New-style key & electronic parking brake.

[apersson850]

You have to have the seatbelt on for the parking brake to release automatically.

Today's key is much better. Just let it sit in your pocket and press the start/stop button when necessary. Just don't forget to check the "keyless" option, though.

I use my parking brake each time I'm hooking up a trailer, since engaging the P-position in an automatic gearbox isn't precise enough. There's some play before it engages.

[wimorrison]

There are several reasons for the new 'key' none the least of which is the significantly improved security that is gained.

You should always use the electronic parking brake when you have switched the engine off, firstly it is illegal to leave the car on a public highway without it applied, and secondly - and more importantly when you use P to prevent the car moving you are using the gearbox and transmission to hold the car placing considerable strain on these components and potentially inducing premature failure. Replacing brake pads is much cheaper and easier than a gearbox or final drive assembly.

As has been stated the automatic release is not random, put your seatbelt on and it will release every time.

[apersson850]

It's only if it's on a significant slope you'll put any strain on the transmission components by stopping the car with the gear selector in P position only.

Here there's no law saying that the parking brake must be applied anywhere, just that you should make sure that your car doesn't roll away inadvertently. A rock under a wheel is just fine, if you prefer that.

What's important is to not leave the car with the parking brake applied for a long time. Chances are that it will rust stuck, and then you may have problems disengaging it, or sometimes you'll find that it will ruin your pads when you start driving.

[wheelnut]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

As has been stated the automatic release is not random, put your seatbelt on and it will release every time.

Mine will release whether the seatbelt is on or not. It's just that occasionally it won't. Seatbelt is not a factor.

[apersson850]

Then something is wrong, because the seat belt should be a factor.

[Nick44]

Hi All,
I hated the EPB when I first had it, until I understood it, now I love it except for where the lever is in the car.
Wheelnut is right, if you have your belt on it lets go automatically every time, and hill starts are a dream.
If yours is not letting go by itself you have a fault.
Both comments regarding using park are sort of right, IMHO, with the engine stopped and the transmission locked (park) there is not any significant strain on things. A steel peg fits in a hole and locks everything.
Bit different on Gen 3 cars where the service pads are the same as the parking brake ones. Good advice on disc braked cars that used separate shoes (Gen 2) was always to use the handbrake while waiting at lights rather than the footbrake. Reason was because of heat build up, for example coming off a Motorway slip, fairly heavy braking, disc gets hot. If you sit at the lights with the footbrake on the the heat in the disc where the pads are gets trapped and the disc will warp.
I use park now instead of the EPB as it allows the disc to cool evenly.
Hope this helps.