MINI took the 'fun' out of that - they have hill assist now. It was really kind of weird - on an uphill the car just stood there stopped while I had no brake or gear engaged.

The other weird thing was that I couldn't get the manual MINI I drove to engage the 'auto stop start' feature. Theoretically, the manual is supposed to turn the engine off while it is stopped, in neutral, and with my foot off the clutch. But it didn't.

 

The hill assist only lasts about 2-3 seconds. I don't care for it as I know how to handle a manual on an incline, been driving manual for the past 15 years. However, my wife who knows how to drive manual but prefers her auto, really likes the feature... as she said, when you don't drive manual every day it makes it easy.

Regarding the auto stop/stop on manual it works but you have to remember several factors have to be "just right" for it to engage on the manual.

1 - Not in a gear - car must be in N. Clutch in/out does not matter.
2 - Must be fully stopped
3 - Auto climate control must have the inside cabin temp. within 2-4 degrees of the setting
4 - No "revving" of the engine by way of pressing the gas.

I don't use it, ever, as I don't want/like the feature but I've tested it quite a bit to understand how it works.


Regarding this subject in general, to each his/her own, however, I would NEVER order/buy a MINI with an auto. I don't mind it much in traffic either -- the clutch on the F56 is 10 fold better than the R56 regarding it's "let out point". I use 2nd gear 95% of the time in stop/go as the ride out in 2nd is easy.

 

I didn't know about '3' - I'm sure that was it.

 

Auto is my choice, since my wife doesn't drive manual. Auto + paddle shifters should be made standard option like the R56 MCS models.

 

Also make sure the Auto Start/Stop is actually ON. The switch (A OFF) to the right of your red START/STOP switch should not have a light on it. If it is lit up, the system is off and the car won't automatically shut off the engine.

 

I had a manual R56 for 7 years, liked it just fine. But the AT in this R58 with paddles is great, I wouldn't go back. Downshifts and upshifts are smooth and fast. I think the car is faster with it, it can shift quicker than I can for sure.

 

On my 2015 f55 the clutch must be out for the engine to auto-stop. It makes it very easy to choose whether to let it stop, simply keep the clutch depressed and it won't shut down.

 

i think the auto stop is a stupid feature for a turbocharged engine. the oil will become superhot sitting in the turbo i think they used to call it coking.

 

There's an auxiliary electric water pump that runs during auto start/stop, as well as various electric pumps and motors for the other systems as well (power brakes, etc.). This pump also cools down the turbo after parking - my CM had this as well, making the practice of leaving the engine running to cool down the turbo unnecessary.

 

Also, I believe coking has to do with carbon buildup on the intake valves as a side effect of direct injection. I believe the N18 engines were better about this, but this was a common problem on the N14 engines.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Manuals rock! More fun, more control, more involvement, more reward!