[Metalmickey]

They do!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZF_6HP26_transmission

[seanblee]

It doesn't select neutral at standstill once the engine is warmed up after a cold start. Personally, if I'm stopped long enough to engage the handbrake, I stick it in neutral; if I'm just pausing with a foot on the footbrake, I leave it in drive.

[EssexIan]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

It won't cook the oil. brake boosting will, but when launching you are only doing that for like 2-3 secs max

Advice from a few who should be expert is that holding against the brakes while at standstill will significantly raise the oil temperature and eventually lead to it breaking down! With BMW suggesting the gearbox is filled for life it seems like a reasonable precaution to move to neutral when stationary for any length of time.

Ian

[BanziBarn]

I move to N too, it just 'feels' wrong to leave it in Drive to me because you're in effect holding something back against it's will, which will always generate heat.

That wiki link does say it can select neutral though.. However, on the occasions where I've left it D by mistake for more than a few seconds the car has always pulled away immediately when it was time to go - if it had selected neutral surely there would be a delay?

[seanblee]

BMW call it NIC (neutral idle control). From their documentation:

The NIC (Neutral Idle Control) feature disengages the torque converter from the transmission when the vehicle is stationary in the Drive position; the service brakes are applied; and the engine is still in the warm-up phase. The NIC function eliminates engine load when vehicle is stopped, reducing fuel consumption.

My experience agrees with the implication in this description that the feature is only active during the warm-up phase; once the engine's warm, it doesn't disengage.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by EssexIan

Advice from a few who should be expert is that holding against the brakes while at standstill will significantly raise the oil temperature and eventually lead to it breaking down! With BMW suggesting the gearbox is filled for life it seems like a reasonable precaution to move to neutral when stationary for any length of time.

Ian

In 65k miles and over 150 FULL bore standing starts at the drag strip. My box never had any issues.

[thedude74]

I always shift to N if stationary for longer than c10 secs - you can almost feel the car straining if you don't ....

Just my 2ps worth...

[Soootylad]

This sounds alien to me, how is neutral any different to a gear being engaged but with the clutch plates separated? my car certainly doesn't feel like the brakes are fighting an engaged engine when stationary in D mode?

EDIT: in the manual it just says:

"N Neutral
You can select this in a car wash, for example. The vehicle can roll."

You'd have thought if the N setting should be used whenever stopped, it would be mentioned with priority over "when you're in a car wash"?

[BIGTIME]

Get yourself an M3. You won't have to worry as they have auto stop start . However, mine doesn't always stop start.

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by sootylad

This sounds alien to me, how is neutral any different to a gear being engaged but with the clutch plates separated? my car certainly doesn't feel like the brakes are fighting an engaged engine when stationary in D mode?

The engine is still turning the engine side of the torque converter. The wheel side of the torque converter is stationary, so there is a load on the engine. Unlike a clutched manual gearbox where there is no connection at all between the engine and wheels with the clutch pressed, here there is still a fluid connection.

Yes I have an auto tranny, no I don't shift it into neutral when stopped.

[Metalmickey]

Like Sootylad says mine doesn't feel like it's pulling against the brakes when sitting in drive, In fact it feels like the engine is disengaged from box whether engine is hot or cold! And I would say there's definitely a slight delay albeit for a split second when cominig off the brakes and it engages again to pull away!

[dxb335d]

I agree with that!

[fulcrum]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

I agree with that!

+ 1

[Mart1000]

Originally Posted by rG-tom

I call bulls*t on all you people saying you use the handbrake,there is no way in hell my handbrake can hold my car even at idle, BMWs have terrible handbrakes!

Was the case on my e46 330i, even after having it adjusted 4 times, and the e90 320d and e92 335i ive driven for extended periods (3-4 thousand miles) as well as my own 335D, the handbrakes are ornaments!

Also true in my friends e46 m3, another friends e39 530i, another friends e60 535D....

My handbrake is fine, and the handbrake on the 325 at work is fine. No creeping, no bullshit.

[ghosty]

i shift to N, i just prefer it like that. same as what i used to do when i was in a manual.

[Subzero2003]

I heard/read that shifting into neutral too often can cause premature wear on some gearbox bearings?

[Guvernator]

Originally Posted by Subzero2003

I heard/read that shifting into neutral too often can cause premature wear on some gearbox bearings?

I also mentioned this earlier in the thread but this seems to have been ignored. I have heard this from several sources including mechanics which is why I don't do it.

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Subzero2003

I heard/read that shifting into neutral too often can cause premature wear on some gearbox bearings?

Originally Posted by Guvernator

I also mentioned this earlier in the thread but this seems to have been ignored. I have heard this from several sources including mechanics which is why I don't do it.

That's all total and utter crap.

[zltm089]

I put it in N if I stop for more than 4 secs....and use the handbrake...especially if the brakes are hot...

[Guvernator]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

That's all total and utter crap.

It might well be but I've had several mechanics who in theory should know about these things say that this was the case. Have you got evidence to the contrary to back up your statement?

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by Guvernator

It might well be but I've had several mechanics who in theory should know about these things say that this was the case. Have you got evidence to the contrary to back up your statement?

Most of my driving is freeway but everytime I stop for more than a minute, I have always shifted to neutral to minimize force in the tranny. Lately, since my front brake pads are low I tend to put it in neutral more often to relief my foot from the brake since i have to puch harder. My handbrake works great!

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Guvernator

It might well be but I've had several mechanics who in theory should know about these things say that this was the case. Have you got evidence to the contrary to back up your statement?

Most 'mechanics' and I use that term loosely wouldn't know where to start with an autobox.

No excess wear will take place with running the transmission in N rather than D other than normal bearing operation.

I can't produce 'evidence' per se but then neither can these pub car experts