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07-31-2011, 10:15 AM | #1 |
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Auto start stop, information for the masses
So I wanted to get some information put in one place for this feature on the new M3s. The idea is when you are at a stop light the car will turn off the engine to save on gas. I have a 6 speed (three pedals FTW) and have noticed a few things about how it works.
To get it to actually turn off the engine you have to come to a stop after moving, put it in neutral and foot off the clutch. It then seems like the car stalls but thats the feature just doing its job. As soon as you clutch down, the car starts right up. There is a slight delay and takes a second or two for the engine to get back in its grove. I also noticed that if you are at the light or at a stop for too long the engine will turn back on, without the clutch being depressed. Has anyone else experienced this? I bet its so the engine doesn't get too cold. From what I gathered a cold start puts much more strain on the engine. Onto the questions, how does it work for DCT? has anyone else experienced the car turning on again without hitting the pedal, and if so how long did it take? And the obvious question, how many people actually use this feature? Ive used it a few times, I guess its cool and nice to have but its really weird in a big rumbling v8 to have the engine just go silent as your going about your commute. Thoughts, questions, concerns? Discuss. |
07-31-2011, 11:48 AM | #2 |
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I have a 2011 with DCT. Proud to say I pressed the "deactivate" button for the stop/start function the minute I took delivery of the car at the dealership and have left it off ever since. I experienced it on a DCT car during the M Power Tour several months ago and it is indeed a strange sensation. It also strikes me as maybe not the best thing for the engine if you're in constant city traffic--you would think the repetitive cranking over/restarting of the engine would create excess stress or wear, all in the name of relative increased gas mileage. Just speculating, though...
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07-31-2011, 12:08 PM | #3 |
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^^agreed. With 6MT its very strange and not something I ever see getting used on my car
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07-31-2011, 12:42 PM | #4 |
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I don't like it either, especially in stop and go traffic. I think other drives get the impression I stalled. It's weird.
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07-31-2011, 01:06 PM | #5 |
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the saving of gas is only around 3% ... when it does arrive in North America it will have a toggle switch beside the start - stop position so you can turn it on or off ... it will be your choice.
I know I will never use it should one of my future cars be equipped with it, I be fearful that it will not restart and what then ...
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07-31-2011, 03:20 PM | #7 | |
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it's already here... and the button itself is a toggle switch.
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07-31-2011, 03:37 PM | #8 |
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Mine has it (6MT), and I usually leave it off, but then again, I drive mostly on the highway. The few times that I have used it, it's worked very well I must say. However, if I shift to neutral before coming to a complete stop (as in just slowly crawling to a stop), it still shuts the engine down. It's pretty awesome how quickly the starter works when it fires the engine back up. I tried to see if I could "beat" it to 1st gear, but everytime, no matter how quickly I try to press the clutch in and go from N to 1st, the starter wins.
(I picture a German engineer thinking "of course it wins, why would you even think otherwise?") |
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07-31-2011, 03:51 PM | #9 |
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It's a PITA and with only a 3% efficiency savings.
So consider you spend $2,400 a year on gas. That's a $72 savings per annum. To me it's not worth the hassle of start/stop. Especially in hot weather it turns off the a/c condenser so although the fan blows it gets hot quick. In a major traffic jam I might use it as I'd think excessive traffic would yield more than 3% savings. |
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07-31-2011, 03:53 PM | #10 |
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well I read a review of the 2012 C63 ... it stated "when it arrives in NA" I don't have it on my e92 MT and I am glad I don't.
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07-31-2011, 04:45 PM | #11 |
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07-31-2011, 04:52 PM | #12 |
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i wonder if it was part of a package i wasn't aware of... i have it on my 2011 and it wasn't a separate item.
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07-31-2011, 04:56 PM | #13 |
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07-31-2011, 05:40 PM | #15 |
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yeah, but it was a late addition on the 2011s as i found out...
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07-31-2011, 06:36 PM | #16 |
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That explains it, mine was made in the early part of the production schedule stamped as 3/10 .... what is your nameplate say?
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07-31-2011, 06:37 PM | #17 |
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what date of manufacture does your nameplate say? 5/10 or 8/10 ?
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07-31-2011, 06:40 PM | #18 |
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For the US, it became standard with 9/10 production. My 9/10 build has the button but she remains a virgin...
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07-31-2011, 06:50 PM | #19 |
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Thanks for the heads up ... I am glad I don't have it, all options add extra weight with the additional gadgets
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07-31-2011, 09:23 PM | #20 |
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Wow, so many posts and all misinformation. It is AUTOMATICALLY OFF. You turn it ON with the button. If you are in traffic or it is hot, it will automatically restart the engine if the interior has gotten too warm. Naturally, the A/C is not running with the engine off.
I don't believe this is an effort to improve gas mileage. This is a "green" feature. People have turned off their cars manually at traffic lights for YEARS. This simply automates the process. I don't turn mine ON much, but it does seem to work very efficiently.
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07-31-2011, 09:28 PM | #21 | |
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Quote:
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07-31-2011, 09:43 PM | #22 | |
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You're not entirely true. It only defaults to OFF for the NA market (And unconfirmed others). For OCEANIA it defaults to ON.
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