BMW Active Hybrid 3

[ATM]

Andy665 said:

Digitalize said:

Wonder why they don't do it with a diesel?

Whilst it can be done (Mercedes do diesel hybrids) in reality electric motors and diesels do not work as effectively as petrol and electric motors

Electric produce maximum torque from a start helping to plug the torque gap that most petrol engines have at low rpm - makes for a more linear power delivery

This

Considering its a turbo you'd be hard pressed to know. Go is instant even if the engine is not running. It probably just jump starts. Even running on battery only you can feel the gearbox shifting. So as soon as you engage the engine drive is instant.

[ATM]

I did some spirited driving this weekend with 3 friends in the car so 4 up. I think I could detect some brake fade after only a few stops. I'm now beginning to think the brakes are a bit of a week point given the car's weight over a standard 335i which has bigger brakes.

[ATM]

RacerMike said:

I'm not sure what a 335 would be like it that situation, but fast driving 4 up is a fairly rare usage case. You will be trying to probably slow down about 2000kg rather than 1750kg. Unladed, the car has 39.11kJ of energy at 100mph, whereas 4 up it has 44.47kJ. Doesn't sound much, but in percentage terms that 14% more energy to dissipate which is pretty significant when you consider it's compound across the number of stops you do.

Very helpful thanks. More on brakes below.

Just looking back through this thread and thought it needed an update. If anyone is interested I've attached my best mpg effort below.

The good news is I have started exploring the cars abilities a bit more and stopped using Eco-mode all the time. My long term average had got as high as 41.2 but now its down to 40.9 and will probably continue downwards.

I recently read in the m135i thread that in sport plus mode the traction control is relaxed [a bit]. I'll need to try this when I find somewhere suitable.

The good news is I am really liking the livelier feel of the rear end now that the car is wearing the same size tyre front and rear. Obviously the budget Winters on the back make the biggest difference. I recently dropped them all by 2psi from the factory recommended setting.

Now back to the brakes. I'm trying to decide if I should start looking at the BMW Performance big brake setup or what the after market direction offers me. My car comes with some big 4 pots on the front and I think they're twin pots on the rear. The BMW Performance setup probably uses the same callipers [painted in pretty colours] but just pushed out a little to accommodate the bigger discs. I'll try to find some technical information and update this thread. Best price for these I've found is this German site for EUR 1549 but does that mean plus VAT -

http://www.leebmann24.de/bmw-m-performance-18-brem...

[ATM]

RacerMike said:

I would suggest instead trying a set of decent pads and possibly some higher temperature fluid. A good number of cars run low dust pads now as standard to avoid people complaining about their alloys getting coated in brake dust! These have their disadvantages obviously, and an cook quite easily if really start to lean on them.

I suppose a different pad compound could bite differently and cause the same problem. Also if these callipers are not so common my choice of pad compound may be limited too.

My car is almost 18 months old now and may have been sat around for a while before it was registered. I suppose the fluid could be beyond its best.

[ATM]

Who would like to recommend better brake pads?

Who would like to recommend a business who can supply better brake pads?

[ATM]

blank said:

Have you looked at the 370mm M Performance kit?

BMW parts catalogue suggests they're compatible...

Yes

It looks serious and pretty cheap considering. Best price I've found is here:

http://www.leebmann24.de/bmw-m-performance-18-brem...

[ATM]

I've been monitoring the poor braking recently. During some spirited driving in sport mode last night I noticed some poor braking again but I dont think it was fade related. I think once the hybrid drive battery is charged up to 100% all the KERS stuff switches off. Then added to this as its in Sport mode it hangs on to the higher gears for longer. This seems to provide less engine braking as the car maintains the revs or for some other reason.

I'm also beginning to think I'm just not pressing the brake pedal hard enough. I did a hard stop last night exiting the motorway. The hazard lights came on automatically. That's a first for me.

[ATM]

I just found out on there is an update for my nav system. Borrowed some guy's usb stick at work and tried it. The update didn't work but an mpeg video on there started playing - with video.

I didn't know I could do that today.

[ATM]

I was discussing the F30 335d with a colleague. We started comparing the weights which BMW claim for their cars:

Active Hybrid 3 1730kg
335d xDrive 1700kg
330d xDrive 1685kg
330d rwd 1615kg

[ATM]

I bought a tank of Tesco 99. I got 51.08 litres for £67.37 @ 131.9 per litre.

I filled up last night after 449 miles.

I bought some Shell V-Power. I got 49.19 litres for £67.34 @ 136.9 per litre.

I let the pump run till the first click.

I make this 41.5 mpg for the Tesco 99. Lets see how the V-Power does. I've heard some horror stories about Tesco 99 and everyone seems to rave about V-Power. The science behind all of this escapes me. What I do know is the Tesco stuff was 5p cheaper.

[ATM]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

ATM said:

I bought a tank of Tesco 99. I got 51.08 litres for £67.37 @ 131.9 per litre.

I filled up last night after 449 miles.

