[sprite]

Now, I'm not sure if this is just something I'm doing wrong but it's happened to me twice now (I've done 600 miles) and I really don't like it.

First time - I had the stop/start on. Had stopped at a couple of lights and it worked fine. Stopped again (this time with a massive lorry behind me ) - didn't notice that the 'stop/start' icon wasn't showing - went to move off and nothing. Had to press the button once or twice to restart. Luckily the lorry driver didn't mow me down! I wondered if I'd done something wrong - maybe even stalled it, although it didn't feel like a stall and I very, very rarely stall. I hadn't done many miles at this point.

This morning it happened again. I cruised up to a set of lights (maybe that upset it?I had stuck the car in neutral and cruised to a stop - not very far though). The engine went off and no stop/start. Now, the weird thing this time is that my other half is sure that I'd switch the stop/start off. Luckily I'd noticed it so I restarted ok without holding anyone up.

It's starting to bug me now - I don't want to be sat at lights and not realise it's gone off and have some idiot crash into me. I'm losing my confidence in the stop start thing and I really hope it wasn't switched off when it cut out this morning.

Anyone else had this happen? I want to do some testing (tis the programmer in me!) to see if I can recreate the problem. Need to find somewhere quiet though.

[LeakyTurnip]

I love the stop/start system!!

I use it everyday and haven't had a single issue with the car not restarting. That was my main fear with the system but so far so good!

Take it back to the dealer, they should be able to diagnose the fault and hopefully restore your faith!!

[mel deabreu]

Maybe cruising to the lights in neutral was the problem. the manual says to change down the gears when coming to a stop. it uses less fuel that way too.

mine did the same once, where the Stop/Start light turned off and it wouldn't start, but i had been stopped for a while. i didn't think anything of it at the time, i just thought it might turn itself off after a certain amount of time.

just keep checking for the A on the display before you pull off, or just turn it off.

[Paul]

Coasting my be the problem as suggested above, or maybe panic also had a small factor, I'm sure with a lorry behind things may not be as simple as they should be!

[sprite]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

Coasting my be the problem as suggested above, or maybe panic also had a small factor, I'm sure with a lorry behind things may not be as simple as they should be!

Oh, I totally agree that the lorry might have made me do something wrong - I'd put that one down to panic and maybe doing things in the wrong order. It was a big lorry

[rainbowdreamer]

Wouldn't trust the stop/start at all.

Sounds a disaster waiting to happen.

And it's bound to go wrong.

[BRG/Blk Cooper S]

Hi,
Surely constantly stopping and starting the engine puts extra stresses on various components i.e. starter motor thus leading to shorter service life?

I'd certainly like to see some real world figures on what the savings in emmisions are vs carbon footprint of repairs/replacements for parts that will no doubt fail sooner.

I'm all for reducing emissions and carbon footprints (and proper recycling) but everybody is jumping on the band wagon these days and often the apparent benefits are not really all they are cracked up to be - Prius anyone?

Personally I wouldn't want to be sitting on the road with the engine off - what happens in an emergency situation where you suddenly have to move quickly?

5th gear did a piece on the Clubman Cooper S and the Start/Stop function didn't work properly.

Cheers, Geoff.

[iain cooper]

couldn't agree more with Geoff's comments.

stop/start puts an incredible amount of stress/wear on the components involved

uses more fuel in normal circumstances

and it seems like it puts additional stress on the driver

my advice would be to switch the system off and leave it off, it's just a stupid gimic designed by idiots, albeit clever idiots.

[rec]

did anyone watch the Clubman review from Fifth Gear ? he had loads of problems with the Stop/Start.

i'm glad mine's not got it, it sounds crap !

[zyo]

I had the experience in the first week of ownership when I went to move off and it didn't start, I put it down to the fact that I must have stalled it and on reflection I was rolling in neutral at one point, I have mentioned in another thread that I had an occasion, again in the first week, when I was at some traffic lights and I just put it into neutral and took my foot of the clutch just about the same time as the lights started to change to green, it didn't fire immediately ,obviously a bit to quick for it to start but after about a second or two(always seems like an age when you're at the front of the queue) it started as it should. Since those incidents I haven't had any problems with it and I've had it for 2 months now, only stalling it proper at some lights and the start sequence isn't second nature yet what with having to have it in neutral and then having to press the clutch and press the start button....turning the key was easier...thanks to the young Audi driver who didn't blast his horn or gesticulate despit sitting behind me for about 10 seconds while I struggled with the start system and my embarrassment

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by drainaudio (original)

5th gear did a piece on the Clubman Cooper S and the Start/Stop function didn't work properly..

That Fifth Gear "review" was a joke from start to finish though. For example "cutting people up" because the car is a few CM longer?!

I drove the same cars in the same situation (as did my co-driver on the launch) and we didn't have a single problem, the system worked like a charm.

The parts concerned are all beefed up, although I'm not sure what other vehicles have had a similar system for a genuinely long time (a few years) to give "real world" results, but I'm sure it's all well tested.

I can't believe people are happy to trust car electronics with ABS, DSC, Cornering brake control, even the accelerator peddle, not to mention the airbag system, but question trusting a car to perform simple stop/start function in quite controlled circumstances.

[EAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

That Fifth Gear "review" was a joke from start to finish though. For example "cutting people up" because the car is a few CM longer?!

Exactly. And also, the stop/start system seemed to be working ok for the reviewer, he just didn't like it. The point where it turned itself back on unexpectedly would most likely be down to him having the air-con on.

Having said that, I don't like the sound of the system myself

[TomUK23]

All these new technologies have to start somewhere! It may not be up to everyone's expectations at the moment but it can only get better??

[Washy]

I have done 2500 miles now and never had any problems at all with the stop start it works flawlessly every time. That includes being stuck on the M1 this morning with a 40 tonne artic behind me.....

[rec]

Quote: Originally Posted by EAC (original)

Exactly. And also, the stop/start system seemed to be working ok for the reviewer, he just didn't like it. The point where it turned itself back on unexpectedly would most likely be down to him having the air-con on.

Having said that, I don't like the sound of the system myself

right... so the fact it kept stalling... that's something that's being ignored i see.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

I really want to drive a car with this feature before I get my Dooper...

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by rec (original)

right... so the fact it kept stalling... that's something that's being ignored i see.

Did it keep stalling really? Just seemed like he didn't have a clue what he or the car was doing to me.

[Washy]

Here you go bit of insight into the technology.....

Robert Bosch GmbH - Start/Stop Starter Motor

[LeakyTurnip]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

I can't believe people are happy to trust car electronics with ABS, DSC, Cornering brake control, even the accelerator peddle, not to mention the airbag system, but question trusting a car to perform simple stop/start function in quite controlled circumstances.

Well said!! Lets face it if this hadn't been tested it wouldn't have been fitted. I'm sure BMW don't want a load of their cars landing back into their workshops with faults all realting to the Stop/Start system. This systems is also fitted to other BMW models and don't forget some Citroen cars have a similar system for some time now and I can't remember hearing anything bad about their system. The link to the Bosch site in a previous post is quite useful.

[ianreeves]

I've got the stop start on my 1 series but not our R56. So far no problem, as said the system is quite complex there are several 'reasons' the system will restart or not stop you should have a little mirror hanger with the car that explains all, if not I'll take a picture and post it. As for the system not re-starting, make sure you have not opened the door or released the seatbelt. Coasting upto the lights hould not be a problem as the system monitors the speed of the car then switches off ofter 0.5 seconds.

If you are having problems try the dealer again, there has been a couple of stories on the 1 series forum where a wire has pulled out of the clutch switch causing the system to malfunction.