BMW 5 Series E60 - BMW engine stop/start button

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Thu 4 Aug 2011 14:41
BMW 5 Series E60 - BMW engine stop/start button - Chips with everything

Hi,

Apologies if this has been asked before but (suprisingly) I can't find any mention of it in a forum search.

As I have a 57 reg E60, which I believe has the efficiency dynamics since they were introduced late 2007 (I'm not 100% sure when), should the engine stop when I'm stationary as it doesn't at the moment..

Maybe this was part of the mind boggling options list, but the car has a engine stop/start button so it would seem reasonable to imply that the car features this?

Even if it doesn't, am I safe to manually stop the engine when conditions dictate that it's safe to do so (traffic lights, traffic congestion etc)?

Does anyone know if the car has an upgraded alternator or some kind of energy recovery from the brakes to allow this?

I've read the manual from cover to cover but it glances over this, so I suspect it's more of a gimmick than anything useful!

Thanks in advance.

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Thu 4 Aug 2011 16:00
BMW 5 Series E60 - BMW engine stop/start button - unthrottled

but the car has a engine stop/start button so it would seem reasonable to imply that the car features this?

No, The stop/start feature is automatic. It's based on the position of the clutch pedal. If you're stationary and in neutral with yourfoot off the clutch, it switches off. Depress the clutch to restart it.

Even if it doesn't, am I safe to manually stop the engine when conditions dictate that it's safe to do so (traffic lights, traffic congestion etc)?

Of course! Although, The stop/start cars do have a beefed up starter motor, I wouldn't worry about wearing it out. Don't expect big gains though. Diesels don't use much fuel when idling. It's worth while in a long traffic jam though. If facing downhill in a jam, I'll switch off and use gravity to creep forward. Nice little saver. At traffic lights I wouldn't bother.

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Thu 4 Aug 2011 16:01
BMW 5 Series E60 - BMW engine stop/start button - jamie745

It's worth while in a long traffic jam though. If facing downhill in a jam, I'll switch off and use gravity to creep forward.

Unholy sin!! *pulls shocked face*

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Thu 4 Aug 2011 16:03
BMW 5 Series E60 - BMW engine stop/start button - unthrottled

Well, with the power steering inoperative and the vacuum servo running out of air, my wife and children could have been killed. :-)

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Thu 4 Aug 2011 16:12
BMW 5 Series E60 - BMW engine stop/start button - jamie745

Im slowly trying to piece together what your car is. I know its a 1996 French car with a 1.6 engine and its falling apart.

Renault Megane? lol

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Thu 4 Aug 2011 17:25
BMW 5 Series E60 - BMW engine stop/start button - Chips with everything

Many thanks for that - I'll try taking my foot of the clutch next time I'm in a big queue.

Cheers.

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