Anyone get the Auto Start/Stop feature to work?

[Gop-Dogg]

I have it in my car, but it never seems to work. I press the button to activate it, but the engine never shuts off when stopped at a red light or in traffic. I was having an oil service done at the stealership today, so I asked them to check it out. According to the official Technical Service document, the Auto Start/Stop won't work under these conditions:
The steering wheel has been turned from straight before stopping

• In low (below 37 degF) or in extremely high ambient temperatures
• The climate control is in the heating or cooling phase (WTF?! )
• Front windshield condensation is present, despite climate control system on
• The engine is in warm-up mode
• Low battery charge
• Hood is open
• Driving in reverse

So, basically it'll never be on?

[///M Ryder]

You need to drive at least 6 miles before it will start to work. Trust me, you'll turn it off after you use it a few times...........Phil

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by Gop-Dogg

[*]The climate control is in the heating or cooling phase (WTF?! )

maybe turn your auto climate off? So just have the standard fan on, but not in auto.

[mjposner]

i have a loaner with the feature and it is weird when it shuts off and really stumbles when restarting. No way to permanently disable, have to hit the button every time I start car.

[///WeissBisBlau]

Sorry, but...completely worthless in this car. I've activated it, just for the hell of it, to see it work, but I am SOOOOO glad it defaults to off. It's defaulted to on in my wife's 535, and the switch is immediately beneath the start/stop button. My startup sequence in her car is 1) press the engine start button, 2) deactivate the auto stop/start. it's so annoying. But yeah, the engine has to be warm, and the A/C can't be trying to maintain a constant temp, and it has to be in D (I think, or S), with your foot on the brake, and then there's something about Jupiter being aligned with Saturn, etc.

[Haywood]

I've used it a few times in town with a lot of stop lights. I thought I would hate it, but it's not too bad. In a 6MT, all you have to do is hit the clutch which you have to do anyway. Don't use it every day. But, I am glad that it defaults to off unlike other BMW's.

[gilczbq]

You need to drive at least 6 miles before it will start to work.

[Koldun]

It works okay, and the start up is much smoother than in the 318 loaner I drove a few weeks ago, but I never really use it. I'm thinking about having that whole portion of the console gutted for something useful, like a Uniden police scanner.

[dagolfpro]

It's annoying for me as I have my V1 hardwired. Every time it starts up again, my V1 turns off/on as well and that gets annoying.

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by mjposner

i have a loaner with the feature and it is weird when it shuts off and really stumbles when restarting. No way to permanently disable, have to hit the button every time I start car.

You code it out. A loaner wont have that feature.

[canukgtp]

I didn't find it too bad on a couple of loaners I've had...just have to get used to taking your foot off the brake a second before you actually want to move...

[deletedelete]

I was stopped in traffic in Germany so I wanted to try it to save fuel but I couldn't get it to work. I guess it's because I had the ac on. The BMW shuttle that picked me up from the airport had it and it seemed to work perfectly and was barely noticeable.

[JuzMe]

Checked out bmw coding site but cound't find how to turn off on E9x M3. Anyone managed to find how to code auto start/stop to have default set to "off" (my Euro version has default to "on")?

[Koldun]

Originally Posted by JuzMe

Checked out bmw coding site but cound't find how to turn off on E9x M3. Anyone managed to find how to code auto start/stop to have default set to "off" (my Euro version has default to "on")?

Your only option is to get it coded out.

[Sedan_Clan]

It's ok as a gimmick, but I opted to leave it off as well.

[JuzMe]

Originally Posted by Koldun

Your only option is to get it coded out.

That was the question, looking to find out which module and actual codes? Couldn't find specifics for E9x M3 at bmw*coding website

[TheDeliverator]

Originally Posted by dagolfpro

It's annoying for me as I have my V1 hardwired. Every time it starts up again, my V1 turns off/on as well and that gets annoying.

V1 has a product called the Brown Out Booster which will keep your V1 powered on while using the Start\Stop feature.

Cost: $25
http://www.valentine1.com/v1info/bob.asp

I use the feature when I'm a couple cars back at a light. It always starts up before I can get the car in gear.

BTW: Generally, Maryland drivers are the slowest drivers off the line at lights. I don't mean speeding... I mean the 1st car does not immediately drive when the light turns green. I'm a transplanted Californian and I find it so frakking odd!

[Davey_M3]

Have I missed something??

You don't push the button to activate the system, you push the button to DE-activate it. Thus if the light is on, the system is off.

[M3_FTW]

Originally Posted by Davey_M3

Have I missed something??

You don't push the button to activate the system, you push the button to DE-activate it. Thus if the light is on, the system is off.

This

[meyergru]

That depends on the country. For EU, default was on, for US, default was off.

Much like the DCT, EU starts in D2, US in S3.

[Tony B]

My manual car will trigger inside a mile from a cold start.