Comments on: Car Magazine on MINI’s Start/Stop System http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/ MotoringFile | MINI news, reviews and opinion. MINI Cooper, Cooper S, Clubman, Countryman Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Car News » Comment on Car Magazine on MINI’s Start/Stop System by g http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-161051 Car News » Comment on Car Magazine on MINI’s Start/Stop System by g Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:23:57 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-161051 <p>[...] NA wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHere’sa Canadian site with a lot of interesting information on engine idling and its environmental and mechanical effects. Hope this answers a few questions. Idle-Free Zone. -Gabriel. [...]</p> [...] NA wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHere’sa Canadian site with a lot of interesting information on engine idling and its environmental and mechanical effects. Hope this answers a few questions. Idle-Free Zone. -Gabriel. [...]

]]> By: mufflethis http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-158305 mufflethis Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:56:09 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-158305 <p>"ok, when I learned driver’s ed and Physics (around the same time) I was told stopping/starting/stopping/starting engine constantly actually wastes petrol, unless you plan on idling for more than approx 1 minute. any truth, or urban myth?"</p> <p>That was true with older cars not so much anymore.</p> “ok, when I learned driver’s ed and Physics (around the same time) I was told stopping/starting/stopping/starting engine constantly actually wastes petrol, unless you plan on idling for more than approx 1 minute. any truth, or urban myth?”

That was true with older cars not so much anymore.

]]> By: mufflethis http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-158303 mufflethis Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:54:17 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-158303 <p>"I just wish there was someway where I could actually be rewarded for braking more often."</p> <p>How about having your clutch around much longer and saving yourself a costly replacement?</p> “I just wish there was someway where I could actually be rewarded for braking more often.”

How about having your clutch around much longer and saving yourself a costly replacement?

]]> By: AndrewH http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157650 AndrewH Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:09:49 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157650 <p>My understanding was that, far from North America being the only place to miss out on this stuff, these systems are only really being made available in Europe. They're certainly not coming to Australia any time soon either :(</p> My understanding was that, far from North America being the only place to miss out on this stuff, these systems are only really being made available in Europe. They’re certainly not coming to Australia any time soon either :(

]]> By: g http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157579 g Wed, 05 Sep 2007 18:20:37 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157579 <p>Here's a Canadian site with a lot of interesting information on engine idling and its environmental and mechanical effects. Hope this answers a few questions.</p> <p><a href="http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/communities-government/idling.cfm">Idle-Free Zone</a></p> <p>-Gabriel</p> Here’s a Canadian site with a lot of interesting information on engine idling and its environmental and mechanical effects. Hope this answers a few questions.

Idle-Free Zone

-Gabriel

]]> By: Marc http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157513 Marc Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:59:01 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157513 <p>Maybe I don't really understand the explanation, but this sounds like a terrible idea to me. Doesn't an engine experience most of its wear on startup?</p> <p>mb</p> Maybe I don’t really understand the explanation, but this sounds like a terrible idea to me. Doesn’t an engine experience most of its wear on startup?

mb

]]> By: Jerry http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157357 Jerry Wed, 05 Sep 2007 01:25:10 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157357 <p>ok, when I learned driver's ed and Physics (around the same time) I was told stopping/starting/stopping/starting engine constantly actually wastes petrol, unless you plan on idling for more than approx 1 minute. any truth, or urban myth?</p> ok, when I learned driver’s ed and Physics (around the same time) I was told stopping/starting/stopping/starting engine constantly actually wastes petrol, unless you plan on idling for more than approx 1 minute. any truth, or urban myth?

]]> By: nuvolari http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157330 nuvolari Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:50:59 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157330 <blockquote>You gotta start somewhere, folks. Bring the MINI D and the new gizmos to the US of A, BMW</blockquote> <p>wurd</p> You gotta start somewhere, folks. Bring the MINI D and the new gizmos to the US of A, BMW

wurd

]]> By: Pretzel Logic http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157314 Pretzel Logic Tue, 04 Sep 2007 22:25:53 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157314 <p>GregW -- all politics is personal, I guess. Personally, I'd rather drive a car that pollutes less and uses less fossil fuel than an otherwise identical car that pollutes more and uses more fossil fuel. The 2002 Prius that I sold to my brother-in-law is closing in on 80,000 miles and hasn't had one problem with its "gizmos." You gotta start somewhere, folks. Bring the MINI D and the new gizmos to the US of A, BMW!</p> GregW — all politics is personal, I guess. Personally, I’d rather drive a car that pollutes less and uses less fossil fuel than an otherwise identical car that pollutes more and uses more fossil fuel. The 2002 Prius that I sold to my brother-in-law is closing in on 80,000 miles and hasn’t had one problem with its “gizmos.” You gotta start somewhere, folks. Bring the MINI D and the new gizmos to the US of A, BMW!

]]> By: Aurel http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157309 Aurel Tue, 04 Sep 2007 22:09:09 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157309 <p>Isn't it bad for an engine to turn on and off all the time? How is this exactly going to work without having to turn over the engine?</p> Isn’t it bad for an engine to turn on and off all the time? How is this exactly going to work without having to turn over the engine?

