urgh...how do you stand auto start/stop?

[jaehshim]

had my M for service, got a '13 X1 28i xdrive as a loaner.
I drove this car on a daily commute + long drive for 4 days, and wow this is nasty...

how do you stand auto start/stop?
I have a 09, so mine did not have this feature, and thank GOD my car doesn't have this and i don't envy those cars with this tech not even a bit!
Like many magazines said, this is way too rough and feels "out of place".

and YES there's a auto start/stop defeat button, but what's the point when you have a pretty useless feature and you have to cut it off every time you drive?
In a long run, i'm pretty sure this will have somewhat of a negative effect on the engine.

[Vic311]

That sucks I had an X1 loaner and was so annoyed by that...thankfully on the M3 it just stays off..you have to select it to turn it on..

[FogCityM3]

Start/stop can be aftermarket re-coded to remember the last setting (ie once turned off or on it stays off/on when you restart car).

[Transfer]

M3 stays off and only works if you turn it on. I had it changed on our X1. It's a joke and only improves EPA ratings. Not at all practical or economical in the real world, especially if you live in a congested city.

[scm6079]

I've only turned it on once - on my car it defaults to off, so it never gets in the way. I had a loaner 328 that defaulted to on - pretty annoying, but if you sit at lights allot in a big engined SUV that you don't care about performance in much I don't see the harm in it.

I'm just glad BMW was smart enough to make it default to off in the m3.

[skiborsy]

It's totally different in the DCT M3 vs. auto 328i - I have a couple 3 minute lights on the way to work and actually use it frequently. When you're at a light, you just let off the brake a bit and the car starts up without a lurch (the annoying part to me in the 328i loaner I had). You're ready to go when traffic finally starts moving.

[dmw16]

As long as it can be turned off I think it's fine actually. I have it on my hybrid daily driver and there are a few long lights on my way to/from work and I'm perfectly happy to not have my car sit there burning gas for no reason. Even in stop and go traffic it doesn't really bother me.

I guess it annoys some people, but in most cases it's harmless at worst and saves a few bucks and a little bit of gas at best.

[S65V8]

In the M3 it stays off, you have to turn it on everytime you start the car. Not useful during a lot of stop and go traffic, but good when you know a major traffic jam is a foot.

[///M///]

I wonder how long the batteries and starters last on these cars?

[THE TECH]

I never use it. In the US, it is always off unless you enable it each time you drive.

[izzyM2]

I've had it on for a while now and I don't even notice it anymore. I have mine coded where it stays at the last setting.

[paradocs98]

Mine is always defaulted to off. It might be helpful, though, at a really long stoplight in the summertime when your windows are down and you're running catless.

[NAVYPB]

Not a big fan. I know they say it is good for less emissions, but at what cost to the engine. I leave mine off...my opinion

[Goat Rodeo]

It's nice on the M3 because you can turn it on when you want it. I've used it when stuck in bumper to bumper traffic.

However I had an X3 loaner and I HATED it for two reasons:

a) Pulling up to a roundabout. As I slow down to see what traffic is coming to my left I am turning the wheel getting ready to turn into the roundabout. F*ing car turns off and of course you can't turn the wheel. You can bet I was cursing at the car at that point.

b) Attracts way too much attention when driving around the city. At every intersection people are walking by looking at you like 'WTF' as it sounds like you are turning your car on and off.

[03BeastCharmer]

I use it at the two long lights on the way to work. On the M3 you have to actively turn it on each time as others have said, so I don't see the issue for those that don't want to use it.

[i001947]

Mine stays off. What a waist of money. The friggin light in the button will go out long before I'll ever use this option. BMW writes in the manual that having this option on can cause premature wear on the starter and engine. So why have it? I rather burn the gas than to replace the starter.

[Tony B]

Originally Posted by i001947

Mine stays off. What a waist of money. The friggin light in the button will go out long before I'll ever use this option. BMW writes in the manual that having this option on can cause premature wear on the starter and engine. So why have it? I rather burn the gas than to replace the starter.

Can you post a picture of this text in the manual?

I have not noticed such a remark in the UK manual.

[///Montreal3]

I thought the starter motor and possibly a few other parts were beefed up to handle the added stress of the S/S feature?

[Vic311]

I had read that the system bypasses the starter motor..either way 'something' is bound to wear it sooner..its a dumb feature

[Projectile]

I use this feature on my M3, and I don't mind it either on my car or on my mom's 328i.

It takes about an hour to get used to, but then it has no effect on performance. I think it's a great idea. An idling car is like a light on in an empty room.

[izzyM2]

Facts only please. Don't let ignorance cloud your judgement.

[signes]

Originally Posted by izzyM3

Facts only please. Don't let ignorance cloud your judgement.

Sound advice, ignored by most...