How to Permanently Disable M3 Automatic Start/Stop

[Stormtroooper]

Originally Posted by Kyoshi71

Your title is a statement not a question. I was looking forward to learning something.

quoted for truth.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by BimmerM

That's correct for US cars, it's off by default. If the US cars can be off by default I'm sure a tuner can code your cars to be off by default as well.

Yes.

[horsie]

I have a November 2010 production E90 M3, 6MT. The auto-start-stop feature is by default off. You have to turn in on every time you start the car. Auto-start-stop is not annoying at all, and works like a charm. Engine cuts out at stop, when all the conditions are met, and immediately starts up when you depress the clutch. There is no lag or delay. There is no detriment to your driving style or habits. It is not frustrating. What's wrong with saving a little gas or emitting a little less emissions?

[jonasaurus]

Originally Posted by horsie

I have a November 2010 production E90 M3, 6MT. The auto-start-stop feature is by default off. You have to turn in on every time you start the car. Auto-start-stop is not annoying at all, and works like a charm. Engine cuts out at stop, when all the conditions are met, and immediately starts up when you depress the clutch. There is no lag or delay. There is no detriment to your driving style or habits. It is not frustrating. What's wrong with saving a little gas or emitting a little less emissions?

Whilst some like it and some dont thats a personal preference but the point of the thread is can you and if so how do you default it to off for those that have theirs defaulted to on.

[aajami]

Maybe an AutoLogic shop can flash your car so that it defaults to off?

[zhangzeyuandss]

Used this feature a couple of times.. people next to me probably think I stalled the car,since the are kind of laughing at me..And the condition for the auto start stop to work is really complicated.. some temp condition. air con condition. oil temp condition...etc

[Z06M3]

Originally Posted by zhangzeyuandss

Used this feature a couple of times.. people next to me probably think I stalled the car,since the are kind of laughing at me..And the condition for the auto start stop to work is really complicated.. some temp condition. air con condition. oil temp condition...etc

It's ok. Just see them in your rearview and laugh right back. They are just jealous!

[jeffnnj]

Originally Posted by horsie

I have a November 2010 production E90 M3, 6MT. The auto-start-stop feature is by default off. You have to turn in on every time you start the car. Auto-start-stop is not annoying at all, and works like a charm. Engine cuts out at stop, when all the conditions are met, and immediately starts up when you depress the clutch. There is no lag or delay. There is no detriment to your driving style or habits. It is not frustrating. What's wrong with saving a little gas or emitting a little less emissions?

Agree 100%. My car was July production and I wish that I had it.

[persian54]

i actually pushed the button (to turn it on when the light is off) and tried to use it and it didn't work

maybe i wasn't at the light long enough?

iono

[///My5UV]

Originally Posted by zhangzeyuandss

Used this feature a couple of times.. people next to me probably think I stalled the car,since the are kind of laughing at me..And the condition for the auto start stop to work is really complicated.. some temp condition. air con condition. oil temp condition...etc

Nice. I was hoping it was smart, like not shutting off the car if it's 110F outside and the AC hasn't cooled the car off yet.

[Bosna]

Originally Posted by ///My5UV

Nice. I was hoping it was smart, like not shutting off the car if it's 110F outside and the AC hasn't cooled the car off yet.

It is. If the cabin is being cooled, the engine will not shut off. If you're in stop and go traffic, the engine will not shut off. If the oil temps are low, the engine will not shut off. It actually works pretty well -- and is fairly good at knowing what you're doing (eg. stop and go traffic vs slowly rolling up to a red light. It would not shut off in the former, and would shut off in the latter example.)

[ChrisK]

I am so glad I missed getting this feature/annoyance by a few days. This is a great idea if you have a golf cart, stock in the starter mfg, or drive a different car then the M3.

[bramble]

Does anyone know what the actual fuel saving is having the auto start/stop engaged ?

Would not have thought a lot however can do the engine any good starting and stopping ! But I'm not a BMW engineer so I'll but out of that argument but would still like to see results for start/stop fuel economy and carbon footprint reductions :-)

Cheers

Brams........

[J_M3]

Just never stop. works for me

[J08M3]

Originally Posted by montreal red

a stupid feature indeed. no one buys an m3 thinking its going to get good fuel economy because of this added feature.

It's not just for the owner of the M3

[motortrend]

It's wierd... The M3 here was ordered around june, built in spetember, and delivered in october, yet has no start/stop, just like the normal 2011 and not the 2011.5. It probably was because it was ordered before even though it was build in september

[LateBraking]

Disclaimer: Personal opinion exists within the following post. Please read at your own discretion. I take no responsibility for any defensive and offended individuals.

Originally Posted by joelk

what was annoying about it? did it take noticeable time for the engine to pop back on?

i'm not trying to be annoying here...i'm just trying to understand the downside.

Yes. It takes a noticeable time to turn back on. It's just like turning your car on when you get into it, except that your clutch is the ignition, not the start/stop button. I work in LA, and the few times that I tried it, it pissed off people behind me. You know how people can be impatient, even with a second delay in busy cities...they just go ape. However, it's something that's completely avoidable just by keeping the motor on, and I personally don't mind paying 25-50 cents to avoid aggrivated motorists all the way home. Plus, the thing is 100% completely unusable in stop and go traffic on the freeway, on the way back home from Los Angeles.

Besides that, the feature is so unintelligent. The motor shuts off any and every time you come to a complete stop, immediately. The few times that I used it, I found myself with the motor turning halfway off then starting up again immediately, since I needed to get moving again. I'm not knowledgeable in the matter, but I wonder if there is any possibility of motor damage occuring if you turn the motor only halfway off then back on again too often. At the very least, I think there should have been a 1-2 second delay built in. Might have been a lot more usable that way. Overall, a somewhat remotely interesting concept that was poorly executed, as it currently stands in my mind.

As it stands now, since in the USA it's default off, I'm trying to think of ways to hide the button. Might try making electrical tape covers to hide the light and buttons, as my friend suggested....

[michaelw9]

Originally Posted by LateBraking

Yes. It takes a noticeable time to turn back on. It's just like turning your car on when you get into it, except that your clutch is the ignition, not the start/stop button.

I find it so seamless that I can't even notice it going on and off except for the silent noise and looking at the tach. You don't have to wait for the motor to finally rev back up before you put your foot on the gas. Just pretend it isn't doing anything and there's no difference. I personally can't find any delay with it whatsoever.

I like the system. I would love to find a way to have it PERMANENTLY on.

[LateBraking]

Originally Posted by michaelw9

I find it so seamless that I can't even notice it going on and off except for the silent noise and looking at the tach. You don't have to wait for the motor to finally rev back up before you put your foot on the gas. Just pretend it isn't doing anything and there's no difference. I personally can't find any delay with it whatsoever.

I like the system. I would love to find a way to have it PERMANENTLY on.

Disclaimer: Personal opinion exists within the following post. Please read at your own discretion. I take no responsibility for any defensive and offended individuals.

Well, if you put it like that, I guess it can technically be considered seamless. Force of habit for me to wait until a motor is fully turned on before I get on the gas. Still. I personally think it's the right idea put in the wrong car, and not pulled off right.

[kaykay]

Hands down the dumbest feature ever incorporated on a vehicle.

[radiantm3]

Actually there's 1 situation where the auto start/stop feature is awesome. When you are at the drag strip or an autox event. Having the engine shut down automatically to cool the engine down while you are waiting in line for your next run.

[LateBraking]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

Actually there's 1 situation where the auto start/stop feature is awesome. When you are at the drag strip or an autox event. Having the engine shut down automatically to cool the engine down while you are waiting in line for your next run.