minor annoyance when parked on a slope

[Blue Mountain Raider]

hi guys i just discovered this awesome x5 community. for those of you who have more experience with cars perhaps u can help me identify this minor problem

so whenever i have x5 (2003) parked on a slope then leave, when i come back after awhile i start the car, slam the breaks then release hand break, when try to change the gear i found there was some kind of resistance preventing me from switching the gear. i have to use a little bit more force.

if the car is parked on a level ground everything is normal.

the same thing happens to my other VW as well. just wondering what is cauing this. thank you.

[X5Jay]

When you park on a hill, don't take your foot off the brake before you set the hand brake. If you do, you're allowing the gear teeth to rest on each other to hold the vehicle in place, and with quite a bit of weight and force. You want to let the parking brake take that force, and not the gears. When you're ready to drive off, again, firmly press the brake and hold it while releasing the hand brake. This should make it easier to shift it into gear as there will be less pressure on the gears trying to hold the car in place. This is true of any vehicle. Did I explain this ok?

[phil47]

When parking on a slope...I brake, pull the handbrake hard and finally engage Park. When leaving, I step on the brake and then engage Drive (or Reverse) before releasing the handbrake.

I think the old saying for the emergency brake is "First on...Last off".

[X5Jay]

Originally Posted by phil47

I think the old saying for the emergency brake is "First on...Last off".

Even better...

[Blue Mountain Raider]

thanks alot i will try this out