Left hand lean-back or Right hand reach-across

MicahO · Post by **MicahO** » Aug 30, 2012 8:34 AM

No, I'm not talking about your masturbatory tendencies. I'm asking about how you open the driver's door. The handle is not in an ergonomically perfect location, so I'm asking the completely useless question of the day.

waynet1 · Post by **waynet1** » Aug 30, 2012 8:40 AM

MicahO wrote: so I'm asking the completely useless question of the decade .

unt0uchable · Post by **unt0uchable** » Aug 30, 2012 8:41 AM

I just reach at it with my left hand. Doesn't seem to be anti-ergo to me. I'll have to pay more attention next time I do it....

Post by **Brad D.** » Aug 30, 2012 8:53 AM

Left hand.

ahab · Post by **ahab** » Aug 30, 2012 8:57 AM

I not only reach across with the right, after replacing the handle mechanism a few times over the past 25 years, I now subconsciously press my right thumb against the back of the handle to prevent the hinge pin from straining against the plastic holes. BTW, the handles can be taken apart and reassembled for use on either side of the car, there is no right and left even though it appears they are side specific.

TSMacNeil · Post by **TSMacNeil** » Aug 30, 2012 9:03 AM

Left hand....laid back, with my mind on my money and my money on my mind...

davintosh · Post by **davintosh** » Aug 30, 2012 9:08 AM

I'll have to pay attention next time I drive the thing.

I do know it's farther back in the door than I expect it to be and usually have to search for it, so I'm guessing it's the left.

don · Post by **don** » Aug 30, 2012 9:15 AM

slide seat fully back to avoid wear on bolster,open with left hand.

unt0uchable · Post by **unt0uchable** » Aug 30, 2012 9:30 AM

TSMacNeil wrote:Left hand....laid back, with my mind on my money and my money on my mind...

This was close to my initial thoughts. I do sit quite a bit distance back so it may not feel like it's misplaced...that's why I've never really paid much attention.

At least now I know I'm not the only one laid back a bit. lol

oldskool · Post by **oldskool** » Aug 30, 2012 9:59 AM

Whichever hand is not holding my beer.

Coldswede · Post by **Coldswede** » Aug 30, 2012 10:13 AM

I'm a righty, too awkward the Southpaw way.

Post by **tsmall07** » Aug 30, 2012 10:36 AM

I use my left hand. I'm tall, so I sit with the seat almost all the way back. The handle doesn't seem to be out of place for me.

alijonny · Post by **alijonny** » Aug 30, 2012 10:58 AM

Which hand do you use to open the Driver's door (when you are driving)

Trick question. I never open the door when driving.

Post by **Jeremy** » Aug 30, 2012 11:00 AM

ahab wrote:I not only reach across with the right, after replacing the handle mechanism a few times over the past 25 years, I now subconsciously press my right thumb against the back of the handle to prevent the hinge pin from straining against the plastic holes. BTW, the handles can be taken apart and reassembled for use on either side of the car, there is no right and left even though it appears they are side specific.

On my first e28 the handle hinge was just barely attached to the frame, so I started doing it the same way. Old habits die hard apparently, because I still open BMW doors that way, even in my e36. If I'm in the passenger seat of a BMW, I tend to reach across and open with my left hand.

Jeremy

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Aug 30, 2012 11:45 AM

Yeah, it always seemed way to far back to me. It's where almost everything is now, but the old style in the armrest on E's 3 and 12 seemed much more comfortable to me. Confused the hell out of some passengers who thought they were trapped, but it seemed natural to me.

AT8M5 · Post by **AT8M5** » Aug 30, 2012 12:00 PM

MicahO wrote:No, I'm not talking about your masturbatory tendencies. I'm asking about how you open the driver's door. The handle is not in an ergonomically perfect location, so I'm asking the completely useless question of the day.

Left hand for both, I'm a lefty.

