Anything to save a penny .. what do you think ?

[Bigmuz7]

I realised today that there is a dude up our street that drives a 3 series 57 plate BMW that whenever he comes to a stop at a junction, or a set of traffic lights switches off his engine I mean stroll on,.. I'm all for being a bit greener and recycling and all that ,.. but I reckon he'll be keeping his dealer busy with starters and batteries for a while,.. is it just me or do you think he's mad and totally counter productive ? or will he actually do some good what with modern electrics etc ?

[JSP]

I was once told you use more fuel stopping and starting the engine like that?

[chris123]

I suspect it is the car doing it, rather than him:

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...tart_stop.html

The technology has been around a few years now on various makes, so presumably any issues have been ironed out.

Cheers

Chris

[Bigmuz7]

Jeeee .. I didnt know that I wonder if it really does any good

[willk]

It may be an urban myth, but I understood that this kind of thing was de rigeur in Switzerland?

[250kts]

Stopping your engine manually, is only efficient if the stop is for longer than 21secs. There in lies the problem, how do you know? If it's a traffic jam, maybe. At traffic lights you know well, yes. In other cases,looking at your watch could be more of a distraction and you might end up with a motoring offence ..... Look at petition thread

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by chris123

I suspect it is the car doing it, rather than him:

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...tart_stop.html

The technology has been around a few years now on various makes, so presumably any issues have been ironed out.

Cheers

Chris

Yes and no - really bad idea in my opinion - I turn the engine off at certain lights because I KNOW how long they will take - the car doesn't!!!

I am suprised the government haven't banned them as they admitted recently that they deliberately bugger around with traffic lights so people waste more fuel and they get more money..........

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I turn the engine off at certain lights because I KNOW how long they will take - the car doesn't!!!

It said it restarts whenever you put the clutch in

[HUMBER P4VWL]

My mate has it on his 1 series. Better mpg than his older slower one one!! Unnerving at first but then becomes unnoticeable. You are right it only stops in neutral then starts as soon as you dip the clutch.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

It said it restarts whenever you put the clutch in

I know it does - I have driven one - but it doesn't do much good turning the engine off for say 27 seconds. I only turn the engine off if I know it will be longer than a minute!!!