I've been driving my MINI-S since Thursday and finally got used to the car shutting down at stop lights and in heavy traffic, and auto-starting when I'm ready to launch again. And that got me thinking. Anyone think that all of this off/on may reduce the life of the starter over time? I would suppose it depends on how many stoplights and how much stop and go traffic you encounter each day. The more I think about it the more I'm inclined to just disable the feature each time I start the car.

Any thoughts or opinions on this?

 

I've wondered that also, if I'm correct that's only in green mode right? If so I guess I will not have to worry about it since mine will be in sport mode 99% of the time like my r56.

 

hope not since it is mandated for all cars starting 2015 or 18 I cant remember which

 

First, did you notice any vibration in the drivetrain when the restart happens? I test drove an automatic Saturday to listen to the HK stereo and it had an annoying vibration I could feel when it restarted.

As far as reduced life, one would think the design would be for a certain number or starts and as you mention it would depend on driving environment. I believe I will disable mine with the manual.

Tom

 

Pretty sure its in all modes. Did it for me in Mid during my test drive, can't remember if it did in Sport or not. I thought the MA said it'll do it whenever the battery has enough juice to do so.

 

Starter and battery on equipped cars are more heavy duty....so more $$$. It is MADE to function that way....
Would be a different story on a car if you shut it off manually and restart that was not MADE to do this like a hypermiler...
There have been many discussions about this stuff over the years....the auto start/stop feature is not new...and has been on some cars for years...but at US fuel prices...low compared to others worldwide, it did not make $$ sense (payback was YEARS or NEVER vs the added $$$)...but commonality with other nations have made a few makes bring it to the US....

 

Stronger starter, stronger battery -- no problem.

I'll likely defeat it if I can.

 

It was active even in sport mode on the automatic I test drove. It had to be disabled via a switch.

Tom

 

I was also active in sport in a manual S that I drove. The local BMW shop will perform one change for a customer by setting the default setting to Off. They are checking for me to see if that can also be done for a F56. Otherwise, one has to defeat via the switch by the Start Button each time you start up. Annoying, but one would get used to it.

 

That's right it has a switch, I knew it was something that killed it I just wasn't sure.

 

That good info. Thanks. I'm not overly concerned, and assumed the components (starter and battery) are designed to work with the feature. I was more curious than anything, since it can at least be overridden by the "off" toggle switch.

 

I am concerned about this function as well and am inclined to disable it more often than not. From what I have read however the main components (starter and battery) are designed with this capability in mind and should be able to handle the extra wear.

Also there are a number of criteria (controlled by the computer) that will prevent the auto start/stop function from engaging before the engine is ready for this.

Namely, it wont engage until the motor has reached the proper operating temperature.
If the cabin is is hot / cold and the A/C is working to cool / heat it.
If the wheels are at a steep angle or the steering wheel is turned.
If the vehicle battery is low and needs to charge.
If you are in stop and go traffic.
Anytime after switching out of reverse gear.
Trans selector in position R,N, or M/S.

I guess I will see just how much it negatively impacts the MPG without using it and decide from there.

 

something to think about is the most wear in the engine happens during start ups.

 

When does it shut off on a manual?

The rental I drove in Sweden that had this wouldn't shut off unless you had already put it in neutral during your coast to a stop. Clutch released. Once the car came to a stop the engine stopped.

If you stopped in gear, then put it in neutral and released the clutch the engine kept running.

 

Vibration goes away almost entirely if you move from brake to gas in a smooth motion, if you just let off the brake when it restarts there's a definite vibration.

 

Does the manual have any advice about when it is best to turn it on or off?

 

From what I can infer from the Android App owners manual it is simply up to you the driver. If enabled, the computer will control when the function is operating vs. disabled. For example the car should "sense" if you are in stop and go traffic and it will not stop/start the engine during this time.

 

- when the car comes to a complete stop and you release the clutch and are in neutral, it will shut off
- radio will stay playing, heat/AC will stay functioning, all car functions stay the same.
- shake the steering wheel or engage the clutch pedal initiates a turn on
- if the battery gets too low (music, a/c, etc..) it will turn on it's own.
- if you turn on, move a few feet, then stop, it will not turn off. not sure the reasoning of this, but it needs to roll more than a few feet before it will shut off again.

as far as avoiding or disabling, the way i see it is
1) saves gas
2) as mentioned, designed around it to not effect the car negatively
3) by becoming mandatory, you can only ignore it for so long
4) it's been around long enough where this isn't a guinea pig test situation.

 

I thought it worked rather brilliantly during my test drives - yet, sitting in the middle of an intersection waiting to turn left - with the engine off- might be a bit unnerving no? *gulp*

 

Folks do hate 'change' (if it's not fashion) so expect to hear lots of these dire warnings about how much harm the stop/start will do. I find you do end up anticipating restarts (eg, watching the other road's lights).

It's cold starts when all the engine oil has drained from the bearings that do damage - the stop/start is restarting a hot engine that had oil pumped to its bearings seconds ago, so no comparison.

The starter is said to be heavier-duty and that's not difficult - the automotive starter motor is about the lowest grade of electric motor that can be bought, so upping the specification isn't rocket science. Industrial plant can contain electric motors that stop and start every minute for twenty years, so making one work ten or twenty times a day instead of just once or twice is kinda easy.

 

Agreed. If I ever gen enough coin together to owner a 3rd gen MINI (fingers crossed for the F54) then I would not worry about it. The car was built to have this feature and I will use it.

 

if the engine doesn't stop until you release the clutch in neutral, then there should be no reason for it to stop while sitting in the intersection waiting to turn left.

My experience with another model having this system was it was very easy to manage. when your in a position where you expect to have to "launch it" (sitting in an intersection waiting for cars to clear) you'll be in gear already. if your just sitting at a light with no intention to "launch it" then it won't (shouldn't) matter if the engine takes a second to start.

my experience in the other car was it started so fast that there was little to no delay in departing a green light change.

anyway...

 

Having had this feature on two Minis here in Yurp, it does cause you to stall the car one or two times when you are first getting used to it being there and I think that is where a lot of the hating comes from - for a lot of guys, stalling is like being a learner driver once again and that's unbearable.

But after a while, it becomes normal and I enjoy trying to second guess when it will operate (have I driven far enough to warm up the engine, etc) or indeed to learn the curious logic by which it has been programmed - waiting until the engine is warm is obvious, but why won't it operate if you don't have your seat belt on?

 

Could have been the brake to gas, good to know. Thanks.