One benefit of start/stop feature

[Merlin_83]

I don't ever use the start/stop feature...but I found out that when they did implement this feature BMW used higher performing and more durable starters and alternators to accommodate the high rate of on/off..on...

I can dig up where I found from (I think) but anywhoo...thought I would share.

Cheers,
Merlin

[eatsleepboost]

Interesting. I was about to say one benefit is that my car does not have it. I can't stand that feature on any car.

[commedeschatons]

Originally Posted by eatsleepboost

Interesting. I was about to say one benefit is that my car does not have it. I can't stand that feature on any car.

it makes even less sense on the vag diesel i have. the one silver lining is that it seems manfacturers all know we hate this and the car remembers to keep the autostartstop off forever, as opposed to having to press the button every time you start the car which would be a huge pita until coded out.

[wfdeacon88]

Always wondered how this model M3 would do stop/starting at every redlight.... for me, most of my starts are cold, loud and rough.. I've always imagined seeing an M driving Downtown.. I see it hitting each light, slowly stopping with DCT clunk, then... 4 seconds later it's roaring back up to a couple hundred RPM for 30 seconds before the driver clunks and jerks another 30 feet to the next light... stop... start even rougher than before.... 3 gallons of fuel later the low fuel warning comes of and the M fulls off for gas.

[amrazM]

Incorrect, s65b40 uses the same starter start stop or not.

[nrubenstein]

At least in the 6MT, it's actually not a terrible experience. Since the engine only turns off when you clutch out in neutral, and it turns back on when you clutch in, the car is only off when you're ready for it to turn off, and ready to go by the time you're ready (short of really aggressive driving).

This is way less annoying than in an automatic, where I find auto start stop cars cycling on and off constantly in creeping traffic.

Not less annoying enough for me to use it, mind you. But I tried it for a drive because I was curious. Plus, the voltage drop seems to affect my bluetooth hookup on my DSP.

[Richbot]

I woudl think the other benefit would be listening to the engine fire again. That's how it is in our benz. Fun times

[tooloud10]

I tried to like the auto start/stop system in my wife's X3, but lots of people seem to think that it contributes to the timing chain issue on the N20 4-cylinder. Mine blew at 61k miles after heavy start/stop using while sitting in traffic for a few hours.

[thkfast]

I switched it "ON" once just to try it out. I didn't like it and that's that.

[Teufel_Hunden]

My wife's C300 also has this feature. I have to believe that constant daily on/off is hard on your vehicle and will wear certain components much sooner than would otherwise happen.

[Richbot]

Our F34 335xi had it switched on its entire time with us and it was fine at 67k miles when we sold it. If you're not keeping the car long-term, meh

It was worth abotu 8-10% the few tanks we tested without it. Made enough of a difference that we didn't bother ever switching it off again.

[Transfer]

ASS has to be the worst car feature in decades and has minimal impact on fuel savings.

[nrubenstein]

Originally Posted by Transfer

ASS has to be the worst car feature in decades and has minimal impact on fuel savings.

Nah. Auto start stop is fantastic. It’s a gigantic cumulative fuel savings for the 98% of people who couldn’t give a shit. And for the rest of us, we turn it off.

[6ixSpd]

Originally Posted by nrubenstein

Nah. Auto start stop is fantastic. It's a gigantic cumulative fuel savings for the 98% of people who couldn't give a shit. And for the rest of us, we turn it off.

This.

And in almost every vehicle I've tried it on, it makes approx 10% difference in fuel consumption. Far from useless or the worst.

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

This.

And in almost every vehicle I've tried it on, it makes approx 10% difference in fuel consumption. Far from useless or the worst.

10%?? I don't buy it.

[wfdeacon88]

Originally Posted by Transfer

10%?? I don't buy it.

I watched a video last night, where some independent testing org determined it was 7% or so on average better. I never believed it but the facts were compelling... could be more if someone had the right driving conditions.

[6ixSpd]

Originally Posted by Transfer

10%?? I don't buy it.

Yup. Our X1 (90% city driving), both Caymans (50/50 split), all showed about 7-10% reduction in fuel consumption with it.

Obviously it depends on your driving, if you do 90% highway commuting it's not going to make any tangible impact.

Manufacturers aren't wasting resources and costs to design and install this feature in millions of cars for no reason. It works as intended.

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by Transfer

10%?? I don't buy it.

I've measured it myself. But we're all just bots making shit up and nobody here has any real world experience with anything so definitely don't buy it

[8500RPM]

For non performance cars I'm all for it. Absolutely not on my M3

[6ixSpd]

Originally Posted by 8500RPM

For non performance cars I'm all for it. Absolutely not on my M3

Meh, who cares as long as it helps the car pass EPA/EU fuel economy standards so it can even be produced for the street in the first place.

Worst case, you disable it and most manufacturer's even allow you to. There's no down side to this technology whatsoever.

[wahwill]

My car has this feature and I have not once even bothered trying it. Maybe I will just try it for the hell of it lol.

[carenthuziast]

Any M3 owner looking to save gas/increase mpg, bought the wrong car.