Auto Start/Stop

[SROC3]

I have to say that before I got my M I was like "what the hell is auto/start stop?" It is pretty awesome once you get used to it. I did always think that even if it was designed to help lower emissions into our environment, that it takes more gas to start a stop/start a car. But from what I have been reading it actually saves us gas - according to one poster a 20% savings in fuel.

Any comments on actual facts on how the system works? So far I love it

[robb7979]

I like it too. Hard to put a number on how much it actually saves. BMW only claims minimal gains, I think single digits. Haven't tried comparing on vs off. Having too much fun just driving her.

[tlr]

Huh, 20% savings in fuel? Under what conditions? You'd have to be idling far more than 20% of the time for that to even be possible.

[tbonem3]

interesting you mention this, but I thought I share my recent experience. A couple days ago I was in Munich, and me and a German friend went to BMW HQ where I rented a BMW M3 for an hour, thru BMW on demand and was going 140+ on the autobahn, etc.

Anyways, my friend used to be a BMW car tester, and she told me that BMW Engineers have told her that this BMW Auto start/stop function is one of the most worthless options that BMW put out and it really doesn't do anything and is a wasted design. this is coming from a BMW car tester and BMW Engineers!

just relaying what I heard in Munich.

[Ateam]

I personally hate this feature. So annoying as the car literally has to start every time you start moving again and there is a hesitation. It probably saves 1 percent or less fuel for normal driving. Unless you make a habit of waiting for trains to cross every day for 15 minutes, this will save almost nothing

[OldenburgerM3]

i love it. In Germany it wasn't so useful since the red-light phases are so brief, but in Texas... I hated sitting at a red light with the engine running in the previous car and now with the motor off I'm loving it. Does it save fuel? By definition, yes, but is it worth it for MPG, I don't care.

[mpm3]

is it possible to disable it permanently ? i hate the idea of it

[Krozi]

hurrrrrrrrr diuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by mpm3

is it possible to disable it permanently ? i hate the idea of it

Not officially, but on US cars it defaults to disabled every time you start the engine. Coding can allow it to start up in the last used state and possibly be removed entirely, but that's a whole other story.

[penny31]

i get many awkward looks at lights because people think i stalled my car... 6mt..

[BMW Fanatic]

If it's disabled when you start your car then why do you guys car if it can be disabled permanently. I only ever use it like once a week for an hour or so just to see if it actually works because sometimes it doesn't.

[SROC3]

On my 2012, there is a button in the same row as the sunshade button, right at the bottom of the center console. It completely disables it. When you go into "M" mode it also disables it. When you shift back to "regular" (non-M) mode, it is disabled by default.

[jonasaurus]

Originally Posted by SROC3

On my 2012, there is a button in the same row as the sunshade button, right at the bottom of the center console. It completely disables it. When you go into "M" mode it also disables it. When you shift back to "regular" (non-M) mode, it is disabled by default.

You guys in US and other parts of the world are lucky its disabled as default, I have to press the button to disable after I start the car everytime!

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by jonasaurus

You guys in US and other parts of the world are lucky its disabled as default, I have to press the button to disable after I start the car everytime!

If you want to get into coding or can find someone who has a remote coding solution (Mike Benvo is working on one), then go into the IHK module and switch the MSA_MEMORY option to aktiv. Then if Start/Stop was enabled the last time you were driving it will be enabled next time you start the car, and vice versa.

[tlp]

3% fuel savings on average.

It can be coded the following ways when you start the car:

• Default Turned ON
• Default Turned OFF
• Default Last State

[piloto]

It works very well with the 6MT in city driving (i.e. red lights). By the time you push the clutch in and move the selector to first (both done simultaneously), the engine is started and you move like you would have if it had never stopped running. Its worth depends on how long the lights are, and how many you encounter during your regular drive.

However, this feature helps with the EU's C02 emission testing process, so it's a no brainer for BMW and other European manufacturers to integrate into their newer products. Just be happy that there's an on/off switch.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Not worth having the starter die on me. I know they replace it with a heavy duty one but all those starts still take their toll on it.

[donovan]

LOL auto start stop is a gimmich, much like most of the options..on ANY vehicle.

[swartzentruber]

I too think it's a pretty nice feature, and since at least here in the US it's disabled by default, no one has to use it. Its usefulness is definitely commute specific. If you have a commute (like mine) with long red lights, idling at lights can be a significant portion of the commute, and 20% savings is not out of the question. There are many other commutes, though, where it wouldn't be helpful. I would agree having it cutting out during stop-n-go highway driving would be pretty annoying. My two biggest annoyances about the feature is that you have to brake a bit hard for it to activate, and that it cuts out at or below 37 degrees (which I still think is a bit high for it to stop working).

[SorinM]

Originally Posted by piloto

It works very well with the 6MT in city driving (i.e. red lights). By the time you push the clutch in and move the selector to first (both done simultaneously), the engine is started and you move like you would have if it had never stopped running. Its worth depends on how long the lights are, and how many you encounter during your regular drive.

However, this feature helps with the EU's C02 emission testing process, so it's a no brainer for BMW and other European manufacturers to integrate into their newer products. Just be happy that there's an on/off switch.

I would be happy, if it had an on/off switch. I thought every E90 had it. I'm form Europe and this car I was going to buy doesn't have it. Why???!!
I have only one option, disable it through OBD. But still the button would by better, it is better to have an option to have start/stop or not then not having almost any options.