[vadimo]

Does it indicate on dashboard at all when it's in process? I can't believe the only way it does is if it smells bad from exhaust, rev limited, and your MPG goes down?

[teaston]

No

[GEP77]

No indication at all. I haven't been overly aware of it happening on my car however according to the readout from Carly my car has spent a total of 4.5 hours over the last 3.5 years regenerating.

[ep22jg]

I've always thought this was a bit daft!! If you was aware it was regenerating, you could make sure the cycle completed before switching off?!!
Also, I would like to be able to do it manually if I knew I was off on a reasonably long journey after a few short runs.
Don't know why it's not visible??

[McBride]

I'm convinced my car gets really noisy and tractor like every so often. The only logical reason for this would be the DPF regen but I've not done any research to confirm it

[Esto-Grande]

Recently came back form an overseas holiday, which meant a 150 mile trip home, 80% motorway driving, the next morning did a short trip 6 miles to town and back, got out of the car immediately aware of intense heat and rubber smell and fans whirring.

Where's the logic there?

[robbiep]

Unfortunately, if they put a button, or a light, or anything else, 99% of idiots ... erm, the great public ... would panic on seeing the light, or, alternately, would press the button EVERY trip, because that's cleaning the filter, right ? so it must be good for the car, right ?

[willjames]

Originally Posted by ep22jg

I've always thought this was a bit daft!! If you was aware it was regenerating, you could make sure the cycle completed before switching off?!!
Also, I would like to be able to do it manually if I knew I was off on a reasonably long journey after a few short runs.
Don't know why it's not visible??

I agree completely.

It would be good to know. Maybe the reason why the car doesn't indicate the regen would because most people would think there is an issue and bother the dealer with it

[willjames]

Originally Posted by robbiep

Unfortunately, if they put a button, or a light, or anything else, 99% of idiots ... erm, the great public ... would panic on seeing the light, or, alternately, would press the button EVERY trip, because that's cleaning the filter, right ? so it must be good for the car, right ?

You beat me to it! Meant the same thing

[Flyboy777]

My LCI 320D with the later B47 engine regens far more than my previous 123D.
Must be a euro 6 emissions thing.
Most of my journeys are 28 miles each way of motorway, can tell as it gets a bit rumbly, suprised the 8AT doesn't drop a gear whilst cruising during a regen, it still sits in 8th at 12-1500 rpm.

[330Stevie]

My last car, Alfa 159 would show it regenerating on the boost guage which was great so I'd never stop the engine whilst it was occurring. Don't know why others can't have some tell tell sign; doesn't have to be an eml or warning!

[vadimo]

it would be good to have some sort of indicator even if it means form BMW tolerating some idiots (i am sure they are used to it).

It can come in a form of message in iDrive (for example in vehicle information), doesn't have to be an icon on dashboard as most of us indeed do associate a dashboard light as negative.

I have owned the car from 18k miles and done 6k so far and not a single time i have noticed any signs of DPF regen. My driving is not city/town based.

The other thought is BMW might not want users to be even aware that they drive with some sort of stove burner that processes toxic exhaust.

[GEP77]

The industry in which I work namely commercial aviation has adopted a dark cockpit concept over the years.

Nowadays if a system fails or malfunctions on an aircraft the flight crew are only made aware of it if it either requires their input or will affect how they operate the aircraft. This has noticeably improved aircraft safety as pilots fly the aircraft rather than try to micro manage systems.

I see cars as being no different, better to keep the driver focused on the task at hand - i.e. Driving.

[vadimo]

Originally Posted by GEP77

The industry in which I work namely commercial aviation has adopted a dark cockpit concept over the years.

Nowadays if a system fails or malfunctions on an aircraft the flight crew are only made aware of it if it either requires their input or will affect how they operate the aircraft. This has noticeably improved aircraft safety as pilots fly the aircraft rather than try to micro manage systems.

I see cars as being no different, better to keep the driver focused on the task at hand - i.e. Driving.

with iDrive and smartphone, there is no such thing as focused driving It only going to get worse; digital cockpit

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Esto-Grande

Recently came back form an overseas holiday, which meant a 150 mile trip home, 80% motorway driving, the next morning did a short trip 6 miles to town and back, got out of the car immediately aware of intense heat and rubber smell and fans whirring.

Where's the logic there?

The logic is, it didn't require one the day before. It either meets the criteria to trigger a regeneration, or it doesn't happen.

I had similar in my E91 330d. I recall one time getting within 3 miles of my hotel, after driving over 100 miles, when a regeneration started. Got aborted, finished off the next day.

[snipnoob86]

BMWs DPF is passive and active, it's regenerating constantly but will force an active regenerating if it is getting too clogged. I tow with mine and in turn it does an active regen almost every drive, probably due to the extra load. if it wasn't for the exhaust mod, which highlights a regen with an audible droning sound then yes it's tricky to notice.

[4WDriver]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that DPF regeneration is inhibited in ECO PRO mode. Does anyone know if that is true? If so where might that be documented?

[robbiep]

Originally Posted by 4WDriver

I seem to recall reading somewhere that DPF regeneration is inhibited in ECO PRO mode. Does anyone know if that is true? If so where might that be documented?

I would very much doubt that being true. If a person was to routinely drive in eco pro - and I believe the 320d Efficient Dynamics model defaults to Eco Pro mode every time it is started - then it would be a recipe for a rapidly clogged DPF, if the car spent much time in town.

[Abzynthe]

Originally Posted by robbiep

I would very much doubt that being true. If a person was to routinely drive in eco pro - and I believe the 320d Efficient Dynamics model defaults to Eco Pro mode every time it is started - then it would be a recipe for a rapidly clogged DPF, if the car spent much time in town.

I hope its not true, I have mine in eco pretty much all the time! (And I've seen an increase of 5mpg on average by doing so.)

[Mr NSB]

I have never noticed either of my F30's carry out a DPF regen. Is it because I am mainly a distance driver? My wife's Mini would do them quite regularly but then she did mainly short journeys and the car never really got to operating temp very often unless I drove it

[Ajs_435d]

Bmw have active and passive regen, the car will regen every 700 or so. I'm surprised people can feel it it's supposed to be undetectable and non obtrusive.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Ajs_435d

Bmw have active and passive regen, the car will regen every 700 or so. I'm surprised people can feel it it's supposed to be undetectable and non obtrusive.

I suppose it depends on how sensitive we are to changes in engine feel and sounds. How observant we are to mpg changes, etc.

I could sense my car (M57 330d) starting an active regeneration, engine note changed, a little off-beat, plus the gearbox, holding higher revs, if in conditions where I dropped to lower speeds. I'd also note mpg would drop off as regeneration time was getting close, definitely drop during a regeneration.

Not too sure how Euro 6 engines react, or feel, as there are multiple mini NOx burn offs, (NOx trap), in addition to the main DPF regenerations.