]]> By: GregW http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157274 GregW Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:25:06 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157274 <p>By owning a Mini with this feature, does this give you "Carbon credits" to offset all other personal harmful stuff ommitted into the environment? Seeing the USA, Australia, India or China are not signatories to the Kyoto Protocol agreement, why even bother? Just another gizmo to give problems if faulty.</p> By owning a Mini with this feature, does this give you “Carbon credits” to offset all other personal harmful stuff ommitted into the environment? Seeing the USA, Australia, India or China are not signatories to the Kyoto Protocol agreement, why even bother? Just another gizmo to give problems if faulty.

]]> By: Craig http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157241 Craig Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:49:51 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157241 <blockquote>You can freewheel the alternator and use regenerative braking to charge the battery and power the electronics, which gets better mileage by reducing parasitic drag of the alternator always running. I am not sure, but I think BMW already does this on some of their cars (5 series perhaps?).</blockquote> <p>Drag produced by the alternator is almost completely related to the electrical load on the alternator. If you've ever tried to spin an alternator that is not installed in a vehicle it spins with a small ammount of drag. The on demand water and oil pumps provide much greater savings in the R56. Also, most if not all modern engines shut off the fuel injection when manifold vacuum exceeds a certain point. Such as when using engine/vacuum braking with a manual transmission or exhaust braking with a diesel.</p> <p>With an electric powered vehicle or hybrid vehicle regenerative braking is the equivalent of putting a small amount of fuel back into the tank while braking.</p> You can freewheel the alternator and use regenerative braking to charge the battery and power the electronics, which gets better mileage by reducing parasitic drag of the alternator always running. I am not sure, but I think BMW already does this on some of their cars (5 series perhaps?).

Drag produced by the alternator is almost completely related to the electrical load on the alternator. If you’ve ever tried to spin an alternator that is not installed in a vehicle it spins with a small ammount of drag. The on demand water and oil pumps provide much greater savings in the R56. Also, most if not all modern engines shut off the fuel injection when manifold vacuum exceeds a certain point. Such as when using engine/vacuum braking with a manual transmission or exhaust braking with a diesel.

With an electric powered vehicle or hybrid vehicle regenerative braking is the equivalent of putting a small amount of fuel back into the tank while braking.

]]> By: PaulGraz http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157223 PaulGraz Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:31:21 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157223 <p>I'm sure it works well when new - but my car is almost 5 years old with 107K on it and it just doesn't start as well as it used to. I suspect that after a few years you'll just be turning this feature off completely.</p> I’m sure it works well when new – but my car is almost 5 years old with 107K on it and it just doesn’t start as well as it used to. I suspect that after a few years you’ll just be turning this feature off completely.

]]> By: Kennedy http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157222 Kennedy Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:16:31 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157222 <blockquote>AFAIK regenerative braking is only useful with an electric or hybrid vehicle. The regenerative system converts the kinetic energy back to electricity to charge the storage battery. This electricity is then used to accelerate again. This will not work with a purely hydrocarbon powered vehicle(such as the current MINI).</blockquote> <p>You can freewheel the alternator and use regenerative braking to charge the battery and power the electronics, which gets better mileage by reducing parasitic drag of the alternator always running. I am not sure, but I think BMW already does this on some of their cars (5 series perhaps?).</p> AFAIK regenerative braking is only useful with an electric or hybrid vehicle. The regenerative system converts the kinetic energy back to electricity to charge the storage battery. This electricity is then used to accelerate again. This will not work with a purely hydrocarbon powered vehicle(such as the current MINI).

You can freewheel the alternator and use regenerative braking to charge the battery and power the electronics, which gets better mileage by reducing parasitic drag of the alternator always running. I am not sure, but I think BMW already does this on some of their cars (5 series perhaps?).

]]> By: Craig http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157209 Craig Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:04:49 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157209 <blockquote>Such a nice tech… Why not North America?</blockquote> <p>Depending on how much this system costs it may be difficult to sell when there is no difference in fuel economy numbers listed on the window sticker.</p> <blockquote>I like the idea of brake regeneration alot more.</blockquote> <p>AFAIK regenerative braking is only useful with an electric or hybrid vehicle. The regenerative system converts the kinetic energy back to electricity to charge the storage battery. This electricity is then used to accelerate again. This will not work with a purely hydrocarbon powered vehicle(such as the current MINI).</p> Such a nice tech… Why not North America?

Depending on how much this system costs it may be difficult to sell when there is no difference in fuel economy numbers listed on the window sticker.

I like the idea of brake regeneration alot more.

AFAIK regenerative braking is only useful with an electric or hybrid vehicle. The regenerative system converts the kinetic energy back to electricity to charge the storage battery. This electricity is then used to accelerate again. This will not work with a purely hydrocarbon powered vehicle(such as the current MINI).

]]> By: ImUrTrboLvr http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157189 ImUrTrboLvr Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:25:06 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157189 <p>I like the idea of brake regeneration alot more. I'm way too conservative with my braking, I always downshift for engine braking too.</p> <p>I just wish there was someway where I could actually be rewarded for braking more often.</p> I like the idea of brake regeneration alot more. I’m way too conservative with my braking, I always downshift for engine braking too.

I just wish there was someway where I could actually be rewarded for braking more often.

]]> By: Gary http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/comment-page-1/#comment-157185 Gary Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:06:27 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/04/car-magazine-on-minis-startstop-system/#comment-157185 <p>Such a nice tech... Why not North America?</p> Such a nice tech… Why not North America?

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