Auto Start/Stop Function

Bustofa · 11-03-2013, 11:35 AM

Those of you with the Auto Start/Stop feature will be aware that the vehicle will automatically start itself without any driver input in certain circumstances.

A little while ago my car started occasionally switching the transmission from D to P when restarting itself. I say 'started' as my recollection was that previously the car was always left in gear on a restart, even if the car rather than the driver initiated the restart. It seemed to me that this was different behaviour not least because I kept being caught out at the lights when trying to move off and finding that the car had put itself into Park!

However, our memories aren't always reliable and I just wanted to check with fellow XBimmers that my recollection of how this should work is accurate, which is that even on a vehicle initiated restart the transmission should be left as is i.e. in Drive.

Grateful for your feedback.

plymjack · 11-03-2013, 11:57 AM

Mine always stays in Drive - never had an issue and we leave it on all the time...

Edge2112 · 11-03-2013, 12:02 PM

Ours starts itself in Drive if my foot is on the brake. Not sure where it starts if using Auto Brake though?

robe033 · 11-03-2013, 01:07 PM

Mine stays in drive both with foot on brake and auto handbrake

Chunner · 11-03-2013, 08:29 PM

This feature makes me insane... I turn it off all the time, every time...

pokerface · 11-03-2013, 09:21 PM

a D to P suggests a stall... that only happens if the car completely shuts off. If it happens more than once better take it to the dealer for a code read.

The car will restart itself if it needs to run the compressor (aircon) or if the cabin gets too cold... or if you take your foot off the brake, kick it in, or turn the steering wheel.

scotta2 · 11-04-2013, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunner

This feature makes me insane... I turn it off all the time, every time...

Ditto, and the fact that BMW advise that it "may" lead to premature component wear it in itself worrying. Just Imagine the wear and tear taking place on the starter and flywheel ring gear teeth during city driving? Also when the engine stops the transmission and engine oil pressures will fall to zero. Then it starts back up, in gear presumably before the pressures have had time to build up like during a normal start up where there are a few seconds between engine run and gear selection. I'll just give this function a rest and let the engine and transmission do what it's meant to do at idle.

Edge2112 · 11-04-2013, 06:23 AM

Actually, I've stalled a couple of times (through my own fault), and the Autostart has helpfully kicked the engine back-in before I've had the chance to figure out how to start the engine whilst still rolling.

Edge2112 · 11-04-2013, 06:24 AM

Actually, I've stalled a couple of times (through my own fault), and the Autostart has helpfully kicked the engine back-in before I've had the chance to figure out how to start the engine whilst still rolling.

The X Men · 11-04-2013, 08:40 AM

When the ASS gets confused, it will throw itself into park, for that reason, I stop using the ASS in stop and go traffic.

scotta2 · 11-04-2013, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edge2112

Actually, I've stalled a couple of times (through my own fault), and the Autostart has helpfully kicked the engine back-in before I've had the chance to figure out how to start the engine whilst still rolling.

A manual in the states? You must be the exception to the rule!!

richard in NC · 11-04-2013, 03:34 PM

Under normal circumstances, my X3 will stay in drive. If I open the door, in a driveway, etc, it requires a manual restart and is in P.

Bustofa · 11-04-2013, 06:05 PM

Many thanks for all the responses.

Actually I already had the dealer look at the car. They diagnosed a gearbox fault and replaced an apparently very expensive part under warranty.

Well, whatever they did had no effect whatsoever and the fault remained. I'm not convinced now that they had a clear idea what it was that they were trying to fix!

Having driven the car for the last two years, I was always pretty sure that I understood how the system should work but I just wanted to have a final sanity check with other X3 owners before I took it back.

I've now let them know that the fault remains and have offered to monitor for a few days and gather a bit more info before taking it back in.

