Can't park straight

[billspreston]

I have a confession. I've had my 1er for 3 months now and still have trouble parking straight in a parking spot. Never had this problem in any of my older cars including my E92. I think the problem for me is the curved door panels on the 1er make it difficult to judge if I'm parallel for some reason.

Funny and embarrassing at times, but I just can't help it. Is my brain wired incorrectly or does anyone else notice this? Hopefully I'll get used to it

[mephiska]

The hood curvature is what throws me. I'm used to a slightly concaved angular hood. Makes it hard when I'm pulling into my garage, always think I'm going to scrape the wall, but I haven't yet (knock on wood)

[Tom K.]

Bill, do you mean when pulling forward into a parking space or backwards? Forward is no problem, but I have a hard time lining up both my E46 and my 128i when reversing into a spot.

Tom

[ronster]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Bill, do you mean when pulling forward into a parking space or backwards? Forward is no problem, but I have a hard time lining up both my E46 and my 128i when reversing into a spot.

Tom

+1

[billspreston]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Bill, do you mean when pulling forward into a parking space or backwards? Forward is no problem, but I have a hard time lining up both my E46 and my 128i when reversing into a spot.

Tom

Both! Always seem to end up angled slightly towards the driver side...

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by billspreston

Both! Always seem to end up angled slightly towards the driver side...

Hmmm. I ordered my 128i with the park distance control (rear camera) and notice that the front camera is available on the 5 & 7 series. Perhaps future BMWs will include side cameras as well for us directionally challenged drivers!

Tom

[Phased]

I had someone comment on my parking at the mall today, saying "wow, nice reverse parking, that is perfect." Guy was waiting to get into the car beside me.

I think the car has really good visability compared to most, though a bit worse than my E30 did.

[ennislaw]

I only have about 1500 miles on my 135, so maybe I'm just not used to the car not having had a BMW before. But from the inside, the car feels much larger on the outside than it is. When I parallel park, I'm usually way too far from the curb, then I have to do it again constantly fearing that I'll scrape the wheels. Even backing up, I find that I usually back up further than necessary. The 1-er is not that large of a car, but for some reason I find myself allowing much more space for it than required. (The size if one reason I got it, just perfect for me, so I'm very happy with its dimensions.)

Is this what the OP is talking about?

pge

[billspreston]

^^ Lol no parallel parking is fine. Having forged wheels on the E92 for 3 years gave me enough curb rash butt clenching to perfect my parallel parking skills. For some reason I park like this |\| in normal parking slots in the 1er. For me, I think its the curved door panels I'm not used to that throw my alignment off.

[OhMyGoose]

Originally Posted by billspreston

^^ Lol no parallel parking is fine. Having forged wheels on the E92 for 3 years gave me enough curb rash butt clenching to perfect my parallel parking skills. For some reason I park like this |\| in normal parking slots in the 1er. For me, I think its the curved door panels I'm not used to that throw my alignment off.

If you're crooked pulling forward into a parking space, maybe you took too shallow of a turn when pulling in? Have you tried "swinging" the car into the space?

[billspreston]

Originally Posted by OhMyGoose

If you're crooked pulling forward into a parking space, maybe you took too shallow of a turn when pulling in? Have you tried "swinging" the car into the space?

I don't think its anything to do with technique, just how the curve of the door panel plays tricks with my eyes whether I'm parallel or not. I'm sure I'll get used to it, just curious if anyone else had this problem

[Itanius]

I have the same problem. I just open my door a little or stick my head out the window as I pull in so I can see the parking stripe.

[Erik219]

ha, I'm not alone
I was used to driving 4-doors, and they usually are straight at the back, much easier to get it parallel. The curved 'booty' of the 1 makes it more difficult, but after 7 months of practice, I'm getting better at it

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by ennislaw

When I parallel park, I'm usually way too far from the curb, then I have to do it again constantly fearing that I'll scrape the wheels...The 1-er is not that large of a car, but for some reason I find myself allowing much more space for it than required.

+1

I really don't want to scrape my wheels. But I also really don't want to get sideswiped by a bread truck because I parked too far from the curb.

[FJUNO78]

i always park a foot away from the curb. The car is small enough that I do not stick out into the street.

[ennislaw]

Originally Posted by FJUNO78

i always park a foot away from the curb. The car is small enough that I do not stick out into the street.

Yes, I suspect I'm just not used to driving the 1-er yet. The car is off such dimensions, at least here in the States you can park a good way from the curb and still not come even close to outside edge of the SUV in front of you and the F-150 behind you.

pge