was too light on the throttle before. I had put a little more gas since.

Now it is just natural to use. Great feature, esp when you're in the middle of a long traffic jam on a (up) slope.

I wonder if Mini have changed the hill-assist, or if there is just a big potential variation between cars (which would be poor for quality management reasons)? Having just got my second Mini. I'm amazed how much less the hill-assist works in the new car compared to the old.

The new car needs quite a slope to trigger it to operate, whereas the previous car would work on the slightest gradient, and the new car lets go of the brakes almost instantly whereas the old one held on to them for the best part of a second.

I've had a few 'rolling backwards' moments with the new car when it doesn't behave like the old one did - which shows you how used to the old one's hill-assist I had become.

One could always use the traditional old fashion way and use the handbrake of course, but you do need to know about clutch control.
Lots of these new gimmicks take away the need for the driver to use any skills these days.
A driver learning in a brand new car these days would be lost and horrified if they got into a car from the 1960's, I doubt they could even start it, whats a choke?