I bought some Shell V-Power. I got 49.19 litres for £67.34 @ 136.9 per litre.

I let the pump run till the first click.

I make this 41.5 mpg for the Tesco 99. Lets see how the V-Power does. I've heard some horror stories about Tesco 99 and everyone seems to rave about V-Power. The science behind all of this escapes me. What I do know is the Tesco stuff was 5p cheaper.

I think you'll need to do a few tanks to see any difference.

It definitely felt angrier and more eager with the 99. But its all subjective. When 99 is the same price as diesel how can you say No? Maybe I need a phone app timer widget thing and then I can do some timed power runs...

[ATM]

RicksAlfas said:

ATM, thanks for keeping this thread updated.

I have a question if you don't mind. My journey home is 3 miles of clear motorway followed by a depressing stop/start urban crawl for 7 miles. After the motorway, how much of my crawl could I do only on electric propulsion?

I think the car can drive between 2 to 4 miles on electric only. You need to be gentle on the throttle when pulling away or the engine will kick in.

If it is a genuine crawl then this could all be done on electric only battery power permitting. Once the battery gets down to around 7% charge the engine fires up and it stays on for about 30 - 60 seconds even if you stop. This will charge the battery to about 28% and then electric drive continues.

It is difficult to stay on battery power only when going up an incline unless you stay at say 20mph or less - incline angle depending. Going downhill you can travel over 50mph with the engine off.

On level ground in comfort mode the engine kicks in at 30mph but in eco mode I've done almost 40mph with the engine off. I think I read 39mph is the limit but cant remember for definite.

The problem will be generating a full charge during your 3 mile drive. You will obviously charge both ways on the motorway.

Your journey in the morning from home and after work if starting cold will always fire up the engine for around 1 - 2 minutes before it shuts off. If you put your heater on then the engine stays on for longer. I leave the blower off for this reason.

Eco mode can be a bit dull but if you're in traffic what's the point of comfort or the full fat sport modes.

It can occupy your attention watching the battery meter and power outputs when crawling in traffic using electric power.

[ATM]

RicksAlfas said:

Thanks for the reply. Very interesting. I can imagine the only thing which could brighten my commute is seeing how far I can get home on electric only!! I'm certainly going for an automatic next time that's for sure.

Yeah I'm not sure there is a real market for the car as a Hybrid if you market it as a Hybrid. I like to think of it is an optional extra added to the 335i. Then it makes more sense to me. I see Porsche and Mclaren are getting involved now too. So yeah my 4 door saloon is a mini version of those - maybe.

If you think of the added 40bhp boost from energy collected from the braking energy it seems like all cars should have this. Why wouldn't you?

It's quicker than a 335i

And a 335i cant impress kids with it's night rider whisper mode.

I just need a flashing red light under my grill.

[ATM]

Swapped over from my Winters to the original wheels with run flats. God the car feels awful now. I used to feel no bumps or bangs and the car rode on a cushion of air. Now it is the opposite and the steering feels numb too.. No way I am leaving them on for long. I need to decide what to do now. Either I use go flat tyres on the 19 wheels or switch to 18 with go flats.

[ATM]

I've sold this now.

TheDoggingFather said:

Interesting thread. With regards to your brake problems, are the 17" Wheels restricting airflow to the discs/calipers and thus your brakes fade?

It's possible I suppose. Or the car is just too big and heavy and the brakes can't cope if you're working the accelerator hard. Before I bought the Winters I did some research and when the car was launched it was supplied as standard with 17 inch wheels in the USA in basic trim level.

lestiq said:

Hey Op thanks for posting.

Did this have the adaptive dampers as standard? All of the active hybrid 3s i've looked at seem to be really well specced up but couldn't find any info as to whether they had this? From what I've read the adaptive setup is the only setup to go for - shame I always enjoyed the passive setup on my e92.. I'm considering one in black, the wife even agrees it will be a sensible purchase.
Wait till I floor it for the first time with her in it haha.

I'm not sure but I think they were because on the motorway if I selected sport I could definitely feel the car become a bit more jiggly.

[ATM]

lestiq said:

As you gents are both at the tail end of these cars now, Op you've obviously moved on - was that due to shortcoming with the car? I was thinking about the brake fade once the capacitor is full, I guess the assumption when driving hard is that you'll be about to use the charge shortly after the hard stop. that was the original benefit to the Audi's at Le Mans with their hybrid, they got to pull away from the slowest corners with the most power.

My main question to you both, would you recommend this car as a day to day commute/ bit of fun to anyone?

I liked the car but I didn't love it. I bought a fun car for excitement. My situation changed and then I decided I didn't need 2 cars so now I'm just driving my fun car. The Hybrid is quick - plenty quick enough - and it even makes a great noise - although that could be fake piped in noise. It is still a big car though as all cars now seem to be getting bigger and bigger. If you want a car this big which can do the sensible boring stuff and still excite then it is worth considering. It's always going to be a choice between the 330d / 335xd / 335i and this. I had only driven the 320d before I bought the Hybrid and you really can't compare them.