[shuzmaker]

From BMW Magazine 1/2006 pg49.

"... For waits of 29 seconds of more - at a long traffic-light pauses and in traffic jams - it pays to switch the engine off. In stop-and-go traffic, fuel consumption can be as high as 10 mpg..."

Anyone doing this with your E90?

I believe this is how the Hybrid does it.

Any ill effects on the starter, or anything else?

[northerncalguy]

Sounds good in theory, but my understanding is that wear and tear of the engine occurs at start-up. I don't think I'll be adopting this technique anytime soon.

[GoBonesGo]

29 seconds or more? You've got to be kidding! I can't imagine killing the engine at every stoplight.

[tctic]

Maybe during MAJOR traffic jams but they rarely happen in our area.

[e90rocks]

Originally Posted by shuzmaker

From BMW Magazine 1/2006 pg49.

"... For waits of 29 seconds of more - at a long traffic-light pauses and in traffic jams - it pays to switch the engine off. In stop-and-go traffic, fuel consumption can be as high as 10 mpg..."

Anyone doing this with your E90?

I believe this is how the Hybrid does it.

Any ill effects on the starter, or anything else?

What we need is a nice cartoon of everyone behind this car honking their horns and gesticulating when the lights change. I'd be kinda irritated if more than one person decided to switch off a head of me and were starting up again. I thought it is only good etiquette to switch off when there's an accident and a big time delay.

[jpsquared]

Yeah, I read this bit of extremist nonsense too and wondered the same thing. I'm all for saving money and being environmentally responsible, but this is pretty unrealistic. For anyone who has ever stalled their car (non BMW) in heavy traffic and then been unable to restart (clogged fuel line), you'd wouldn't be so inclined to purposefully shut down the engine. The kind folks who get stuck behind you really appreciate your dilemma by voicing their warmest regards...

[shuzmaker]

Agreed with all your posts.

I thought it was a little extreme.

[roppongicorolla]

I read somewhere that cities in Japan are 'recommending' that all drivers shut off their engines when stopped in a traffic jam or at a light. This is an attempt to reduce emissions and reduce unnecessary addition of heat to the environment. Auto inspections are very thorough in Japan, no one stops because they have clogged fuel lines or bad batteries.

[shuzmaker]

Originally Posted by roppongicorolla

I read somewhere that cities in Japan are 'recommending' that all drivers shut off their engines when stopped in a traffic jam or at a light. This is an attempt to reduce emissions and reduce unnecessary addition of heat to the environment. Auto inspections are very thorough in Japan, no one stops because they have clogged fuel lines or bad batteries.

That might be plausible.
Do you know they have to turn their headlights off at night when stopped at all intersections. Reason: when 2 cars are directly facing each other with their headlights on, anything in between becomes semi-invisible, ie, pedestrians.

[David325Australia]

Yeah,

I read the short article in the latest BMW Magazine. Not sure if I would bother.

[Brunotheboxer]

i wouldnt do this either. only in a bad traffic jam.

[itznin]

This just seems plain stupid......... 29 seconds?

How about driving through the Lincoln Tunnel.... any solution for that one?? hahahaha..... didn't think so

[SiR]

In the Swiss, its required to shut down the engine at stopped intersections when your the third car down and more, so I heard.

[lux.sh]

lol. imagine the world, where everyone shuts off their engines at the stoplight.
when light turns green, everyone starts their engines and GOOOOO!!

Its like professional racing scene on the streets everyday. awesome.
whoever turns it on faster will win.

[wheeler]

Originally Posted by roppongicorolla

I read somewhere that cities in Japan are 'recommending' that all drivers shut off their engines when stopped in a traffic jam or at a light. This is an attempt to reduce emissions and reduce unnecessary addition of heat to the environment. Auto inspections are very thorough in Japan, no one stops because they have clogged fuel lines or bad batteries.

Been to a few 3rd world countries. Almost every gas-powered vehicle driver shuts off engine at every light. Saves gas. They don't give a rip about pollution (India, Nepal). They watch for light changes and anticipate the green, so start up is not delayed.

Its not important to us because of the vast difference in income.

[poldim]

Unless you have a dry sump lubrication system that pressurizes before cranking, then you will --theoretically-- do more harm every time you do this.


I think we can all afford the extra 5 dollars a year for standing at traffic lights.

[porscheneer]

Extra wear on the car and good only for the environment !!!
You would have to be an avid tree hugger in order to adopt this technique, further more you would not do it in an E90 you would be in a Prius or riding a mule first . I hear mule's have methane emmissions

[Dgunsuh]

Originally Posted by shuzmaker

That might be plausible.
Do you know they have to turn their headlights off at night when stopped at all intersections. Reason: when 2 cars are directly facing each other with their headlights on, anything in between becomes semi-invisible, ie, pedestrians.

actually, that happens in south korea, when i visited there a couple years ago, my cousin turned his low beams off and just had his parking lights on, i thought it was weird, but that could get to be a major pain in the ass

also, a car burns more fuel starting up than sitting at an intersection for 30 seconds, just a thought