Auto Shut-Off
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,200
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2004 CLK320
Auto Shut-Off
I changed my air filter on the weekend. I worked slow and it took me more than an hour to replace the filters and cleaned the engine cover.
I noticed the BMW X3 (maybe 2 months old), not too far from my car, was turned on and idling for the whole time. There was no one inside the car. I made a point to go check it after 1.5 hour and it was still idling. I looked inside, the car was locked, there was a Start/Stop button but no key in sight.
I am wondering if MB has some sort of auto shut-off feature which would prevent this?
I noticed the BMW X3 (maybe 2 months old), not too far from my car, was turned on and idling for the whole time. There was no one inside the car. I made a point to go check it after 1.5 hour and it was still idling. I looked inside, the car was locked, there was a Start/Stop button but no key in sight.
I am wondering if MB has some sort of auto shut-off feature which would prevent this?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 10
2004 CLK320
I did inform the condo security. He said he knew and he had been trying to contact the owner for the past 2 hours. He even knocked at his door and there was no answer.
I went down there the next morning and the car was not running anymore. Not sure if the car ran out of gas or the owner shut it off.
I agree that the car should not shut off by itself if the key is not in the vicinity. However, if the car is not around and if the car has been in idle (in Park) for let say 2 hours, the car should be shut off by itself. Now with the start/stop button, I am sure people will sometimes forget to turn off the car.
I went down there the next morning and the car was not running anymore. Not sure if the car ran out of gas or the owner shut it off.
I agree that the car should not shut off by itself if the key is not in the vicinity. However, if the car is not around and if the car has been in idle (in Park) for let say 2 hours, the car should be shut off by itself. Now with the start/stop button, I am sure people will sometimes forget to turn off the car.
Last edited by mis3; Jul 17, 2012 at 09:40 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
I've read that MB shut off in park if key is not present; can't say about BMW. I'm a MB/RedSox fan; BMW sucks.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 490
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From: Canada
05 CLK 500 cab
When keyless ignitions were a new thing, I met a friend at a restaurant for lunch. After eating we ran an errand in his new Altima, leaving my car in the restaurant parking lot. 'Try my new car', he said. So, as we approached the restaurant on the way back, I was driving and had the Altima's keys in my pocket. I pulled into a no-parking zone on a busy street, leaped out to return to my car, and waved good-bye. As I walked up the street towards the restaurant, I heard his horn honk a couple of times so I turned and waved again. Fifty feet later it dawned on me that I still had his keys, and the ignition had shut off when I walked away leaving him stranded.
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From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
Mine doesn't, some mornings/evenings I go out and start it to get the AC cooling it down, then go back in the house or up to the office, 10/15 minutes later I go back out and it's still running and nice & cool.