11-03-2013, 11:35 AM	#1
Bustofa Lieutenant 7 Rep 470 Posts Drives: F25 X3 XDrive20D SE Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Washington, UK iTrader: (0)	Auto Start/Stop Function - Sanity Check Those of you with the Auto Start/Stop feature will be aware that the vehicle will automatically start itself without any driver input in certain circumstances. A little while ago my car started occasionally switching the transmission from D to P when restarting itself. I say 'started' as my recollection was that previously the car was always left in gear on a restart, even if the car rather than the driver initiated the restart. It seemed to me that this was different behaviour not least because I kept being caught out at the lights when trying to move off and finding that the car had put itself into Park! However, our memories aren't always reliable and I just wanted to check with fellow XBimmers that my recollection of how this should work is accurate, which is that even on a vehicle initiated restart the transmission should be left as is i.e. in Drive. Grateful for your feedback.
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11-03-2013, 11:57 AM	#2
plymjack Nuclear Chief of the Watch 120 Rep 637 Posts Drives: X3 (F25) 2.0D, i3 BEV Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Plymouth, UK iTrader: (0)	Mine always stays in Drive - never had an issue and we leave it on all the time... __________________ BMW i3 (BEV) 2014. . Capparis White. . Park Assist, Comfort Access, Enhanced USB BMW X3 (F25) xDrive20d SE 2017. . . . Oyster Leather . . 8 Speed Servotronic. .RFTs. . Electric Seats Canon 70D 500mm, 85mm, 40mm, 24mm Sony QX10 & GoPro Hero 3
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11-03-2013, 12:02 PM	#3
Edge2112 New Member 0 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2014 X3 28i Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: New Jersey via Manchester, UK iTrader: (0)	Ours starts itself in Drive if my foot is on the brake. Not sure where it starts if using Auto Brake though?
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11-03-2013, 01:07 PM	#4
robe033 Private First Class 73 Rep 184 Posts Drives: iX1 2023 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Wrexham iTrader: (0)	Mine stays in drive both with foot on brake and auto handbrake
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11-03-2013, 08:29 PM	#5
Chunner Captain 153 Rep 964 Posts Drives: BMW 135is \| #341/586 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: New York iTrader: (1) Garage List '13 BMW 135is #341/586 [9.50]	This feature makes me insane... I turn it off all the time, every time... __________________ 2013 BMW 135is Coupe \| Dinan Stage 3 \| M3 Subframe Bushings \| Dinan Monoball Joints \| Dinan Toe Links \| 1M Strut Bar \| MPS AS/3 - VMR 710's 18x8.5 ET45 / 18x9.5 ET50 \| MPSS - BMW 313's 18x7.5 / 18x8.5 \| Min Grey, Savanna \| Prem, Tech \| DCT \| Beast #341/586 \| *2021 BMW X7 M50i \| Alpine White \| Children Hauler*
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11-03-2013, 09:21 PM	#6
pokerface Colonel 430 Rep 2,524 Posts Drives: F25 X3 N20 / F80 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	a D to P suggests a stall... that only happens if the car completely shuts off. If it happens more than once better take it to the dealer for a code read. The car will restart itself if it needs to run the compressor (aircon) or if the cabin gets too cold... or if you take your foot off the brake, kick it in, or turn the steering wheel.
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11-04-2013, 06:23 AM	#8
Edge2112 New Member 0 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2014 X3 28i Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: New Jersey via Manchester, UK iTrader: (0)	Actually, I've stalled a couple of times (through my own fault), and the Autostart has helpfully kicked the engine back-in before I've had the chance to figure out how to start the engine whilst still rolling.
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11-04-2013, 06:24 AM	#9
Edge2112 New Member 0 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2014 X3 28i Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: New Jersey via Manchester, UK iTrader: (0)	Actually, I've stalled a couple of times (through my own fault), and the Autostart has helpfully kicked the engine back-in before I've had the chance to figure out how to start the engine whilst still rolling.
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11-04-2013, 08:40 AM	#10
The X Men Colonel 99 Rep 2,323 Posts Drives: 2013 X3 35i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	When the ASS gets confused, it will throw itself into park, for that reason, I stop using the ASS in stop and go traffic.
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11-04-2013, 03:34 PM	#12
richard in NC Colonel 1229 Rep 2,602 Posts Drives: 2009 Z4 35i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	Under normal circumstances, my X3 will stay in drive. If I open the door, in a driveway, etc, it requires a manual restart and is in P.
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11-04-2013, 06:05 PM	#13
Bustofa Lieutenant 7 Rep 470 Posts Drives: F25 X3 XDrive20D SE Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Washington, UK iTrader: (0)	Many thanks for all the responses. Actually I already had the dealer look at the car. They diagnosed a gearbox fault and replaced an apparently very expensive part under warranty. Well, whatever they did had no effect whatsoever and the fault remained. I'm not convinced now that they had a clear idea what it was that they were trying to fix! Having driven the car for the last two years, I was always pretty sure that I understood how the system should work but I just wanted to have a final sanity check with other X3 owners before I took it back. I've now let them know that the fault remains and have offered to monitor for a few days and gather a bit more info before taking it back in.
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