Karl

Cactus · Post by **Cactus** » Aug 30, 2012 12:07 PM

Since I have Schrodinger's car, which either has a welded up door or is Jeep-Wrangler-doorless, I alternate between climbing out the window Dukes of Nascar style, and not worrying about it.

ahab · Post by **ahab** » Aug 30, 2012 12:20 PM

Mike W. wrote:Confused the hell out of some passengers who thought they were trapped, but it seemed natural to me.

That's another interesting point. 9 out of 10 passengers fumble around looking for a door handle when trying to get out of the car. 10 out of 10 at night. Same with the window switches. Idiots.

booker · Post by **booker** » Aug 30, 2012 12:38 PM

I tell people Germans have very short arms.

wkohler · Post by **wkohler** » Aug 30, 2012 5:15 PM

I just reach over and open the door. I don't have to contort my body to do so. I so looking forward to taking the E21 in for emissions test. They can never figure out how to get out.

swerved300 · Post by **swerved300** » Aug 30, 2012 9:36 PM

wkohler wrote:I just reach over and open the door. I don't have to contort my body to do so. I so looking forward to taking the E21 in for emissions test. They can never figure out how to get out.

haha, I was about to say the same thing. The '02 has the same 'under armrest' pull levers too(actually an excellent design, just not too safe from a thief with a coat hanger).

New ladies on first dates always had trouble with it, gives a great excuse to lean over them and get close.

Cactus · Post by **Cactus** » Aug 30, 2012 9:58 PM

swerved300 wrote:
wkohler wrote:I just reach over and open the door. I don't have to contort my body to do so. I so looking forward to taking the E21 in for emissions test. They can never figure out how to get out.
haha, I was about to say the same thing. The '02 has the same 'under armrest' pull levers too(actually an excellent design, just not too safe from a thief with a coat hanger).

New ladies on first dates always had trouble with it, gives a great excuse to lean over them and get close.

That settles it, I officially have enough reasons to pick up a 2002 as a daily.

freetoride · Post by **freetoride** » Aug 30, 2012 11:02 PM

Left.............. my gun is in my right.

alijonny · Post by **alijonny** » Aug 30, 2012 11:29 PM

Cactus wrote:
swerved300 wrote:
wkohler wrote:I just reach over and open the door. I don't have to contort my body to do so. I so looking forward to taking the E21 in for emissions test. They can never figure out how to get out.
haha, I was about to say the same thing. The '02 has the same 'under armrest' pull levers too(actually an excellent design, just not too safe from a thief with a coat hanger).

New ladies on first dates always had trouble with it, gives a great excuse to lean over them and get close.
That settles it, I officially have enough reasons to pick up a 2002 as a daily.

Creeper alert! WOOOP! Woooop!

1st 5er · Post by **1st 5er** » Aug 31, 2012 12:54 AM

Love the E12 handles.

MicahO · Post by **MicahO** » Aug 31, 2012 8:33 AM

The lefty's take this one by far. I see the potential broken-handle move that ahab and Jeremy mention - the release handle for the convertible top on by BIL's 325 is busted in this manner (it's the same basic handle). With the right application of push and pull, that handle still works, but you can also just sit there yanking on the end of it with no result.

That's what she said?

More important are the grins-per-post. Thanks for providing some feedback to my 'research question.'

davintosh · Post by **davintosh** » Sep 04, 2012 9:55 PM

davintosh wrote:I'll have to pay attention next time I drive the thing.

I do know it's farther back in the door than I expect it to be and usually have to search for it, so I'm guessing it's the left.

I was right; I'm a left-hand-lean-back kinda guy.

MyE28.com

MyE28.com

Left hand lean-back or Right hand reach-across

Which hand do you use to open the Driver's door (when you are driving)

Left hand lean-back or Right hand reach-across

Re: Left hand lean-back or Right hand reach-across

Re: Left hand lean-back or Right hand reach-across