BMW stop/start
Discussion
RECampbell said:
The stop/start function on my E92 BMW has disengaged. I have been told that it could be due to cold weather conditions. Anyone got any advice?
If it's still not working after a good run with the car up to temperature, and its above freezing outside, it's probably the battery.Yes, the car monitors temperature, electrical load (like heated rear screen, heated seats, etc.) and will decide when to disable the stop/start to ensure the battery stays fully charged.
My E87 1 Series had it and when the battery was dying the car flashed up a warning and disabled the stop/start.
Mind you once I had the new battery at less than 5 years old (AGM type so about £300 including coding!) I kept the stop/start turned off all the time. Still ended up needing a new starter motor at 6 years old and 77K miles! (Another £600).
Looking back I should have had the stop/start permanently disabled in the onboard settings - and you may want to consider that too OP!
My E87 1 Series had it and when the battery was dying the car flashed up a warning and disabled the stop/start.
Mind you once I had the new battery at less than 5 years old (AGM type so about £300 including coding!) I kept the stop/start turned off all the time. Still ended up needing a new starter motor at 6 years old and 77K miles! (Another £600).
Looking back I should have had the stop/start permanently disabled in the onboard settings - and you may want to consider that too OP!
Edited by Mr Tidy on Saturday 3rd December 22:51
I went through this on a 1 series and an X5. One was 8 years old, the other 5.
If the stop/start isn't working, my experience is that the battery is end of life and anything you do is a short term fix at best. That said, I went for nearly two years before changing the battery.. :-)
re. charging, make sure you obtain a charger that is a quality one and has a specific setting for AGM as using a cheap charger or one not for AGM, could well shorten the life further as I did when i did the same.. I would recommend a CTEC charger, this is what all the dealers use.
If you change the battery you will need a recode from BMW to tell the car that you have a new battery as it is a smart charging setup. Frustrating to have to pay for this but hey ho. You can ignore this and just chuck a battery in but the car will overcharge the battery and in time (c.two years from experience) you will need another one.
If the stop/start isn't working, my experience is that the battery is end of life and anything you do is a short term fix at best. That said, I went for nearly two years before changing the battery.. :-)
re. charging, make sure you obtain a charger that is a quality one and has a specific setting for AGM as using a cheap charger or one not for AGM, could well shorten the life further as I did when i did the same.. I would recommend a CTEC charger, this is what all the dealers use.
If you change the battery you will need a recode from BMW to tell the car that you have a new battery as it is a smart charging setup. Frustrating to have to pay for this but hey ho. You can ignore this and just chuck a battery in but the car will overcharge the battery and in time (c.two years from experience) you will need another one.
I have this connected to my Z4M AGM battery all the time. Fab piece of kit
http://www.ringautomotive.com/uk/products/Cars/Bat...
http://www.ringautomotive.com/uk/products/Cars/Bat...
Edited by ian in lancs on Friday 9th December 09:16
ian in lancs said:
I have this connected to my Z4M AGM battery all the time. Fab piece of kit
http://www.ringautomotive.com/uk/products/Cars/Bat...
Driving around with that thing plugged into the mains must be somewhat inconvenient . http://www.ringautomotive.com/uk/products/Cars/Bat...
thebraketester said:
ian in lancs said:
I have this connected to my Z4M AGM battery all the time. Fab piece of kit
http://www.ringautomotive.com/uk/products/Cars/Bat...
Driving around with that thing plugged into the mains must be somewhat inconvenient . http://www.ringautomotive.com/uk/products/Cars/Bat...
BMW's stop/start systems monitor all manner of things in order to allow it to function, including the condition of the battery, the loading on the electrical system, the electrical drainage on the system, whether the alternator is charging the system at the time, the outside temperature and several others.
With the additional loading of heating/air-con/headlights/wipers etc., etc., being used at this time of the year, the system tends not to operate as often.
A year ago around this time of the year, a family friend had taken her 1 series back to BMW due to the stop/start no longer operating "correctly", and was complaining that they had fobbed her off, telling her that there was nothing wrong with the system. She argued that the system had operated properly in the summer, cutting out at certain junctions on her daily commute, but no longer did. She was moaning how they were saying it was due to weather, but she knew better and it was definitely broken.
I had to have a long conversation with her to point out just how clever the stop/start monitoring system was and exactly what it monitored in order to operate (with a lot of on-line supporting evidence!). She wasn't totally convinced, but decided to see how things went.
Come this last summer I asked her how her Stop/start was now and she replied: "You were right, when the weather warmed up it started to work properly again. The only problem now is it is due to go in for a service soon and having made such a fuss, I'm dreading having to go back into the Dealership so I might send My Husband instead!"
With the additional loading of heating/air-con/headlights/wipers etc., etc., being used at this time of the year, the system tends not to operate as often.
A year ago around this time of the year, a family friend had taken her 1 series back to BMW due to the stop/start no longer operating "correctly", and was complaining that they had fobbed her off, telling her that there was nothing wrong with the system. She argued that the system had operated properly in the summer, cutting out at certain junctions on her daily commute, but no longer did. She was moaning how they were saying it was due to weather, but she knew better and it was definitely broken.
I had to have a long conversation with her to point out just how clever the stop/start monitoring system was and exactly what it monitored in order to operate (with a lot of on-line supporting evidence!). She wasn't totally convinced, but decided to see how things went.
Come this last summer I asked her how her Stop/start was now and she replied: "You were right, when the weather warmed up it started to work properly again. The only problem now is it is due to go in for a service soon and having made such a fuss, I'm dreading having to go back into the Dealership so I might send My Husband instead!"
^This
A couple of years ago, I was commuting by train, so for 12 months car was sat not being used Mon-Fri, and sometimes for a few weekends in a row, it would only get a few short runs at the weekend. Once winter hit, on a Sat morning I noticed the heated rear window wasn't working. bks I thought.
Next day low battery warning light came on when I got in it, and then the 'light bulb' moment as I twigged that it must have 'disabled' the HRW the day before because of the low battery.
I gave it a 30 miles blast down the motorway for the hell of it, and sure enough next weekend when getting in car HRW was working OK.
Bloody cars are far too clever and complex these days
A couple of years ago, I was commuting by train, so for 12 months car was sat not being used Mon-Fri, and sometimes for a few weekends in a row, it would only get a few short runs at the weekend. Once winter hit, on a Sat morning I noticed the heated rear window wasn't working. bks I thought.
Next day low battery warning light came on when I got in it, and then the 'light bulb' moment as I twigged that it must have 'disabled' the HRW the day before because of the low battery.
I gave it a 30 miles blast down the motorway for the hell of it, and sure enough next weekend when getting in car HRW was working OK.
Bloody cars are far too clever and complex these days
The first thing I do when I start the car (given the buttons are next to each other) is turn the start/stop off. With an auto in particular it doesn't aid smooth driving in traffic. If I really wanted to save a few pounds a month on gas I'd buy a Prius and drive it as if I was the Queen's chauffeur.
Life is too short. Don't get me started on electronic handbrakes.... :-)
Life is too short. Don't get me started on electronic handbrakes.... :-)
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff