Wasn't sure where to put this because it is not model specific. When I got the x3 a month or so ago, I thought I'd de-activate the stop/start with the button. I didn't realise then that next time, it defaults to active again, so apart from the very first time I drove it, it has been active, and has never stopped once. To be honest I'm not that concerned about it, just don't like to think something's not working that should work. I've read the manual carefully till my brain was spinning trying to get all the logic of when it would not operate due to temperature inside and out and engine, battery voltage, doors open, seatbelts etc etc. OK it's nominally been winter, I haven't done any long runs, longest about 20 miles, lots of manoeuvring to get out of my garage, which I understand takes a lot out of the battery. Checked with the dealer who previously serviced it, no coding changes, checked with one or two others, who claim similar experiences. What are your experiences?
It very much depends..........sadly that is the best answer I can give! I've had it on two cars now, the X3 and the 118d. I left it on all the time on the 118d since I was rarely in proper stop-start traffic so it never bothered me and it worked very well on the clutch with the 118d, whereas my experience with the X3 is that there is quite a significant delay (in comparison) between coming off the brake with the autobox and it starting the car. It also feels far more effort for the starter - I'm now beginning to join the troop of people who switch it off in order to be sympathetic to the starter & engine components. Also, our pattern of usage has changed a bit and we spend a reasonable amount of time in an old market town where there is a bit more start-stop so can't be bothered with it constantly switching on & off. If we're on a longer run and we come to a standstill, I leave it on. And with the 1er, I left it to do what it needed to 95% of the time. In terms of when it switches off; it won't do it below 3degs C, regardless of charge or activity. It won't do it if there's a massive load on the alternator either - heating on, heated seats, lights, etc. And certainly if you've only been doing short journey then it won't have topped up the battery enough to have sufficient capacity to take the load of a few starts after just short journeys. If you find yourself doing long runs (>50miles at a Stretch), above >3degs ambient, have light loads on the 12v system at any given moment and the car DOESN'T stop, it could be a sign of a weakened battery and the first sign of it having a limited remaining life. Doesn't necessarily mean it needs replacing right away, but will be a signal that you may need to in the near future. But there are a lot of people on here who just switch off the functionality full stop - either to look after their battery, save mechanical wear or just because they find it annoying.
It doesn't work on my 330d for about the first 5 mins after cold start-up, but after that it works all the time if left active. A warning sign is displayed on the dash panel (all black option) when STOP/START is not active. I tend to always deactivate STOP/START as I don't do much inner city urban driving. Most of my journeys being either motorway or cross country routes through small towns etc. The only time that I do enable it is if I know that I'm going to be stopped for more than a minute or two - such as roadworks with temporary traffic lights. I find it a little frustrating to have to switch it off every time the car is started, or when ECO PRO is selected. When the car goes in for service, I'll probably get them to change STOP/START to default to off. When using STOP/START it does start up fairly quickly when the brake is released, and the starter is barely noticeable. I also find it very useful to restart the engine by putting light pressure on the steering wheel, thereby avoiding the delay after releasing the brake. I can see the benefit of the system for sustained urban driving but at the cost of eventual mechanical wear. IMHO the main purpose of STOP/START was to enhance manufacturers' official fuel consumption and emissions. What we would normally term 'a fudge' in engineering design. ;)
pain in the backside. I always turned it off straight away, unless I was approach lights that had just changed and i new took ages to go green again, when i would turn it on momentarily.
I've had my F10 for just over 2 years now and never use the stop/start. I've got into the habit of pressing the start button then immediately pressing the 'inhibit' sector underneath it. I don't wait until the engine has started, just a quick push of the start button, then the one underneath it. This is mostly out of mechanical sympathy for the starter and ring gear, although I do find the shudder slightly annoying as the engine (sadly, only 4-cylinder) rocks on its mounts as it starts.
@DiscusbT - if 20 miles is the longest journey you've made so far then it's highly likely that all the necessary requirements for Stop/Start to be active have not been met. I've only had a S/S equipped car for a couple of months and I've noticed that it takes quite a good while for the 'not active' warning sign to go off. It certainly does work in city centre frequent traffic light situations. I think that Spuff has summed up all if not most of the reasons for it not being active. Only time will tell you if it does indeed work as it should.
"...................it takes quite a good while for the 'not active' warning sign to go off." I don't understand that. I have certainly never seen such a message, the only indication I have seen is the light if you press the deactivation button at the side of the Stop/Start
That's strange. My STOP/START becomes active within approx 1/2 mile of leaving home. It maybe depends on how cold the engine oil is at start up? My car is garaged and it's been quite a mild winter here in Cheshire.
You don't say whether you're auto or manual or age but provided you haven't any faults with brake vac sensor, clutch switch, zero gear sensor etc then it will almost certainly be due to battery state of charge, it almost always is. That's where my money would be
It is just over 4 years old, 56,000, I've had it only a few weeks, it is a 30d auto, not aware of any faults. I'm not far away in Derbyshire, also quite mild and garaged. What I don't understand are the references to becoming active, and not active light going out. Is this the led in the button you press to manually deactivate? Actually in my driving position the stop/start and deactivation button are hidden by the wheel in the straight ahead position, so are not visible. If that is the led you mean, perhaps it has come on and I haven't seen it, though that seems improbable. So failing that, where and what is this indication of not being active? markboyt though is probably right, that is where the money may well have to go. I checked on the hidden menu, which seems far less hidden than on the e61, and voltage was 12.1 which I guess is a bit low.
I don't believe that you and I have it, @DiscusbT. I certainly don't and suspect it's to do with not having Full Black Panel Display on mine. Don't know the spec of yours, but if it's the same then there's no light to show whether it's active or not.
I'm not sure about your X3, but on my 330d, STOP/START is not functional on initial cold start-up until the engine oil temperature has warmed up, when the oil viscosity has thinned. This is an automatic function and is nothing to do with with the deactivating switch above the engine start button. As I said, a warning message comes up on my dash which reads STOP/START (crossed out) to show that it is not functional. The system normally becomes active within approx 1/2 mile of leaving home. I think @markboyt has hit the nail on the head. Sounds like the battery charge.
OK, now I understand, but I have never seen that message. Just went to the car and tried it to be sure. No such message appears, only one about a service in 8000 miles.
I reckon that Mieke's car being garaged overnight in 'balmy' Cheshire will have the S/S become active in a much shorter distance than mine which is on the drive in NE Scotland. Also most of my journeys start off early morning with the temperature 2C - or less. But probably it's the low battery on DiscusbT's car which has the most detrimental effect.
I had a 318d m sport and mine wasn't working either. Turned out to be the battery faulty, replaced the battery and all was good. Just make sure you get the correct battery.
I just leave it on all the time on the 435 I . although the wife hates it and always turns it off . It can be annoying though , Sods Law always dictates that when you re at the Lights , (Yes , we Do have Traffic Lights in Buckie now ) as soon as it switches off the lights change , but so many other cars have this feature and you hear them all start up when the lights change . If the car thinks the battery is getting too low the engine starts automatically anyway so no problem there . Mine takes a wee while to kick in though , think the engine has to be sufficiently warmed up first .
Yes, it's been very balmy lately; sweltering in fact. My stop / start generally starts working with 6 - 8 miles, maybe a bit more in the depths of winter.
@Alanpne Welcome to the forum - that's some thread resurrection, though none the less valid. Have you worked out yet that ....... ?
