I have this feature on my sexy 2008 MCS red with black viper stripes MINI. But some times when I engage the clutch the START/STOP does not engage the engine. So I have to take it out of gear and put it back in why???

 

We don't have that feature in the US, so there may not be too many people who know anything about it here. Where are you located? I wish they would bring it over here.

 

http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-m...-function.html

http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-f...-starting.html

http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-f...-function.html

 

That sounds like pretty much the worst option ever.

 

Not an option for US-Spec MINI's but is Standard on UK/Euro versions with Standard Shift (not available {yet} on automatics).

When I am stopped and know that wait will exceed a minute or more (familiar traffic lights or drive-throughs etc.),
I will often switch off and restart to move again.

 

Not if you live in Europe and the price of gas is $9 a gallon.

 

What do you mean take it out of gear and put it back in? The start/stop works in neutral. You can upset it if you go into gear too quickly before the engine is fully engaged (though it should be a really quick start in a gas engine). There is a switch on the gear selector as well as the clutch, so you have to be in neutral and release the clutch to get it to stop, then depress the clutch and it starts. It was a little finicky in the car I drove (Cooper D) though, so you might just have to keep an eye on it and be ready to hit the start button or disable the feature until you can get it to your dealer.

 

I also think I might engage it alittle to fast because when I do it at a slower speed it turns on just fine.

 

What on earth are you talking about!!! It's an amazing feature considering the fuel I save in crazy european traffic!!! In my opinion the only reason why they don't have this option in North America is because by law when you are at a stop you must be in gear and the clutched depressed.

 

Otherwise known as "Big Oil"....

 

I beg your pardon? I've been driving for 45 years and have had licenses in seven states and I've never heard of a law saying you must be in gear with the clutch depressed when stopped. What state is that?

 

That's probably all it is. I hear over "there" they have yellows before the green lights so you have time to clutch and engage a gear without having jerks honking at you to move like here. It's like greenlightHONK.

Oh, also, start/stop is wicked cool and is a very good idea for saving fuel in, wait for it, start/stop driving. The US isn't close to as congested as Europe is which is why automakers don't want to pay for, and pass the cost on to consumers. For very urban areas it saves lots of fuel as engines are terribly inefficient at idle.

 

I think it's a cousin to the one that says you can't turn right at a stop light after stopping.

 

Right on red unless posted prohibited.

I would hate to see this required in the US. Wouldn't make near as much sense as it does in Europe.
Take Texas for instance. Houston, San Antonio, and DFW can expect sections of town to be stop and go for 1-2 hours, twice a day. The rest of the state hardly ever.

I am sure it would take me a long time to get used to it.

Like never.